ATI Industrial Automation’s CRT-12-5 Compliant Reciprocating Tool enables a wide range of robotic material removal operations. With a robust reciprocating drive, the CRT-12-5 produces a filing motion that is uniquely compatible for precise tasks like deburring edges and removing flash from cast metal parts. The CRT-12-5 features built-in compliance, making programming easier, ensuring consistent results. The cutting force is adjustable on-the-fly so users can fine-tune the process to achieve their ideal finish and accommodate material removal from multiple features or parts. The Compliant Reciprocating Tool utilizes widely-available industrial finishing media and can be deployed in a variety of ways which makes this tool a robust yet flexible alternative to filing by hand.
While the motor is engaged, the abrasive media is pushed against the work piece using an adjustable air supply to control the contact force. This constant pneumatic force allows the tool to comply radially to variance in part profile. The force control system can provide very high stiffness in the path direction while allowing low to high force adjustability to the user in the compliant direction.
The reciprocating design of the tool and media interface enables a filing motion that is ideal for removing material from deep grooves and tight corners. The Compliant Reciprocating Tool allows for quick reaction to any variances in part position or robot path and can reduce robot programming time by up to 75%.