Shown in the photo is the gripping power of a Spreitzer MZR vice compared with the size of the workpiece.

In this instance, the client manufactures prototypes in aluminium and titanium for the aerospace and motorsport sectors. As shown, the result is a typical example of the finished gearbox component.
The client currently utilises roughly 220 vices from Spreitzer, 200 of which are MZR 160-60 PA and the remaining variants are MZU and MZC. Due to the robustness and reliability of Spreitzer vices, the business has successfully and consistently manufactured for three years, performing a three-shift pattern without loss of production or the expense of additional cutting tools.
A further benefit of utilising Spreitzer centric clamping vices is the ability to clamp the workpieces safely without having to pre-stamp, which ultimately saves time and money. Through the use of short cutting tools and less vibration on the workpiece, longer tool life can also be achieved and the machining time per piece can be reduced due to higher metal removal.
Hyfore Workholding is a partner in the UK for Spreitzer products. Spreitzer is known for the development and production of complex system solutions in the field of clamping and measuring since 1983. The company’s areas of expertise extend from modular clamping systems for machining centres to manual quality control and special devices, touching on mechanical clamping systems along the way.
For further information https://hyfore.com/

The gripping industry is undergoing radical changes. In the past, gripping processes were primarily geared toward boosting productivity and process reliability.

With the advent of smart factories, flexibility is becoming an increasingly important factor. According to Schunk, tomorrow’s grippers will enable flexible operations and even autonomous handling scenarios.
Until recently, industrial gripping has been relatively rigid; the geometry of the parts must be known, as well as the exact pick and place position. A reliable handling process can be provided by predefining traverse paths and specifying target point co-ordinates based on repeatable parts-feeding operations. With the rise of digitalisation, the trend is now moving towards highly automated, fully networked and autonomous manufacturing systems.
Against this backdrop, artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming increasingly important. The first cognitive intelligence applications for grippers in combination with cameras are already possible. This allows for intuitive training by the operator and autonomous handling of gripping tasks by the robot. For these applications, Schunk purposely designs practical, industry-oriented handling processes by limiting the number of component variations. This strategy streamlines the classification and training process.
In an initial use case that makes use of machine learning approaches for workpiece and gripping process classification, interlocking building blocks are randomly combined and presented to a lightweight robot in a random arrangement on a work surface. The robot’s task is to pick up and transport the blocks. By interacting with 2D or 3D cameras, the self-learning system rapidly increases gripping reliability after only a few learning cycles. With each grip, the gripper learns how to successfully pick up and transport the component.
For further information www.schunk.com

OMIL’s series of gripping systems is now available in the UK from Leader Chuck International.

Within the range there are newly developed and enhanced products that are designed to improve efficiency, productivity and accuracy in a number of sectors, including machine tools, assembly machines, transfer machines, gantry-robots, as well as bespoke machining solutions.
End effectors for industrial robots can grip parts weighing up to 500 kg and up to 1000°C for die casting and forging, while applications for grippers used on automated assembly lines include automotive, domestic appliance, pharmaceutical, electronics, food and beverage, and packaging.
The range of pneumatic grips offered is as diverse as the industrial applications supported, from two-finger parallel to three- or four-finger self-centring, and two-finger radial. As an example of the level of engineering applied to its products, the OMIL GSO range of two-finger parallel grippers is manufactured to facilitate protection class IP67 for use in harsh environments. An oval cylinder is used for higher gripping forces, between
123 N for the smallest unit with 5 mm stroke, and 1640 N for the largest with a stroke of 32 mm.
For applications where larger and heavier workpieces require gripping, OMIL has a number of ranges that provide strokes up to 400 mm and gripping forces of 10,000 N at normal workshop pressure of 6 bar.
With regard to milling machine applications, a range of chucks for round parts and vices for prismatic components are available, while special machinery applications can encompass punching and forming machines, as well as measurement and inspection systems.
“Any company looking at specifying a new automation system or upgrading an existing installation should look at OMIL as a viable alternative to Japanese and German suppliers,” concludes Jones. “Not only do they offer the same performance at considerable cost advantage and complete interchangeability, but the benefit of flexibility allows solutions to be customised in line with each application.”
For further information http://leaderchuck.com/

Clamping and gripping specialist Röhm has expanded its corporate executive board, effective from 1 April 2019.

Together with Gerhard Glanz, Dr Till Scharf has taken on the new role of COO/CTO. Dr Scharf is now be responsible for the logistics, development, construction and production business divisions.
After earning an engineering degree from the University of Stuttgart and collaborating on projects at the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology, and the Institute for Combustion Engines and Vehicle Technology, Dr Scharf successfully studied for a doctorate at the University of Clausthal. Within the scope of his career Dr Scharf has held a variety of managerial positions with market-leading companies and corporations in the industrial and automotive sectors.
“We are pleased to welcome such an internationally experienced manager as Dr Scharf to our team,” says Glanz. “He has already proven himself to be a highly successfully leader, and we are confident that he will assist us in mastering the current optimisation tasks within our corporate group even faster and more efficiently.”
For further information www.roehm.biz

Roemheld’s range of die-clamping solutions for presses and injection-moulding systems has been supplemented with a newly designed series of robust wedge clamping elements.

A hydraulic model has been developed specifically for the fixing of upper dies that meets the highest safety requirements.
An additional locking cylinder holds the wedge clamping bolt in position and prevents any inadvertent retraction. Release of the clamping device is only possible once the locking mechanism has been opened, which ensures that the upper die is retained in position, even in the event of a pressure drop.
The wedge clamping element itself comprises a block cylinder with housing-guided clamping bolt. An angled contact surface creates a frictional connection in conjunction with angled die clamping edges. A position control is integrated as a space-saving measure to monitor the clamping and release position, as well as the status of the locking mechanism. Whenever there is no die available, a notification is issued.
Due to the Roemheld wedge clamps being constructed as a variant system, they can be adjusted in accordance with respective customer requirements. The standard range already includes seven designs with clamping forces of 25 to 630 kN, and cylinder dimensions of between 25 and 125 mm. Clamping strokes of 15 to 36 mm are available here, while the maximum operating pressure is 350 bar.
When elements are to be used for processes with high heat requirements, special designs are available which are temperature-resistant up to 300°C. In addition, there are versions for straight clamping edges, as well as models with clamping forces of up to 1250 kN, and even higher retention forces.
For further information www.roemheld.co.uk