Page 35 - MetalForming-Dec-2018-issue

Part Positioning and Holding with Multiple Pin Options
Series PLK Pin Locating Clamp

Competition Lets Weld Slag In!
Competitor designs do not include an enclosed finger design, allowing debris to enter the unit.
Fabrication
Match Mounting Type to Automation
A wide range of mounting types is available to manufacturers, including male/female, imperial NPT and met- ric-G threads, square T-mount, and quick-disconnect. New lightweight- plastic thread mounts also are avail- able. Before choosing a mounting type, check on the type of automation sys- tem in use. If the vacuum cup can’t be placed on the mount, the system won’t operate.
Other Considerations
If necessary, perform onsite tests to determine the right vacuum cup for an application. For example, while your first thought may have been that two large vacuum cups should work for an application, A test may show that six smaller vacuum cups perform more satisfactorily.
Beyond the type of material, con- sider the weight and size of the object to be lifted. A light sheetmetal auto- motive hood features an easy-to-grip flat surface, and while a single vacuum cup could accommodate the hood’s weight, something that large can fall out of balance when moved, causing a drop. In this case, using four or more vacuum cups can balance the load, thus further securing the transfer process.
Also, the importance of vacuum- cup size, tread pattern and durometer in high-speed, pick-and-place transfer applications cannot be stressed enough. The vacuum cup must grasp the panel during the most stressful points of the automation’s acceleration and deceleration phases—each and every time.
Specialized applications offer addi- tional operational characteristics to be considered. For example, the hot-form- ing steel-stamping process requires lifting and transfer of steel sheets with temperatures exceeding 480 F. While some standard vacuum cups can tol- erate such heat, in some instances a special high-temperature vacuum cup may be needed. MF
1-800-624-8511
for more information, visit:
phdinc.com/plkad

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MetalForming/December 2018 33
PHD Keeps Weld Slag Out