STM SERIES

Transport manipulators

Transport manipulators speed up handling and make it safer and much more
reliable than non-robotized operation.

[Translate to Englisch:] Transportmanipulator

HIGHLIGHTS

Transport manipulators of the STM series are the tools of choice for frequently recurring handling operations, such as the transfer of forgings between the furnace and the press as well as the loading and unloading of rotary hearth furnaces.

They are specially designed for use in forging and ring rolling shops, in other words, for heavy loads, high-temperature environments and applications that require a long reach.

Stationary STMs are particularly suitable for recurring transfer operations between close locations, such as a press and a nearby furnace. In such an application, a stationary manipulator is unparalleled in terms of handling precision and speed.

Rail-bound manipulator on the other hand are able to cover longer distances. A typical application would be the transport of forgings between several process stages.

The benefits at a glance

Long reach, even with heavy forgings
Compact design
Precise, high-speed actuation
Perfectly linear lifting and feed movement
Fully automatic, semi-automatic and operator modes

Its versatile gripper tongs and its wide range of potential uses make the STM an ideal machine for handling operations in closed-die forging shops. From the blank to the finished forged components most workpieces will be gripped with one and the same tongs. Nevertheless, handling flexibility can be further enhanced by using our quick-change tongs.

The adjustable gripping pressure is particularly useful in ring rolling, to ensure the finished rings will not deform while being transported.

When used in heat treatment operations, it's high actuation speed and fully automatic system guarantee short cycle times as well as excellent repeatability.

MORE DETAILS

Longer reach

Even with a reach of more than 10 meters, the STM manipulator can safely and precisely transfer payloads of up to 50 kN.

More reliability

Our transport manipulators are designed specifically for use in high-temperature environments and near intensive heat radiation.

More flexibility

Three operating modes – manual, semi-automatic and fully automatic, including integration with the customer’s process control system – provide maximum flexibility.

More precision

The positively controlled mechanics and the accurate position control assure perfectly linear motion in both horizontal and vertical direction.

Design and mechanics Drives Tongs Control Programming Safety Sustainability

Sophisticated kinematics

The positively controlled mechanics of the lever system and the accurate position control ensure perfectly linear motion of the tongs holder in both horizontal and vertical direction. This is achieved by the combined movement of two mechanically coupled levers. The lever system is torsion-resistant and designed for ease of maintenance.

Thanks to the multi-stage lever system, the STM is perfectly suitable even for use in areas of very limited space.

MICHAEL ORTHEY, Head Engineering and Design

Hydraulic or electro-mechanical

For the handling of loads exceeding 15 t our manipulators are hydraulically actuated. For lower-weight forgings we equip them with innovative electro-mechanical drives.

Using electro-mechanical drives means much less energy consumption thanks to the direct power input – without the detour via a hydraulic system.

BORIS MARCUKAITIS, Project Engineer

Safe hold at all times

We supply the manipulators with tongs that best meet the specific application. For example:

Tongs designed to grip discs, ring blanks and rings
Tongs designed to grip ingots and forgings from above
Tongs designed to set forgings upright

In addition to opening and closing as well as lifting and lowering, an optional rotary drive enables the manipulator to rotate the forging through its horizontal axis. Furthermore, the tongs can be tilted to pick up a forging from the floor, for example.

The adjustable clamping force assures that the forgings – rings, for example – do not deform during handling.

High flexibility

Thanks to the choice between three operating modes, the STM provides maximum flexibility:

Fully automatic operation:When used in large-volume series production runs where handling operations are repetitive and identical. The manipulators operate in automatic mode, controlled by a higher-level master computer.
Semi-automatic operation:For parts of special shape and small numbers of parts, it is possible to switch over to semi-automatic mode. The machine may be positioned in front of the furnace in the automatic mode, for example. Then the operator takes over to pick up the workpiece. This accomplished, he may switch the system back to automatic operation.
Operator mode: The operator controls all axes of the manipulators from the cabin via joysticks and other controls or from a separate control room via remote control and camera view.

User-friendly programming

The application programs are created and adapted via the touchscreen of the “Mission Editor” or via a mobile panel. Actuation and waiting commands are selected from pulldown menus. Positioning parameters may be entered as absolute or relative values or copied from the current position of the tongs via the teach-in function.

Safety first

The hydraulic accumulators assure that in the event of a power failure the tongs can still be safely retracted from the furnace. By integrating a hydraulic accumulator into the pressure line to the tongs cylinder, the clamping force of the tongs is maintained even if the system pressure decreases.

The operator cabin comes with effective noise and heat protection equipment as standard. The cabin can also be fitted with an industrial air conditioning system as an option.

Low energy consumption

The STM manipulators fitted with an electromechanical drive feature low energy consumption. This is because they convert electrical energy directly into motion via the servomotor and/or the spindle.

During braking, the drives operate in generator mode. In other words, they generate power that can be fed to operate other loads via an intermediate circuit.

Boris Marcukaitis, Project Engineer