November 5, 2019 — Festo now offers Magswitch switchable magnetic gripping and clamping solutions to automotive and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) through a distribution agreement.
Magswitch offers single sided gripping systems featuring true on-and-off magnetic technology that can simplify complete automation systems in OEM assembled lines in such applications as robotic welding, pick-and-place, and body-in-white. Magswitch components integrate into the Festo electric and pneumatic automated motion architecture .
Festo/Magswitch Solutions can be applied to press lines and stamping operations where switchable magnets can handle lubricated sheet metal blanks more effectively than suction cups by gripping through lubrication. In assembly and body-in-white applications, Magswitch switchable magnets offer the versatility of suction cups while maintaining the safety of traditional power clamps. With single sided clamping, Magswitch tools can facilitate higher speed and quality while welding, and whenintegrated with vision systems the tools work to streamline bin picking and handling randomly arranged components.
In machine tending and pick-and-place applications, operations can be performed with switchable magnetic end-of-arm tools compared to mechanical grippers, power clamps, and suction cups. Separating ferromagnetic sheets with Magswitch sheet fanners and variable flux systems enables double blank detection. Magswitch offers custom-pole-shoe accessories that can securely grip components with various geometries .
