Fairlane Products, a manufacturer of workholding and positioning components in Fraser, has launched its web-based GripShape application that allows users to design and purchase custom robot gripper fingers. GripShape offers design services, a design configurator, and manufacturing services for tooling robot grippers.
The interface is designed to be user friendly and requires no CAD experience. It offers an automated process to design gripper fingers in about 10 minutes. The design then is made and assembled by Fairlane using additive manufacturing (3-D printing) and CNC machining. As an alternative, users can choose to purchase the CAD download to machine or 3-D print at their facility or with another vendor.
“Since the beginning, our products have supported points of contact,” says Justin Gordon, president of Fairlane Products. “From serrated gripper inserts in lathe chuck jaws, swivel positioners and rest pads in stationary fixtures, to rollers and bumpers in material handling applications, Fairlane products can be found in industrial automation at the point of workpiece contact. It is with this same attention to workpiece contact that we developed GripShape.”
Users start by choosing a representative workpiece and adjusting its size. Next, they adjust finger length, grip width, grasp type, and more. Users can see the changes and request quotes. Once complete, users can download parasolid CAD files to review the designs in their own CAD projects. Users can also request that Fairlane review the design and provide feedback and quotes.
Engineers also work with customers to understand the specifics of the application and help design grippers.
Fairlane designs, manufactures, and stocks standard components used in machine tool workholding, specialty fastening, and material handling. Its related business, Fixtureworks, supplies an extended range of standard machine components and workholding solutions.
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