Magnetic gripper for robots

Vertical grip on sheet metal in the automotive and metal industries

Goudsmit Magnetics' recently updated magnetic gripper is used for the automated picking up, depositing or positioning of iron, steel or other ferromagnetic objects. Examples include picking up sheets from presses, unstacking products from crates (bin picking), assembling steel parts or handling stamped steel parts, blanks and perforated steel sheets in robot applications. The ultralight magnetic gripper is equipped with strong permanent Neodymium magnets and is therefore extra safe. It can be used in grippers on robotic arms. The handling magnets can be switched on and off by means of compressed air and have a threaded-hole interface for attachment to a robot arm, whether or not in combination with a spring-loaded interference bar.

The magnetic grab handles a car roof

Robot end-of-arm tooling

This makes magnetic grippers an efficient alternative to traditional robotic grippers. Among other things, the system is suitable for lifting and transporting very thin steel sheets one at a time. The rubber pad at the end prevents shifting of the workpiece during vertical pickup, as well as damage to this workpiece. The easy-to-connect system is already in use at a number of large car manufacturers and in the sheet handling industry.

Vacuum Technology

When magnetic grippers are applied to robotic arms, magnetism replaces traditional vacuum technology. The disadvantage of vacuum grippers is that they are prone to failure and subject to wear and tear. In addition, the vacuum naps must be properly positioned because if they land partially on a hole in the plate, they do not function. The electromagnets used by manufacturers also do not offer a solution to this problem because they are too heavy, allowing one to lift less sheet material. A magnetic gripper with permanent magnets is considerably lighter. In addition, the gripper is wear-resistant and has a longer service life than vacuum grippers.