Spring Robotic Handling with Magnet Gripper

Sometimes production can be mixed, that is, that production flow carries several types of parts or different models of the same kind of parts.

This is the case of small-batches production models for example. It also happens that batches are so small that the production line has to adapt continuously to different goods. Regarding automation and more specifically 6-axis robotics, this issue is often addressed with tool changing systems. 

But sometimes customer's specification allows finding common parts in terms of weight and dimensions, that is the case for suspension springs.

Indeed, there are dozens of different spring designs from small ones to larger ones with some exotic shapes. Handling those part with a robot is not an easy task and using classical gripper can rapidly increase the level of picking complexity as the spring shows different gripping points depending on its orientation. In this context, magnets are the perfect gripping solution. 

For this project, PES has built a complete EOAT including the PLAY70x2 magnet with air distribution controlled through Profinet. The PLAY70x2 was equipped with specially design V-shaped pole shoes to cover all the diameter range and avoid marking. An additional parablond sheet has been installed on the contact surface to ensure non-marking at a critical handling process before painting.

In the end, we proposed a solution that does not require any operation for production change and that only has two wearing parts : the V-shaped pole shoes and the parablond sheet.