Machine loading
Reliable handling of heavy workpieces for automated loading and unloading processes.
EZU
Centric Grippers
Electric centric gripper for the reliable handling of a wide variety of workpiece geometries.
The powerful expert in centering.
High forces. Reliable processes.
Reliable handling for cylindrical workpieces.
The EZU electric centric gripper was developed for challenging handling tasks. Due to its high gripping forces and robust design, it can reliably handle workpieces even under demanding production conditions and under heavy loads.
EZU in action
What makes the EZU special
One gripper for a wide variety of workpieces
Large and heavy workpieces often present a variety of challenges when it comes to handling. Gripping force and stroke can be flexibly adjusted, allowing a single gripper to handle a variety of workpieces. This reduces the effort required for changeovers and simplifies automated processes.
Get started quickly and straightforwardly
The EZU is integrated using standardized communication interfaces, robotics plugins, and preconfigured function blocks. This makes it possible to implement new applications quickly and expand existing systems easily.
High process reliability in operation
When handling large and heavy workpieces, reliability is crucial. Gripping force maintenance, workpiece loss detection, and robust guides ensure that workpieces can be securely gripped and moved even under high loads.
The benefits at a glance.
- Reliably handle workpieces even under demanding industrial conditions due to their robust design, which can withstand dust, coolant and heavy loads.
- Handle a wide variety of workpieces using just one gripper, due to the large stroke range and continuously adjustable gripping force.
- Get started quickly and easily with a wide range of communication interfaces and comprehensive support, including robot plugins, PLC modules, open-source components, models for virtual commissioning, and the commissioning app in the SCHUNK Control Center.
- High process reliability even under high forces and torques, due to the heavy-duty T-slot sliding guide as well as integrated gripping force maintenance and workpiece loss detection.
- Systematically avoid interfering contours and speed up gripping processes by the parallel approach to a freely selectable pre-position even while the machine is still in motion.
- Continue working immediately after a restart, without the need for a reference run, due to a high-resolution absolute encoder.
- Grip and re-grip workpieces even in the event of positional deviations and tolerances without requiring additional approach travel through autonomous centering and controlled build-up of the gripping force via the drive.
- Control and monitor the gripping process precisely using customizable motion and handling functions, as well as status, error and warning messages.
- Virtually maintenance-free due to the use of brushless flat motors.
The mechatronic centric gripper EZU is particularly flexible in workpiece handling thanks to the freely programmable jaw stroke. Thanks to its robust, sealed design and expandable gripping force in StronGrip mode, it meets all the requirements of demanding production and assembly processes. Due to its design and sealing concept, it is particularly suitable for the automated loading and unloading of lathes. The EZU can also be used in the automotive industry, for example for handling shafts or gears.
Mechatronic grippers
Flexible and intelligent
Grippers EGU, EZU and EGK combine all the benefits of mechatronic gripping while offering flexible workpiece handling due to their large and freely programmable jaw stroke with stepless gripping force maintenance.
Advantages – Your benefits
- Flexible workpiece handling
Cylindrical workpieces of different sizes can be handled efficiently thanks to the extensively adjustable, freely programmable jaw stroke - High fault tolerance
The drive train ensures reliable centering of the workpiece and a constantly high gripping force even in the event of horizontal positioning errors of the workpiece or robot - Increased efficiency
No start-up distance is required for gripping, which simplifies handling and speeds up the overall process - High robustness
The sealed design with the proven sliding guide makes the gripper resistant to harsh operating conditions - Particularly reliable
The risk of workpiece loss is minimized thanks to the integrated gripping force maintenance with loss detection - High availability
The integrated absolute encoder ensures permanent referencing, even in the event of an emergency stop or power failure - Easy integration
The integration effort is significantly reduced thanks to a wide range of communication interfaces, PLC function blocks and robot plug-ins compatible with leading manufacturers
Options and special information
- Gripping modes
The BasicGrip and StrongGrip gripping modes are available. With BasicGrip continuous operation of the motor and thus permanent re-gripping of the workpiece is possible. The gripping speed is automatically optimized for gripping force adjustment. With StrongGrip, the maximum gripping force is generated and then stored by the gripping force maintenance. Permanent regripping is possible within an adjustable time frame. In addition, defined pause times and maximum ambient temperatures must be taken into account in StrongGrip mode. Further details can be found in the operating manual. - Maintenance of gripping force
By combining an electric holding brake with the initial tension of an elastic element, a gripping force of more than 80% of the originally applied gripping force can reliably be maintained in case of an emergency or a voltage drop. If gripping force maintenance and position maintenance are preemptively activated, 100% of the originally applied gripping force can be retained. Overrun of the gripper fingers when removing the workpiece is a few millimeters and depends on the gripping force generated. Variants without gripping force maintenance are also available as an option. - Seal
The gripper comes strandard with enhanced protection against the ingress of dust or liquids. The IP protection of the electronics is only given if the plug connectors have been mounted properly. The gearbox of the gripper is additionally protected by a seal on the output pinions. - Interface of the base jaws
When the intermediate jaw is used, the interface of the base jaws corresponds to that of the PZN-plus universal gripper. This means that the extensive range of finger accessories for the PZN-plus can also be used for this gripper, taking into account the interfering contours, and the application limits that apply.