odular approaches to robotic end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) are fast becoming widely accepted in North America, following the lead taken by European molders.

EOAT technology involves a gripping, suction, or vacuum assembly at the end of the robot arm that transports parts away from the mold. Formerly, EOAT had been designed on a custom basis for virtually every mold, and essentially equipment became scrap after that mold went out of service.

In a recent shift, however, U.S. and Canadian molders have begun to accept tooling that is sufficiently "modular" or "adjustable" to be used on multiple molds, and fine tuned enough to maximize performance on the original mold for which tooling was built.  But difference of opinion persist: some sources say setup staffs in molding operations are not necessarily competent to make EOAT adjustments.

One specialist supplier of modular tooling to North America is SAS Automation, Xenia, OH, until March a jointly owned venture of Trent Fisher of SAS in the U.S. and Automation-Systeme Schwope (ASS), Cologne, Germany. Now owned 100% by Trent Fisher, SAS still has access to ASS components, but does its engineering in North America. ASS is well on track in European automotive EOAT applications where it serves Volkswagen, Ford, and Rehau (which injection molds components for European cars).

SAS reports its North American customer base now includes Rehau, at its transplant location at Cullman, AL, the Delphi Div of General Motors, and United Technologies.

Modular tooling finds its ways onto robots built worldwide. Some of the SAS tooling goes to injection machine builders, including Husky Injection Molding Systems, Bolton, ON, Canada, and auxiliary equipment suppliers like Conair, Pittsburgh, PA.

EOAT's new directions. Trent Fisher points out that yearly changes to automotive trim are a big boon to the market for modular EOAT, especially since every year the parts are getting more curved and incorporate more snap-fit features. No auto builder wants to buy a new set of costly robots every year.

The SAS approach begins with a universally mountable quick-change chuck and a dovetail plate that slides into the chuck and is fixed into place there with only two quick-release slide clamps. To this plate is attached a framework of slotted aluminum profiles, to which are attached grippers, arms, pliers, fingers, vacuum cups, or nippers as necessary. Optical sensing of parts is an option. SAS will design the entire tooling from a line of standard components to those choosing to assemble their own.

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Reprinted with permission from 
April 1998 issue of Modern Plastics magazine,
a publication of the 
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.