The most important accessories for tool changers are energy elements that equip you to transfer a wide variety of media across the parting line. By redesigning our energy elements, we have now expanded and simplified our extensive product portfolio.
Energy Elements
FAQ
Energy elements can optionally be used in conjunction with a tool changer. They transfer various media from the robot flange to the tool. A few tool changer series already have multiple pneumatic feed-throughs integrated into the housing. These are used as the power supply for the gripper, for example. If the number of pneumatic feed-throughs is not sufficient or additional media such as load current, signal current or hy-draulic media have to be transmitted, energy elements are used.
Energy elements and tool changers are both available as fixed parts and as loose parts. The fixed part of the tool changer is mounted in a fixed position on the robot flange (refer to the bottom illustration). The loose part, on the other hand, is interchangeable. Various tools such as grippers are attached to the loose part. For a robot, therefore, one fixed part component and multiple loose part components are required. An ideal solution for storing the various loose parts is to use storage stations.
- Robot
- Fixed part
- Energy element
- Loose part
- Tools
- Storage station
Energy elements are exclusively suitable for tool changers. Depending on the tool changer, different series of energy elements are suitable. Energy elements can be attached to the following product series:
Tool changer
As standard models, we offer energy elements for transferring the following media:
Energy elements can be attached to any tool changer. The following illustrations show which series of ener-gy elements is compatible with which series of tool changers and how many energy elements fit on a single tool changer.
To find the compatible energy element more quickly, apply a pre-filter to refine the selection (see bottom illustration). If not all information about your application is available yet, so that the filter cannot be set, it is possible at any time to display all available energy elements that match the previous filter.
If none of our energy elements are compatible with your application, we can surely find another solution. Please contact us for more information!
For our energy elements, we offer spring contacts and plug-in connectors. Depending on the application, both types of connection have their advantages. Plug-in connectors (see illustration on the left) feature a long service life and are less susceptible to dirt and moisture. In addition, they are suitable for high voltage up to 600 V, amperage up to 15 A and for a high signal quality.
Spring contacts on the other hand (see illustration on the right) are suitable for voltage up to 60 V and am-perage up to 3 A. They require less installation space and are very easy to detach from each other, so you may not need a storage station with an extractor.
- Loose part
- Fixed part
Plug-in connectors
Spring contact
Hydraulic energy elements are designed for a pressure up to 150 bar. The pressure applied just before and during the coupling/decoupling operation is called the coupling pressure. Depending on the energy ele-ment, this can be a maximum of 15 bar or even less. To prevent leaks during coupling and decoupling, the maximum coupling pressure must be considered. We always recommend using a valve to shut off the pres-sure before coupling/decoupling so that a residual pressure of just < 15 bar is present.
At pressures of 30 bar and higher, high forces are exerted that can prevent an optimum connection of the elements. Without appropriate measures, leaks may result. Therefore, we recommend an additional sup-port or locking of the corresponding energy elements.
- Support on the robot
- Support by a
trimmed piece of metal or
an adapter plate - Pneumatic locking
User-fabricated elements are soldered and installed by the customer. For more information on installation, refer to the corresponding installation instructions.
Our energy elements are delivered with a radial plug orientation. If you want an axial plug orientation for your application, this is very easy to implement (see bottom illustration). To do so, unscrew the eight screws, then wire the bracket to the connector plug and refasten it using the eight screws - that's all!
Radial plug orientation
Rotate plug
Axial plug orientation
You have several basic options for integrating electrical energy elements into the system. These also depend on the particular energy element.
- Free strand end: Free strand ends are available for the user-fabricated energy elements of the WER1000 and WER2000 series.
- Energy elements of the WER1000 series have a connector plug. Our product line includes the corresponding round plugs as well as prefabricated cables. You can find a description of the assignment of the round plug to the energy element in the data sheet.
- The WER3000 series has plugs. Our product line includes the corresponding round plugs. These can be user-fabricated. We also offer you prefabricated cables upon request.
- If desired, energy elements with other plugs or with a direct cable outlet are also possible.
If you want to replace electrical energy elements from the WER04, WER05 or WER106 series (discontinued models) with elements from the WER3000 series, you should observe the following. You can continue to use the round plugs on the fixed part side without restrictions as long as you use the same number of poles. On the loose part side, the round plug (6) must be replaced, since the loose part of the WER3000 series has a union nut. The union nut is already integrated in the round plug of the WER04 / WER05 / WER106 series. This can also be seen in the figure below. In addition, energy elements of the WER3000 series need a corresponding adapter plate (5).
- Fixed part WER05
- Loose part WER05
- Fixed part WER3000
- Loose part WER3000
- Adapter plate
- Round plug to be replaced
If necessary, you can reorder the individual spring contacts for the user-fabricated energy elements. For our other elements, we ask that you send the energy element back to us in case of damage, because special devices are necessary for the assembly steps.
For energy elements, we do not have any certificate for clean room classes.
Upon request, we would be pleased to offer you energy elements with ATEX certification. Please contact us for more information!
The hot-plug function describes the possibility of adding or removing components of a system during operation or while the power is connected. The main feature of the hot plug is that the system is not interrupted.
Hot plug is used, for example, with energy elements or with quick-change systems of the LWR series.