eGrip ordering platform
Materialise took centre stage at last week’s TCT Show to tell us why they’re working towards an industry that’s built to last and has today announced the result of a recent collaboration with SCHUNK, German expert for Gripping and Clamping.
The team worked together to produce SCHUNK eGrip, the world's first fully-automated design and ordering tool for additive manufactured gripper finger which is currently undergoing BETA testing.
SCHUNK eGrip is a browser-based, license-free application to create and order tailor-made gripper fingers. Following a few simple steps, users upload STEP or STL data of the part to grip, and add specific information such as weight, gripper base, mounting direction and relative position of the part to the gripper. The software automatically configures the gripper fingers around the part, generating the optimal finger design, and immediately gives price and estimated delivery information.
Marcel Nagel, Head of Product and Portfolio Management Gripping Systems, said: "eGrip is a strong example of the innovative ideas you can realize when you combine the core competences of two leaders in their fields – SCHUNK for Gripping and Clamping and Materialise for 3D Printing software and services. The result of our collaboration is the world's first fully automated design tools for additive manufactured gripper fingers. What's more, the browser-based, license-free platform also reduces the design and ordering time for customized gripper fingers to just 15 minutes."
Materialise, the Belgian 3D printing pioneer, developed a user-friendly interface that automates the design phase and allows for immediate order placement. SCHUNK eGrip integrates with Materialise's additive manufacturing automation and control software Streamics and places orders automatically in its certified production for laser sintered polyamide.
The entire process from design to delivery can be completed in just a few days giving it a considerable advantage over timely traditional manufacturing techniques.
Bart Van der Schueren, Executive Vice President at Materialise added: "The platform we've created together with SCHUNK saves time and facilitates the gripper finger design and manufacturing process. eGrip is a great example of how we bring our 3D printing software and hardware infrastructure together to add value to people's work and life. We admire SCHUNK's dedication to bringing high-quality, innovative solutions to their customers and were proud to help them empower this great idea."
