INDUSTRIAL MANIPULATORS / ERGO ARMS |
| ARTICULATING ARM, PNEUMATIC LIFT ASSISTS |
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Industrial Manipulators (also referred to as 'Ergo Arms') are
pneumatically balanced manual lift assists. A pair of articulating arms
allow an operator to lift and position a part as if it were an extension
of his/her hands. The typical capacity of our manipulator lift assists
range from 125 lbs to 450 lbs, although higher capacity models can be
configured for special applications.
Industrial Manipulators (Ergo Arms) are the high-performance,
high-speed manual material-handling solution. Manipulators render the load
virtually weightless from the point of view of the operator. Unlike a
bridge crane, a manipulator is able to support a load that is offset from
the axis of the end effector (part gripper).
(â—„ Photo) - An M100 Ergo Arm featuring a custom end effector for a
V8 engine. The end effector incorporates a pneumatic gripper and a 180°
roll. |
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| MANIPULATORS... |
- Can reach into enclosed spaces (such as a vehicle)
- Can reach under obstructions
- Offer greater placement precision than is possible with a crane
- Generally offer lower cycle times versus traditional cranes
Our manipulators are made as lightweight as possible in order to reduce
the inertial load and friction that can be felt at the handles by the
operator.
All of our manipulator components are mass-produced and stocked, ready
to be assembled for your order.
(â–ºPhoto) - An M35 manipulator with a custom end effector. The end
effector is lifting an automotive chassis component and features a pair of
pneumatic grippers. |
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We have 5 models of manipulators for part weights of 15 lbs to 300
lbs+. One of the models shown below can be chosen depending on the weight
of the load and end effector and the reach of the situation at hand.
(â—„Photo) - An M100 instrument panel install lift assist with tilt
and roll. |
| NEW PRODUCT |
| AUTOBALANCE
MANIPULATOR |
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Manipulators have always offered the fastest, smoothest
material handling solution available. But they have always had a drawback in
that traditionally they are only able to pick up one or two weights without
changing settings. The AutoBalance system solves this problem
by allowing the manipulator to automatically reset the balance point with every
lift.
The AutoBalance system is a technological advance in
manipulator control which enables an operator to lift many different weights in
succession, even if the operator does not know the weight of the next part.
The AutoBalance system is available in either of two modes:
auto-balance pushbutton mode and auto-balance sensor mode. In pushbutton mode,
the operator presses an up button until the load is lifted, at which time the
load is perfectly balanced and the operator floats the load without pressing
buttons. In sensor mode, the operator simply pulls up on the handlebars until
the load rises away from its support. Again, the load is balanced, the operator
can float the load easily.
Other controls such as grip, release, rotate and tilt are operated through
pushbuttons located on the handlebars |
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â–ºDRAWINGS ...click
here for more info
â–ºMANIPULATOR SIZING /
TECHNICAL INFORMATION ...click here for more info
Givens Engineering offers 7 manipulator models, the
M15, M25, M35, M60, M100, M200 & M400.
There are 6 standard arm lengths available for Arm #1
and Arm #2 for each manipulator, ranging in 10" increments from 40" to
90". Any combination of arm length may be used provided that the moment
generated by the load and the mass of the structural components that make
up the lift assist fall within the moment rating for each of the three
axes.
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Typical Application |
| Manipulator
Model |
Maximum Moment
@ Axis
#1 |
Payload
(End Effector
+ Part) |
Reach
(Axis #1 to
mEE+PART) |
| M15 |
15,000 in*lbs |
125 lbs |
6-9 ft |
| M25 |
25,000 in*lbs |
180 lbs |
8-11 ft |
| M35 |
35,000 in*lbs |
230 lbs |
10-12 ft |
| M60 |
60,000 in*lbs |
330 lbs |
12-14 ft |
| M100 |
100,000 in*lbs |
450 lbs |
14-16 ft |
| M200 |
200,000 in*lbs |
900 lbs |
14-16 ft |
| M400 |
400,000 in*lbs |
1800 lbs |
14-16 ft |
The maximum vertical travel of each manipulator is
dependent on the length of the first arm. The maximum two-way angular
travel for each manipulator is 80°. It is generally advisable not to
exceed 24" of vertical travel at the handlebars for good ergonomics. If
more vertical travel at the handlebars is required we can design
telescoping handlebars for your end effector.
The maximum operating pressure of the manipulator is
100 psi.
The cylinder balance pressure will be dependent on the
length of the first arm and the mass of all of the components between the
part, end effector and the second axis. Selecting a shorter arm will lower
the required lift cylinder pressure. As a general rule of thumb, the
balance pressure of the manipulator with the heaviest part gripped should
be at least 5 psi lower than the supply pressure. It is standard practice
at most factories to design for 80 psi max.
If the lift cylinder pressure is too high and a shorter
first arm cannot be chosen, a counterweight can be added to the end of the
first arm. The use of a counterweight should be avoided however, since it
will add to the inertial load of the
arms. |
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| MANIPULATORS (ERGO ARMS) VS BRIDGE CRANES? |
MANIPULATORS /
ERGO ARMS |
- Most operator-friendly High-performance material-handling
- No up/down pushbuttons to press; arm
'floats' at all times
- Operator can feel the load as it
settles into a fixture
- Arm can reach under obstructions,
into cars, into presses
- It is not necessary to grip the load
at the center of gravity; loads can be gripped at the
end , for example
- Load does not wobble about; it can be
fixed at the same attitude
- There is no "pendulum effect" that a
crane has because the hoist cable is nonexistent. Enables
fastest material handling
Cost: Somewhat higher cost
than
cranes |
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BRIDGE
CRANES |
- Operator-friendly
- Medium-performance material-handling
- Up/down pushbuttons are always
necessary
- Long travel distances are possible
- Typically hoist must be centered
above load's center of gravity
- Load can be wobbled about
at the bottom of the cable
(SEE BRIDGE CRANES
PAGE)
Cost: Medium-priced |
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JIB
CRANES |
- Low-cost material-handling best for
slow operations or infrequent lifts
- Hard to maneuver quickly, especially
when the load is in the half of the range closest to the
post
- For light loads, installation is very
easy, consisting of lagging to the floor, heavy loads
require a foundation
(SEE BRIDGE CRANES
PAGE)
Cost: Lowest price for light
loads not requiring a
foundation |
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| FEATURES AND BENEFITS |
- The manipulator ‘floats’ the load; from the perspective of the operator
the load appears weightless
- No ‘up’ or ‘down’ pushbuttons are required
- Each model of manipulator can be configured with many arm length
combinations in from 40" to 90" in 10" increments
- Rotational hard stops on the first and second axis are adjustable
- Vertical travel range is adjustable via soft stops on the first axis
- A hard stop on the 3rd axis permits approximately 700° of rotation
- Brakes are included for the fist and second axis to prevent drift (a third
axis brake is optional)
- Safety shutdown - In the event of an air loss, a circuit in the
manipulator control panel will prevent the arm from falling. A bleed valve is
provided to safely relieve pressure in the balance cylinder (and lower the
arm).
- The end effector can be configured to prevent the part from being released
until the manipulator interprets that the part is resting on a surface.
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| MOUNTING STYLES |
Post Mount - Standard
Inverted First Axis - For mounting on an overhead structure
or crane carriage
Cantilevered Stand - For work areas that cannot accommodate
a floor mounted post central to the work cell
OPTIONAL ACCESSORIES |
| The following options are available and would be quoted on a per-case basis: |
End Effectors - Let us design a custom end effector for your
application. Givens Engineering has all of the resources necessary in-house to
deliver a turn-key solution for your lifting application.
Vertical Travel Brake - A pneumatic brake on the first axis
locks the arm at any position above the ground.
Multiple Part Balance - The manipulator can be configured
for several balance pressures (if for example several part variations are to be
lifted). The correct pressure could be selected through a toggle switch,
multiple part present sensors and an external input from a PLC.
AutoBalance
System - A (patent pending) ‘Multi-Weight Balancing’ system
that does not rely on discrete balance pressure points is also available. This
system features a device at the operator handles that senses changes in part
weight and automatically compensates the manipulator balance pressure.
Electrical Control - An electrical control system is
available (the manipulator is powered pneumatically but controlled
electrically). Typically we would quote such a system as a complete package
including end effector.
Crane Carriage - Crane carriages are available for inverted
mounting on overhead crane rails.
Support Structures - Support structures can be custom
fabricated for more difficult installations.
Installation - We can provide full installation and start-up
support |
| EXAMPLE LIFT ASSISTS |
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M15 Brake rotor ergo lift assist with 180°
rotate. The example shown has an 8' reach with 30lbs part and
90 lbs end
effector. |
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M25 Tooling lift assist with custom
telescoping second
arm. |
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M35 Exhaust lift assist w/ electrically
controlled/pneumatically powered manipulator (via.
PLC) |
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M60 Manipulator & end effector for
forging operation. End effector features STD-G54 gripper w/
manual roll. |
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M100 Truck wheel lift assist featuring
pneumatic wheel rotation & gripper. The example shown has
an 14.5' reach with 220lbs part and 145 lbs end
effector. |
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M35 Complex rear hatch install lift assist
for an automotive application. The end of arm tooling
incorporates a powered hinge alignment mechanism, vacuum
alignment and 4 torque tools
(nutrunners).. |
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| FEATURED
APPLICATION |
| BRAKE PRESS MANIPULATOR |
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The brake press manipulator shown at left consists of a patent pending
end effector mounted to the end of an M100 manipulator. The brake press
manipulator allows a single operator to perform operations that would
normally require 2 workers.
The brake press manipulator greatly reduces the cycle time when
manually forming heavy (150+ lbs) parts in a brake press. |
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The end effector / gripper shown features a 180° roll and is able to
tilt the part +/- 40° to the horizontal. The tilt cylinder is
pneumatically balanced, the grippers tilt to match the angle of the
bending operation without operator input. The operator maintains full
control at all times.
The handlebars feature a powered height adjustment. A pneumatic caliper
brake allows the handle to be locked at ay position along its
travel. |
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The manipulator can also be sized to accommodate smaller or differently
shaped parts. Additional functionality can also be designed into the end
effector / gripper to suit your application. |
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| BRAKE PRESS MANIPULATOR
VIDEOS |
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LEFT - The operator demonstrates a 180° roll. Note the
the weight of the manipulator arms, end effector and part is kept balanced
at all times, there is no up/down pushbuttons to raise and lower the arms,
instead, the load effectively 'floats'.
Located off screen and to the right hand side of the video is a
representation of a brake press. Once the operator aligns the plate into
the press and the forming cycle is started the end effector simultaneously
tilts and raises to follow the angle of the plate. The tilt feature of the
gripper jaws is also 'floating'; it is the motion of the brake press
itself that tilts the part.
The controls on the brake press manipulator are mounted on a linear
rail and are also 'floating'. The operator has the option of releasing a
caliper brake on the handles so that the controls will follow the
operator's hands rather than the upward motion of the end effector. In
this case the brakes are left engaged so that the handles are rigidly
affixed to the end effector as it moves. |
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