Robotic Tool Changers Increase Flexibility and Uptime
By enabling high-speed, precise, and flexible tool changes, robotic tool changers maximize uptime and streamline production workflows.
Posted: January 20, 2025
Robotic tool changers enable faster changeovers, provide reliable data communication, support a variety of tasks, and are compatible with a wide range of robots, applications and tools.
Groundbreaking AC Line for Automated Workholding Changeover
The revolutionary AC (Automated Change) Line from Hainbuch America (Germantown, WI) is a groundbreaking solution that marks a significant milestone as the first fully automated system for workholding device changeover, setting new standards in manufacturing efficiency and precision.
The AC Line represents a paradigm shift in workholding technology, offering manufacturers a seamless and error-free alternative to manual changeovers. By harnessing cutting-edge automation, the AC Line streamlines transitions between workholding devices with unmatched speed and accuracy. This innovation not only reduces downtime but also enhances overall productivity, empowering manufacturers to maximize their machining capabilities.
Key features of the AC Line include:
- Precision Automation: The AC Line’s precision-engineered automation ensures consistent and reliable changeovers, eliminating human error and optimizing machining processes.
- Automated Clamping Heads (Collets) and End-stops: In addition to workholding device changeover, the AC Line automates clamping heads (collets) and end-stops, further enhancing operational efficiency and accuracy.
- User-friendly Interface: Designed with ease of use in mind, the AC Line features an intuitive interface that allows operators to program and adapt quickly, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Versatile Adaptability: From varying part geometries to diverse materials and machining techniques, the AC Line adapts seamlessly to meet a wide range of production requirements, ensuring versatility without compromise.
- Industry-leading Support: Hainbuch America’s commitment to customer success extends beyond innovative technology. Our team of experts provides comprehensive support, from personalized solutions to hands-on guidance, ensuring a seamless integration of the AC Line into existing manufacturing workflows.
“This groundbreaking solution reflects our dedication to pushing the boundaries of innovation and empowering manufacturers with tools that optimize efficiency, precision, and productivity,” said Tim Wachs, president, Hainbuch America.
Ethernet Module Provides Reliable Data Transmission for Automation
ATI Industrial Automation (ATI) (Apex, NC), a Novanta company, offers the GBX 10 Gigabit Tool Changer Ethernet Module, designed to allow smart manufacturing processes to optimize performance and flexibility with timely, accurate communication. It excels in high-speed data and signal communication with vision, inspection, metrology, motion control and fieldbus systems.
ATI’s GBX 10 Gigabit Tool Changer Ethernet Module provides a variety of industries and applications with safe and reliable transmission of high-speed data, signals, and fieldbus communication for advanced automation, AI and Industry 4.0.
Additional features and benefits of include:
- Plug-and-play M12 8-pin X-code connectors for safe and reliable pass-through of Cat6/Cat6a industrial Ethernet cables, saving time during integration, with no stripping, crimping, or soldering required.
- Configurable cable exit options between -90°, 0°, and +90° radial positions, allowing users to optimize cable dress and routing to reduce cable strain and maximize system uptime.
- Superior longevity, handling up to one million mating cycles to support applications in advanced industries such as automotive, aerospace, testing and more.
- Broad compatibility with ATI Standard Tool Changers, Heavy Duty Tool Changers, and Utility Couplers for widespread module standardization.
New Automatic Tool Change for Turning Centers
Sandvik Coromant (Mebane, NC), a manufacturer of premium metal-cutting tools and solutions, is introducing automatic tool change (ATC) for machine-adapted clamping units (MACU) in turning centers. This unique solution enables unmanned production, free from manual handling, for improved machine utilization and increased output.
In complex part production, the time-consuming process of manual tool changes often results in low utilization of turning centers. However, a new automatic tool change solution for machine-adapted clamping units addresses this issue by enabling full automation in turning centers.
ATC for MACU enables full automation for turning centers and eliminates the need for manual handling. The result is higher machine utilization and increased productivity. Furthermore, complex part production becomes more efficient with an ATC-enabled turning center, streamlining the manufacturing process. The result is a quick return on investment that will lower the cost per part.
“This solution is a true game-changer, enabling fully unmanned operations in turning centers where robots can handle all tasks typically performed by human operators,” said Bo Hammarberg, global product manager at Sandvik Coromant. “Previously, robotic tool changes were slow and imprecise, often resulting in broken tools due to incorrect torque values, which is costly over time. Our automatic tool change technology for turning centers now offers unprecedented flexibility and control over tool holder setups.”
ATC also offers significant sustainability benefits. Key advantages are reduced energy consumption, resource efficiency, waste reduction and improved overall equipment efficiency (OEE). Efficiently utilized machines operating at optimal levels will minimize idle time and energy waste, enable more output with fewer resources and lead to fewer breakdowns and reduced downtime.
The technology is applicable in turning centers and multitask machines. A requirement for applying ATC is a MACU with a Coromant Capto® interface. For turning centers, a specific ATC-enabled MACU turret is needed, while in multitask machines with a lower turret, ATC is possible if the turret is ATC-prepared.
ATC Technology Results in Automated Bending with Unmatched Precision
Experience the future of press brake operations with WILA USA’s (Louisville, KY) Smart Bending Series. Our innovative solutions bring automation to the bending process, offering unparalleled control, efficiency and precision. With automatic tool change (ATC), you can streamline your operations, reduce setup times, and optimize tool management.
- Smart Manufacturing-Enhance your production capabilities with our advanced automation and data exchange features. The WILA Smart Bending Series allows for automatic tool changes, ensuring a predictable and consistent output from your press brake. By digitally exchanging bending data, you can monitor performance in real time and make adjustments effortlessly, keeping your operations running smoothly and efficiently.
- Smart Tool Change-Increase your press brake productivity with our ATC technology. Automatic tool change not only reduces setup times but also minimizes the risk of errors, ensuring a seamless and efficient bending process. WILA offers both standard ATC products and custom-made ATC tools, along with ultra-fast New Standard clamping systems. This flexibility allows you to tailor your tooling solutions to meet your specific manufacturing needs.
- Smart Tool Management-Optimize your bending process with enhanced tool management capabilities. Our automatic tool recognition system provides valuable insights into tool usage and location within the machine or storage system. This technology enables the development of new and exciting solutions in tool management, ensuring your tools are always in the right place at the right time.
- Smart Integration-Leverage WILA’s extensive experience and proven New Standard ATC solutions, which are continuously adapted to meet evolving market demands. WILA supports press brake manufacturers and system integrators in seamlessly integrating automatic tool change into press brakes and bending cells, enhancing overall productivity and efficiency.
- Innovative ATC Products-The WILA Smart Bending Series includes ATC tools, the ATC gripper, various storage options, and tool recognition systems. Our ATC tools, available with an ATC adapter, facilitate automatic vertical tool changes. The ATC gripper, pneumatically operated, can handle both upper and lower tools, ensuring precise and efficient tool changes. Various ATC tool storage solutions integrate seamlessly into automatic press brakes, enhancing operational flexibility.
End-of-arm-Ecosystem
Zimmer Group’s (Hickory, NC) end-of-arm ecosystem MATCH is a multifunctional platform for applications in the areas of pick and place, mobile robotics, order picking and more. The MATCH works with any robot, gripper or end-effector. Zimmer Group is part of the Universal Robots’ ecosystem.
MATCH was developed by Zimmer Group and Schmalz and is equipped with functions and universal communication interfaces. MATCH is compatible with all common lightweight cobots and 6-axis robots.
With its one-of-a-kind standardization potential, the MATCH robot module can be mounted to common robot types and connect the entire range of MATCH-compatible end-effectors. The connections offer a high degree of flexibility in the choice of applications. Standardized interfaces allow switching between different mechanical grippers and vacuum grippers — automated in a storage station or manually by an ergonomic one-hand click system.
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