When handling delicate parts, a pneumatic gripper is often overlooked because it might develop too much force and damage the part. Vacuum or force-controlled electric grippers are sometimes the first choices in such applications. But when factors such as surface irregularities or part position repeatability make vacuum solutions impractical, and high costs of electric grippers make them undesirable, we have an alternative with the Schunk KTG 50 Two Finger Parallel Gripper.
Vacuum applications can be prone to inefficiencies and, therefore, waste a lot of energy. If you have a “dumb” or under-sensored process, you may as well count the dollars as the air blows through the exhaust of a venturi! Inefficiencies are a fact of life with vacuum applications, but there is a way to safeguard your investment. Here is an example of how Cross Company implemented a Coval LEMAX, which turns on/off the air flow to the venturi based on sensor readings.
When infinite position adjustability of an actuator through its entire range of motion is required, many people have become accustomed to looking at servo-electric solutions first. This is often the best choice, but in some cases, a pneumatic solution can be more cost-effective overall.
