
Suction Cups for Handling Sheet Metal
- Handling of metal sheets
- Handling of convex and concave workpieces
- High lateral and holding forces
Vacuum Technology for Automation
Fast cycle times and high operational reliability are essential to automated handling of metal and sheets metal. Vacuum technology from Schmalz is used as a gripper system on portals and robots, for example to link press lines. The gripping solution can be configured and designed individually with a broad range of separate vacuum components, or purchased as a ready-to-connect gripper system for a specific application.
Schmalz has developed suction cups for handling metal and sheet metal that ideally meet the requirements of the industry. The suction cup materials ensure a long service life, even with oily or hot surfaces, while the optimized shape allows gripping of convex and concave components, and absorption of shear forces, during dynamic processes.
Schmalz also offers special vacuum generators to minimize cycle times. The compact ejectors SXMPi also have extensive functions for energy and process control.
Vacuum Clamping Technology
In CNC machining centers, flat metal workpieces with planar undersides must be clamped precisely and reliably. The matrix-plate vacuum clamping system can hold even components and workpieces that are difficult or impossible to clamp mechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically in place effectively. The workpiece is positioned against mechanical stops and clamped using vacuum, allowing simple, distortion-free processing.
Friction cups allow operators to work with faster feeds and higher cutting rates. A matrix-plate can quickly be attached to the machine table using clamping claws or zero point clamping systems. The workpieces can easily and safely be clamped and released using a foot switch or manual switch.
Vacuum Lifters and Crane Systems
Vacuum lifters allow simple, fast and safe manual transportation of metal and sheets metal. Because the workpieces can have a wide variety of shapes, weights and properties, Schmalz offers two series of vacuum lifters: vacuum tube lifters Jumbo and vacuum lifting devices VacuMaster. A large selection of different suction cups is available for both series. Specially adapted crane systems and jib cranes supplement the vacuum lifters.
The manual vacuum lifters for the metal and sheet metal industry support ergonomic handling of heavy, unwieldy workpieces. They can grip even non-magnetizable types of steel. The vacuum lifters allow the workpieces to be swiveled horizontally by 90° or rotated 180°.
Vacuum technology for the sheet metal and metalworking industry
Areas of application and environments
Automation and digitalization of processes
Flexibilization of CNC machining centers
Process-safe clamping due to maximum holding forces
Manufacture of workpiece apertures especially in five-axis machining
Efficient machine loading with manual vacuum handling equipment
Handling high payloads