Quick-Change automatic tool changers provide added flexibility to robot applications by allowing one robot to change end-effectors automatically, such as grippers and vacuum tooling. The Quick-Change products are pneumatically operated devices consisting of a Master Plate and Tool Plate using a patented Rc 58 stainless steel locking mechanism. The range of units provide electrical pass-through of 10 to 74 lines, from 3 to 20,000 amps, as well as air and fluid pass-through of 6 to 12 ports, from #10-32 to 3/8 NPT.

Product Advantages:
• Reduced time for line changes - minutes instead of hours.
• Reduced time for tool changes - only seconds for maintenance or repair.
• Enhanced operator safety by changing tools automatically.
• Superior fail-safe - Quick-Change stays locked even when air pressure is
accidentally removed.
• Increased reliability - no spring in locking mechanism ensures that “unlock” occurs.
• Simplified teaching - Quick-Change can lock securely with a gap of up to 0.1".
• High moment capacity - the strongest tool changers on the market.
• Unmatched repeatability - tool changer of choice for high-repeatability needs.

The Heavy Automation Robotic Tool Changerline has been developed for resistance welding and medium- to heavy-duty material handling. Because this tool changer uses modules to pass utilities such as water, electrical and pneumatics, it can be configured to handle numerous applications by simply selecting the desired modules. The unit’s high moment capacity allows the tool changer to be used in heavy-duty and medium-duty applications.

Product Advantages:
• High moment capacity - many tool changers with high moment loads will “gap”, or separate, between the master and tool plates during high-acceleration moves,
causing disruption to utilities such as servo and DeviceNet lines. The Heavy Automation line can take on dynamic moment loads and maintain utility functions during high acceleration moves.
• Increased Strength - the Heavy Automation line’s locking mechanism exceeds robot load specifications. Weight and size are kept as small as possible without reducing reliability or performance.
• Modularity - power, coolant, air, servo, DeviceNet, and signal features are built
into separate modules that use a common mounting pattern, allowing easy maintenance. The modules’ robust design includes aluminum housings to withstand the abuse of harsh environments.

The Protector prevents costly damage to robotic end-effectors resulting from robot
crashes. The Protector is designed to comply with the collision while sending a signal to the robot to perform an emergency stop, minimizing damage to the tooling.

Product Advantages:
• Complete tool and robot protection - axial compression, as well as torsional
and moment loading.
• Customizable units provide dynamically variable trip points.
• Time savings - Automatic reset option eliminates entering the robot cell.
• Options - Both spring and air trip points. Use only the spring for low-inertia motion and supply air for high-inertia motion.
• High repeatability and quick crash detection.
• Durability - Rugged construction of units with generous use of tool steel (Rc 60+) and bearing bronze in wear and impact areas.

The Compensator allows a robot or assembly machine to compensate for positioning errors due to machine inaccuracy, vibration, and tolerances—
thereby lowering contact forces and avoiding part and tool damage. The Compensator is a mechanical device that uses elastomer shear pads to control compliance necessary to allow easy assembly of misaligned parts in peg-in-hole applications. A lead-in chamfer/radius is needed on the one or both parts, and misalignment cannot exceed the size of the lead-in.

Applications:
Dowel pin insertion, assembly of misaligned parts, assembly of close-fit parts

Product Advantages:
• Reduces scrap, downtime, and machine damage.
• Eliminates jamming, wedging, and galling.
• Allows faster throughput—no need to slow down when assembling.
• Accepts relaxed part tolerances.

ATI’s line of Axially-Compliant Deburring and Finishing Tools are a patented family of robust air tools suitable for a multitude of robotic and non-robotic edge deburring and material finishing operations on aluminum, plastic, steel and other materials. Our Axially-Compliant Material Finishing Tools, also known as VersaFinish™, utilize a high-torque, low-speed, vane-type air motor. VersaFinish™ provides compliance and adjustable contact force for standard customer-provided tools, compensating for part variations, robot path inaccuracies and tool wear. Designed for robotic as well as CNC applications, Axially-Compliant Deburring Tools, also known as Speedeburr™, utilize a lightweight, air-driven, floating rotary cutting head. While spinning at high speeds,
a rotary tungsten-carbide cutting file rides on a cushion of air, providing compliance while maintaining a constant force. Compliance is both lateral and axial due to the 45° angle of the rotary file. This patented force control system provides a very high level of stiffness in the path direction and a low level of stiffness in the contact force direction-thus avoiding chattering on the work piece, a common problem with robotic deburring.

Product Advantages:
• Provides a consistent deburring and finishing result from part to part.
• Reduces cycle time—compliance allows the tool quickly react to any variances in part position or robot path.

Radially-Compliant Deburring Tools, also known as Flexdeburr™, are high-speed, lightweight, air-turbine driven deburring devices with radial compliance for aluminum, plastic and steel. Compliance is supported by air pressure applied to the shaft of the unit and is used to perform consistent deburring on irregular part patterns. The unit offers up to ± 9mm of compliance and the motor’s internal
governor maintains high spindle speeds up to 65,000 RPM for optimum surface finish. The Radially-Compliant Deburring Tool’s pneumatically controlled, articulated design allows the cutting bit to follow the part profile and compensate for surface irregularities allowing high feed-rates with uniform quality in any orientation. The unit also requires no oil, which allows clean exhaust air to be vented directly into the work environment. Radially-Compliant Deburring Tools utilize standard industrial cutting tools, which allows for adaptation to changing assembly lines and part requirements.

Product Advantages:
• Consistent chamfer and edge deburring.
• Radial compliance—can deburr parting lines and remove flash.
• Economy and standardization—utilizes standard industrial bits.
• Highly adaptable for a variety of applications.

F/T six-axis force and torque sensors give robot and research applications the ability to sense forces and moments applied in six degrees of freedom (Fx, Fy, Fz, Tx, Ty, and Tz). The transducer mounts behind the application tooling and is connected to its support electronics via a small-diameter, high-flex, long-life cable.

Applications:
Product testing, biomechanical research, biomedical research, polishing, remote manipulators, automated assembly, wind tunnels.

Product Advantages:
• Senses any combination of forces and torques. Sensing ranges available from
±3 lbf, ±1 in-lbf (±12, ±0.12 Nm) to ±600 lbf, ±3600 in-lbf (±2500 N, ±400 Nm).
• Extremely robust—Transducers have a factor of safety ranging from 3.85 to 36.0.
• Silicon Strain Gauge sensing elements allow for small size, high overload
protection, and low-noise output.
• Intelligent controllers—Sensor systems are available with either an RS-232 based stand-alone controller or a card that plugs into a personal computer. Both systems feature calibrated output, tool transformations, threshold monitoring, and error checking. DAQ system available as PC card for laptops or board for desktops.

The Rotary Joint allows electrical and pneumatic lines from the robot to feed through to the tool, keeping air and electrical lines on the robot from twisting. Twisting can cause fatigue to electrical lines or damage to pneumatic lines. Advanced slip-ring technology is used to pass fixed lines to the rotating component and then to the tool. As your robot moves, electrical signals and pneumatic pressure pass from the robot to the tool, preventing the lines from twisting. Available in many different sizes, this device can easily be integrated onto almost any robot.

Product Advantages:
• Prevents damage and increases life of robot electrical and pneumatic lines.
• Compact, light-weight design with a high load capacity.
• Unlimited angle of rotation (360º+).
• Suitable for speeds of up to 120 rpm.