The perfect grip for sheet metal every time

14.01.2010

Vacuum technology specialist Schmalz provides integrated solutions for the handling of sheet metal and demonstrates expertise right down to the last detail – because only the correct suction pad can hold the workpiece optimally.

Important suction pad requirements in the various fields of sheet metal machining include adaptability, resistance to wear, oil and heat, and their behaviour when high lateral forces are applied, e.g. when loading sheet metal processing machines or removing sheet metal parts from press lines.
Suction pads specially designed and developed to meet these requirements guarantee maximum process reliability.

Schmalz uses four different materials in the production of vacuum suction pads for the sheet metal industry, and these materials demonstrate their strengths in specific applications: Nitrile rubber NBR wo different hardness values (NBR-45, NBR-60), the high-temperature material HT2 and Vulkollan VU1.

Here are four examples

• Suction pads made from the material NBR-45 are characterised by a high degree of oil resistance and excellent adjustability to curved workpieces. Design details such as the large-area structured inner support prevent deep-drawing and enable the handling of very high lateral forces, even with oily sheet metal. As a flat suction pad, it is ideal for handling thin-walled car body sheets, raw sheet metal and moulded parts in press plants and car body construction.

• Suction pads made from the material NBR-60 are equally oil resistant and are also extremely robust and tough. As a bellows suction pad, the very stiff top fold ensures a high suction pad stroke and the handling of very high horizontal and vertical holding forces. This suction pad type demonstrates its strength in the handling of formed car body sheets and oblong sheet metal parts such as pipes, stiffening plates and frame parts.

• Suction pads made from HT2 are characterised by a temperature resistance of up to 250 °C. Because they are also silicone-free, they have no negative effect on paint or varnish finishing properties. These suction pads are also characterised by excellent oil and ozone resistance properties. As a bellows suction pad, 1.5 folds ensure optimum sealing and adjustability to curved workpieces and an excellent damping effect when placed on surfaces. HT2 suction pads are optimally used for handling hot-formed automotive components and hot sheet metal in press lines.

• Suction pads made from VU1 demonstrate their strengths when used in demanding, multi-shift operation with very short cycle times: They are extremely wear-resistant, leave only a slight impression when gripping and can withstand extreme climatic conditions. Design details such as special grooves provide for the draining of oil from oily sheet metal and therefore enable even greater resistance to lateral forces. Supports on the bottom prevent enduring deformation of thin sheet metal. VU1 suction pads are predominantly used in very rough environmental conditions such as for unstacking before items enter press lines or during process steps with high ozone levels, for example in the area of flame and laser cutting systems.

All vacuum suction pads of Schmalz are available in different geometries (round, oval, flat suction pads, bellows suction pads) and in various dimensions.

CAD data for the suction pads can be downloaded free of charge from www.schmalz.com.

A matrix with suction pad materials, suction pad characteristics and application areas also makes it easier for designers and users to select the optimum suction pad.

More information about the products

More information about the industries

Questions regarding usage:
J. Schmalz GmbH Kundencenter Aacher Straße 29 D-72293 Glatten	Tel.: +49 (0)7443 2403-105 Fax: +49 (0)7443 2403-9105 kundencenter@schmalz.de

Further information:

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