TECHNOLOGY BRIEFS
In Brief...
Guhring to unveil milling solutions
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At MACH 2020 (Birmingham NEC, 20-24 April), Guhring will be demonstrating its milling expertise with the
arrival of a multitude of next-generation cutting-tool innovations. In Hall 17 on Stand 400, the company
will be introducing its RF100 5-Speed and RF100 7-Speed solid-carbide end mills alongside a number of
established milling tools.
Developed for the machining of tough materials, the RF100 5-Speed and RF100 7-Speed solid-carbide
end mills feature an increased tooth number. As a result, the 5-fluted 5-Speed and 7-fluted 7-Speed generate
high metal removal rates with stable process reliability, even when processing difficult materials, says the
company.
Providing high-performance roughing even at large depths of cut, the two ranges maximise feed rate
parameters during high metal removal rate operations. As part of the Guhring Trochoidal Cutting (GTC)
series, the RF100 5-Speed and RF100 7-Speed are suitable for machining stainless steels, special alloys and a
variety of steels and cast irons.
At limited machine speeds, or cutting speeds limited by the material, the RF 100 5- and 7-Speed are said
to ensure high feed rates and long tool life thanks to the increased number of teeth. In addition, the tools
can conduct trochoidal milling at up to 10% radial depth of cut.
12 » MARCH 2020 » WWW.MADEIN.IE
Gecko gets to grips
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OnRobot, a specialist in robotic end-of-arm tooling,
has launched a compact, single-pad version of its
Gecko no-mark adhesive gripper. The Gecko SP
(single-pad) gripper brings the previous model’s
adaptability to more varied applications with
smaller payloads. Three sizes are available - SP1, SP3
and SP5 - indicating the different lifting capacities
in kilograms.
Gecko SP can handle high-shine surfaces without
leaving any marks, eliminating the cleaning step
in the manufacturing process. The gripper retains
its larger sibling’s ability to grip a diverse range of
workpieces, including aluminium mesh and head
gaskets.
In terms of operation, Gecko gripper technology
uses millions of micro-scaled fibrillar stalks that
adhere to a surface using van der Waals force; the
same way that geckos climb. The technology helps
reduce costs and maintenance as it requires no
compressed air or external power. Furthermore,
implementation is quick and easy thanks to
OnRobot’s ‘One-System Solution platform’, which is
said to provide greater production flexibility with
little to no programming.
“Our unique Gecko technology automates
processes that no other gripper can accomplish, and
now it’s available in a compact, flexible format that
offers customers even more options,” says Enrico
Krog Iversen, CEO of OnRobot. “This plug-and-play
gripper helps us fulfil our promise of offering
easy, cost-effective robotic tooling that empowers
customers to focus on the application rather than
the robot.”
/WWW.MADEIN.IE