NACHI has released the Flex Hand servo controlled robot actuator which has human hand-like flexibility in handling irregularly shaped parts.
According to Nachi, the Flex Hand servo controlled robot actuator is suited for applications like bin picking, assembly and machine tending.
Up to two of the ‘fingers’ of the three-fingered Flex Hand can be powered by servo motors, and their motion can be programmed as an extension of the robot axes, allowing seamless and synchronised operation of the actuator and the robot.
All fingers are made up of eight joints and non servo-controlled fingers are pneumatically driven.
Nachi says this results in cycle time savings, controlled gripping power and reduced interference while picking the parts.
Nachi claims the Flex Hand actuator technology means the robot can handle different work pieces without needing automatic tool changers and customised robot actuators.
Additionally, the Flex Hand has a fail-safe design, and does not drop the work piece during emergency stops or when the robot is powered down.
The Nachi Flex Hand servo controlled robot actuator has a maximum stroke of 200mm, each finger has a maximum clamping force of about 735N and can clamp with a maximum speed of about 330mm/sec. It is compatible with vision sensors for bin picking applications.