The Smart Flex Effector is a sensor-based compensation unit with an active measuring function in six degrees of freedom. It increases precision, e.g. in handling robots, and opens up completely new areas of application for industrial robots and Cartesian systems.
The intelligent all-rounder
With the end effector, position deviations of the tool are detected using high-resolution position sensors and translated into active correction movements of the manipulator. The intelligent sensor technology of the compensation element enables readjustment in real time. In addition, the measured values provide information about process quality and can be used for quality monitoring and logging.
The applications
The new compensation module can be used for handling or joining processes with narrow tolerances in automation technology or robotics: whether it be for joining small tolerances, for quality documentation and Tool Center Point detection or for the automated compensation of position drifts in the rotary axes as well as in the x-, y- and z-direction.
...why choose between flexibility OR rigidity in a process?! With the Smart Flex Effector, you get the best of both worlds:
Time-consuming teaching and constant position corrections in your processes?
Faster, accurate and simple.
Thanks to high-resolution 6D position feedback, the exact object coordinates can be read out directly and transferred to the robot control.
The complex joining process is unsuccessful with existing components?
Together, sensory touch and a compensation unit with six independent degrees of freedom ensure easy joining for complex tasks, even with low tolerances.
For example, when threading, the joining process is as simple as using a human hand.
With the flexible modules, high dynamics are not possible due to vibrations during the process?
By locking the Smart Flex Effector, the module is actively brought to the zero position. This ensures a high level of positioning accuracy and repeatability. As a result, high dynamics, e.g. during transfer movements, can be achieved and the application of forces for joining is no problem either.
Pallets or objects are not exactly in the right place? Does the geometry of the workpiece need to be checked?
No problem for the Smart Flex Effector:
Probing works in the same way as a 3D coordinate measuring machine. The position of the object can be determined exactly and a quick quality inspection can take place during the process by measuring components.
Lack of transparency in complex processes?
The Smart Flex Effector makes it easy to collect process data. Intelligently logged movement profiles thus ensure process transparency and stability.