The one-piece body and stationary jaw design integrated with the precision T-slot bearing design that is supported the full length of the body is designed to carry heavy loads. AGPS straight-line design offers high moment load and high accuracy in a compact lightweight package that features a lightweight aluminum base that is hard anodized and a carriage bearing made from Ampco 18 aluminum-bronze. Standard mounting and dowel holes on the slide jaw carriage endplate make it easy to attach the tooling jaws and the unit’s base offers four holes for mounting. Hardened stroke adjustments and locks are standard on end of extend and retract of stroke offer excellent zero point repeatability.

AGPS series mini-linear actuators from AGI provide grip force of 15 to 25 lbs. with four stroke sizes up to two inches, yet the total height of the assembly is only 0.813 inches it is one of the smallest commercially available pneumatic actuator.

The pneumatic gripper linear actuator is part of a new product line that offers flexible configurations. The grippers have two bore sizes .5 and also a .75 inch available in .5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 inch strokes. Optional switch kits allow the use of inductive proximity switches for easy interfacing to electrical controls.

Please contact AGI for further information.

AGMS series mini-linear actuators from AGI provide a load-carrying capacity of 3 to 28 lbs., yet the total height of the assembly is only 0.813 inches, making this one of the smallest commercially available pneumatic linear actuator.

This precision mini-slide has a T-slot bearing design that is supported the full length of the body to carry heavy loads. AGMS straight-line design offers High moment load and high accuracy in a compact lightweight package. It features a lightweight aluminum base that is hard anodized and a carriage made from Ampco 18 aluminum-bronze. Standard mounting holes on the slide carriage and endplate make it easy to attach the mechanism being moved and the unit’s base offers four holes for mounting. Stroke adjustments and locks are standard on end of extend and retract of stroke.

The Mini-Linear Actuator is part of a new product line that offers flexible configurations. The Pneumatically actuated mini slides have two bore sizes .5 and also a .75 inch available in .5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 inch strokes. Optional switch kits allow the use of inductive proximity switches for easy interfacing to electrical controls.

Please contact AGI for further information.

The AGA Series Angular Gripper Actuator features four new models that have three jaws. The gripper jaws 180 degree opening is suited for applications which must be performed within a limited work area. The AGA-23, 33, 43 and 53 series have stroke-limiting screws to adjust the stroke between 0 and 180 degree. The four sizes have a range gripping forces from 20 to 200 lbs.

When the jaws are completely opened, the work piece can be placed in a fixture without having to retract the gripper. This saves an extra step as well as the expense of another axis of movement. The toggle mechanism greatly increases in power as the jaws near the fully closed position and become self-locking when past parallel. The internal linkages are guided by two groves that run the length of the body.
This will keeps the tooling jaws from loosing the center repeatability. Close attention must be made to the tooling jaws when designing them. Because the jaws swing an arc, the mechanism produces higher velocity at the end of your tooling during the stroke.
Therefore, tooling jaws should be short, lightweight as possible, and flow controls are recommended. In cases where longer jaws are needed, bumpers or miniature hydraulic shocks should be used to decelerate the jaw at the end of the stroke. All of these units are double acting, have multiple airports, mounting locations and available with sensor options for easy interfacing to electrical controls.

AGI supplies a complete range of sophisticated automation products that include: pneumatic parallel grippers, rotary actuators, thrusters, linear actuator slides, mini slides, tool changers, overload devices. The units are available in imperial and metric versions for flexibility and design for a world market.

Please contact AGI for further information.

AutoDrill offers free application and design assistance. Free CAD drawings are available for all their equipment.

Please contact AutoDrill for further information.

There are many advantages to automating traditional manual jobs: the most obvious of these relate to time and cost reduction. A partially-automated hand-assist station can increase the rate of O-Ring installation by at least three times. But that is just one of the many advantages of utilizing advanced robotics in this specialized function. According to AGI President, Peter Farkas, O-rings are easily damaged or twisted when mounted manually or with a three-prong device. But, “there is far less damage done to the O-Ring itself when installed by a 6 or 8 jaw gripper,” says Mr. Farkas. This is critical because damaged or incorrectly installed O-rings often result in a faulty product.

But cost reduction is just one of the many advantages of automating the O-Ring installation process, according to ergonomics experts. They have found that repeated-stress injuries are a primary cause of many ailments prevalent amongst manufacturing workers, including tendonitis and carpel tunnel syndrome. Many workers suffer severe pain and discomfort due to repeated-stress ailments. Both workers and their employers suffer financial losses when chronic pain keeps people away from work for short or extended periods. AGI’s O-ring installation tools help to curb worker injuries, and ultimately, boost the bottom line.

AGI’s has recently been able to make significant investments to their production plant, allowing them to deliver these new O-Ring Placement products to customers with little or no lead time. AGI can now offer their world-class automation technologies at even more competitive pricing than previously, making robotics technologies available to manufacturing plants of all sizes.

AGI’s O-Ring-Assembly Tools come in two sizes: the AGP-6-OR (which has six jaws) and the AGP-8-OR (which has eight). These pneumatic grippers can accommodate placement applications from 3 to 12 inch I.D. Both are designed to facilitate part ejection and part seating and are perfect for installations where an ejector is needed after the part is positioned, or when a seal needs to be placed down a long shaft.

Please contact AGI for further information.

The EFQ Extruded Flat MultiForce cylinder is a double-acting, single end rod cylinder that doubles the resultant force on extension. This cylinder features a two piston design that eliminates the need for higher pressure systems or unique configurations. And, to save air volume and operating costs, only one piston is pressurized on the return stroke.

Both cylinders share the same popular benefits of the EF product line, including PTFE impregnated hard anodized body for superior wear resistance and seal life. The EFP and EFQ are both easily interchangeable to other compact extruded cylinders of the same bore size and can easily connect and operate to an application’s pneumatic logic. For detailed specifications, performance, and ordering information, consult the EFQ/EFP catalog.

Please contact Bimba Manufacturing Co. for further information.

Please contact Bimba Manufacturing Co. for further information.

Models are available in two frames, 09 and 17, with DC motor, step motor, and no motor options in strokes up to 72 inches. The DC motor driven slides produce maximum thrusts from 5 to 168 pounds at maximum speeds from 16 to 40 inches per second. Step motor driven slides produce maximum thrusts from 12 to 200 pounds, at maximum speeds from 15 to 25 inches per second, for applications that require more accurate positioning.

Fine or Coarse frames are available. The Fine frame provides better than 0.010-inch position control, while the Coarse frame provides a more cost-effective solution when 0.100-inch position control is acceptable.

Ball and lead screws are also available. The lead screw provides the quietest operation and least end play, while the ball screw provides the highest efficiency and greatest load capacity. Standard options include stroke length adjustments, bumpers, a switch track, and a screw wiper to keep contamination out of the drive nut.

All Ultran High Load Electric models are covered by Bimba’s 3-year warranty, and are available 5 working days from receipt of order. For detailed performance, selection, and ordering information, consult Bimba’s 12-page UHLE catalog or contact Bimba.

Please contact Bimba Manufacturing Co. for further information.

Airware FRL’s are available in 3 sizes – Miniature, Compact, Standard – in 1/8” to 1” NPT and BSPP thread and in 3 different pressure ranges: 8-36 psi, 8-145 psi, 8-232 psi.

Airware™ FRL’s feature a high degree of modularity for flexibility and easy maintenance, as well as captured O-rings to ensure a reliable seal.

Each of the key components has several desirable features:
-A wide variety of filters are available: Coalescing, Particulate, Purifying, and Activated Carbon Filtration from 40 microns down to 0,01 micron.
-The relieving type regulator works with a very small hysterisis band with a quick response that gets air flow back up to system pressure quickly. Available lockable regulator features a very secure construction and prevents unnecessary adjustments.
-Airware™ lubricators uniquely feature the ability to refill oil while under pressure and a patented diaphragm to guarantee effective lubrication with low flow rate.

Legris offers also a complete range of value-added:
-Lockable 3/2 Shut-off valve. Used to secure maintenance tasks and meets Osha ‘Tag out, lock out’ standard.
-3/2 Shut-off valve with up/down knob. This product’s built in safety feature shuts down the system when pressure drops below 58 PSI.
-The two step Soft Start valve with adjustment of time and pressure-snap point provides smooth and progressive start-up pressurization for added safety of machine operators and the protection of pneumatic components.

Please contact Legris Inc. for further information.

The acquisition, finalized on September 12, 2007, reflects Bimba’s commitment to developing capabilities that address customer needs. According to Pat Ormsby, President of Bimba, “Mead’s business philosophy is very similar to ours and its products have a great reputation in the field. This acquisition reflects our long-term commitment to growth. We fully expect it to strengthen Bimba financially and complement our product offering.”

Mead will continue to operate in its present location. There are currently no plans to change its distribution channels.

Please contact Bimba Manufacturing Co. for further information.