FDM End of Arm Tools deliver quick, cost-effective results

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Result

Genesis engineers soon discovered that FDM technology also created a

number of other benefits, including vast reductions in production cost and cycle time. Previously it would have taken 20 days and substantial cost to make a pneumatic gripper with CNC machining. By using 3D printing, Genesis reduced the time to three days and significantly reduced the cost — an 85% reduction in production time and an even greater 94% reduction in cost.

The redesigned EOAT, made with lightweight FDM plastic, also reduced the weight from 35 pounds to just 3 pounds. This made it possible to use smaller, less expensive robots. These factors alone give Genesis numerous opportunities to reduce costs and streamline

production throughout the company.

Doug Huston, technical advisor for Genesis Systems Group, expressed his appreciation of the system by saying, “Switching to FDM dramatically reduced the cost of building grippers. Delivery time was substantially reduced too, which is important because if a tool is destroyed in production, we have to shut down until a replacement is built.”

Huston added, “Normally, it would take weeks to get traditional grippers made. With the FDM gripper, you can have a new end of arm tool complete and bolted up to the robot within a day or so.”

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