IMI’s Magnetic Transporters® Ideal for EOAT Applications
Industrial Magnetics, Inc.’s (Boyne City, MI) patented Transporters magnetically transfer metal blanks, stampings and parts in automated station-to-station, press-to-press transfer or robotic pick-and-place applications.
Posted: August 12, 2021
Engineered with powerful Rare Earth magnets that positively hold the part during transfer — even during unexpected loss of shop air — the Transporter family greatly reduces chances for slipping and shifting of parts due to mill oil coatings, dust, dirt, rust or weld splatter. Industrial Magnetics, Inc. will be in Booth A4555.
Transporters also provide more options for pick-up points on stamped, perforated and odd-shaped parts, and offer a significant reduction over vacuum and suction cups in shop air costs. In addition, all three lines in the Transporter family offer more accurate placement on the die and quicker cycle times for increased production.
The Original Transporter is designed for use on heavier gauge, non-flexing parts and uses a single burst of shop air to actuate the magnet on and off. It is available in three standard sizes with holding capacities up to 670 pounds.
The Transporter LP allows for minimal die clearance and can be easily installed to existing air connections on tooling booms or robotic face plates. Transporter LP magnets are designed to directly replace vacuum cups with only minor tooling adjustments. Ideal for applications in the appliance, automotive, and office furniture industries, as well as numerous other material handling applications, the Transporter LP is next-generation sheet handling technology. It only requires a short, single burst of shop air to quickly release parts, is available in three standard sizes with the strongest unit holding up to 162 pounds. Included in the LP line is the TPLP50, a 5”, low-profile Transporter that is ideal for lifting thin sheets. It is also available with a de-stacking option that features a special magnetic circuit, designed to de-stack metal sheets as thin at 0.030” (22 gauge).
The Transporter MV (MagVac) end-of-arm tooling, combines vacuum and magnet technology to lift and hold all shapes and types of steel in stamping, blanking, and press-to-press transfer applications. The Transporter MV is ideal for facilities with mixed-use metals, where the magnet can be utilized in conjunction with the vacuum for ferrous parts and the vacuum can work on non-ferrous materials, eliminating downtime for tooling changes.
The latest addition to the Transporter family is the Transporter Switch Series (TPS) Magnets, which are ideal for clean room environments, as there is no dirty air exhausted to the atmosphere. Use where vacuum cups and grippers are typically used for lifting and moving steel sheets, blanks, stamped parts and complete assemblies.
Each Transporter is million-cycle-tested for endurance and incorporates a fail-safe feature that, in the event of air loss, prevents the magnet from releasing ferrous parts. IMI specializes in custom designs, providing Transporter products for coil lifting, banded material handling and other challenging applications. A full line of accessories and fittings are also available.
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