"We are now equipping our products with IO-Link in order to provide our customers with the increasingly popular communication standard in grippers," says Dr. Andrea Menegolo, R&D Mechatronic, Gimatic. Although IO-Link is a technology that is almost ten years old, it has only recently been in demand at Gimatic and is only now slowly entering the market in the gripper environment. IO-Link is an alternative to the simple plug-and-play and more intelligent servo grippers that Gimatic offers. These also still have their raison d'être. The plug-and-play standard grippers can be controlled via an integrated embedded drive with just one digital signal, which is generated by a PLC or control unit. In some applications, however, customers want full control of the gripper instead of a simple open or close command: They want to control the speed, the positioning of the jaws, the gripping force and sometimes a combination of these.

Free programming
Gimatic has developed a new series of servo grippers. The main feature is the direct access to the built-in servo motor with encoder signals, so the customer is free in programming and can also use free controllers on the robot, Dr. Menegolo describes the new development and continues: "If you have a six-axis robot, for example, which has an additional servo controller free in the control system, you get a seventh axis, so to speak. You benefit from this in traversing movements, for example: Even before the robot has reached its position with a gripped workpiece, it already starts to move the gripper fingers because it 'knows' that it is about to arrive. And that saves time".

MPLF is the new family name of the upcoming product series of servo grippers based on brushless flat motors. These are connected directly to the jaws via a gearbox and can move them in a self-centring manner. Three sizes, MPLF1630, MPLF2550 and MPLF3260, as well as a special KIT for GMP applications are currently under development. The first prototypes will be available in October 2018.

Devices with IO-Link
If the plug-and-play grippers are equipped with IO-Link, the process data can be used. The IO-Link function makes it easier to install and configure the devices. It allows the user to monitor the device and query diagnostic functions. It also makes it easier to replace the grippers - the new gripper is automatically regarded as the old gripper and configured as such.

Soon, Gimatic promises, these IO-Link grippers will be equipped with additional features for positioning, resulting in an even more flexible device with all the advantages of a plug-and-play solution. Other products that can be improved in a similar way include sensors and sensor boxes, which are typically used in EOAT (End of the Arm Tool) solutions.

"Even if there is still some uncertainty on the market, it makes sense to use IO-Link grippers in all applications where the communication protocol is already available and our grippers can be integrated without any problems. The function is also suitable for applications in which more than one gripper is used. This simplifies installation, configuration and maintenance. If a high degree of flexibility is required when reconfiguring the production process or if the quality and reliability of the production process are to be improved, it is also advisable to equip the gripper with IO-Link," says the developer, describing useful applications.

Gateway box helps with implementation
To make IO-Link communication possible for its products, Gimatic has developed the "Iolbobox". The special IO-Link device acts like a gateway. It translates a proprietary protocol that works on the gripper side into the IO-Link communication protocol. Several grippers can be connected to one and the same box in a bus-like architecture. This gateway unit is a true IO-Link device that communicates with one or more special digital versions of standard grippers. Users who are already familiar with Gimatic's plug-and-play grippers can use the IO-Link version without any problems. The grippers are externally and mechanically identical, they only have the additional output signals. pb