Festo high speed picker

Citation

(2003), "Festo high speed picker", Assembly Automation, Vol. 23 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/aa.2003.03323cad.003

Festo high speed picker

Festo high speed picker

Keywords: Pneumatics, Pick and place, Festo

Raw speed coupled with maximum ease of use were the twin driving forces behind the design of a new high speed picker (HSP) device just launched by Festo (Plate 3). The HSP module can execute a full pick and place cycle in 0.6 s.

The HSP from Festo is the latest addition to the company's expanding portfolio of world-class, off-the-shelf solutions contained in its modular handling range. The HSP is a standard Festo configurable product whose specification is determined by the customer, resulting in a single part number.

Plate 3 The new HSP from FESTO

The objective is to eliminate assembly time and effort for customers. Festo Product Manager, Nigel Dawson explains: "We could not make it any simpler. The HSP unit is delivered to the customer's stores as a single part number item, pre-assembled, tested, and ready to bolt on to their machines. It is a clear benefit in ordering convenience and stockholding reduction."

The design of the HSP permits greater freedom of movement. Unlike most curve-profile, cam-follower style systems, the new handling module is not constructed for rigid movement kinetics. Instead, only the centre section of the three-part link is fixed to a basic profile. Both side sections can be moved independently as can the individual X-axis strokes. This aids in installation and commissioning by allowing the system integrator to mount and roughly align the HSP, then set the X-axis stroke precisely on both sides at a later stage.

An additional stroke adjustment in the Z-axis accommodates level differences between pick and place positioning. HSP offers X-axis strokes from 52 to 170 mm and Z-axis strokes from 15 to 100 mm.

Simplicity is also at the heart of the new HSP. The unit uses just a single rotary drive and a built-in guidance mechanism. This requires only one valve and two sensors which reduces design and assembly overhead.

HSP is an ideal pick and place solution for handling workpieces under 100 g in mass. With cycle times of between 0.6 and 1 s, the device is well suited to picking operations with rotary index tables or for sorting tasks in transfer systems. Dawson considers the HSP to be "the world's fastest pneumatic pick and place device", pointing out that time gains of up to 20 per cent are possible. Its compact size also makes it the optimum choice for applications in confined spaces, while the single-source, ready-to-install concept reduces costs all round.

For further information, contact: Nicola Meadway, Festo Ltd, Technology House, 1 Fleetwood Park, Barley Way, Fleet, Hampshire, GU51 2QX. Tel 01252 775000; Fax: 01252 775001; E-mail: nicola_meadway@festo.com; Web site: festo.com