Designers Corner 310Designers Corner 310

Octagonal effector

Simplifying design of support structures between robotic wrists and pneumatic gripper mechanisms, the BodyBuilder(TM)consists of extrusions and clamps. Most square extrusions were designed with linear motion in mind, but BodyBuilder's boom and hardware components were specifically designed to withstand the twisting and bending moments of a 6-axis robotic arm. An octagonal profile and crosshatch web structure improve stiffness over conventional designs using square or round tubing, or square extrusions designed for 1-, 2-, or 3-axis systems.

Patent-pending crash recovery capability uses calibration nuts to create a base reference position for any of the beam-to-beam clamps, allowing quick repositioning of a dislodged clamp. In the event of a crash, realigning the clamp body with a pre-located T-nut quickly repositions the clamp with a 95-to-99% repeatability for the structure. Transition-brackets clamp the periphery of the boom structure for maximum rigidity under moments of high payload. Beam-to-beam clamp assemblies have dowel pin locating holes in six positions, referencing three different planes. Contact pins installed in these holes allow for spatial position measures by a coordinate-measuring machine.

Integral air supply porting allows engineers to run multiple air circuits with a minimum of exposed hosing. Flexible air lines transfer air from one beam to another, and from a beam to a mechanical gripper or vacuum cup. Clutch or locking mechanisms in the rigid tool-changer interface provide a low deflection connection to the robot's wrist. Targeted at pressroom and automotive body shop material handling, the stiff and lightweight boom system reportedly provides customers with increased durability and a longer tool life cycle.

Aaron Baker, DE-STA-CO Industries , 31791 Sherman Dr., Madison Heights, MI 49701; Tel: (248) 397-6722; Fax: (248) 397-6734; E-mail: [email protected] .