The positive impacts of using vacuum suction cups
Vacuum pads serve as the final component in a vacuum system, enabling efficient and streamlined handling of a wide range of workpieces. As a result, vacuum suction cups offer a more efficient and economical solution compared to complex and expensive handling methods.
Suction Cup Options from SMC
Selecting the right suction cups is paramount for ensuring secure workpiece gripping, considering both workpiece properties and application demands.
Within our catalogue, you will find various suction cups, including various designs, connection options, shapes, materials, and those designed for specific applications.
Our vacuum cups are designed to address all your requirements:
- Flat suction cups: Ideal for general suction of flat components.
- Bellows suction cups: Use these to compensate for height differences or transport workpieces with angled or sloping surfaces.
- Oval suction cups: Suitable for applications involving workpieces with restricted suction areas, significant lengths, and stringent placement accuracy requirements.
- Nozzle suction cups: Suited for high-precision applications involving small, lightweight workpieces.
- Sponge suction cups: Designed for use on irregular, uneven surfaces that are challenging to grip and susceptible to vacuum leaks.
- Non-contact vacuum cups: Ideal for the gentle handling of a wide range of workpiece sizes, materials, and shapes, with suitability for delicate items such as thin, porous, perforated, or pressure-sensitive materials.
Safety considerations when using vacuum pads in industrial environments
Most manufacturers adhere to a safety factor of 2 for horizontal and 4 for vertical vacuum handling systems. However, these values are not absolute. They may not adequately address critical factors like vacuum leaks, or the porosity of the workpieces being handled.
Experience undoubtedly contributes significantly to this context. Based on our extensive knowledge and decades of experience in vacuum solutions at SMC, we recommend employing higher safety factors to ensure the reliability of vacuum systems across all industries.
Therefore, we employ a safety factor of 4 for horizontal applications, while recommending a larger margin of 8 for vertical applications.
Use the expertise of our specialists to design a safe and energy-efficient vacuum system.
Guidelines for selecting vacuum suction cups
Optimising the vacuum system's efficiency requires careful consideration of suction cup selection.
Choosing the right vacuum pads is crucial for top system performance in different conditions and applicationsThe choice of suction cups is primarily based on the following factors:
- Mass of the workpiece to be handled
- Orientation of the workpiece (horizontal or vertical)
- Geometric shape of the workpiece to be handled
- Material compatibility
- Surface roughness and porosity of the workpiece
- Inertial forces resulting from acceleration and deceleration
Our practical selection guide simplifies the process of finding the right vacuum cup for your application.
Do you require help selecting the appropriate vacuum suction cups?
Reach out to our vacuum technology specialists to find the perfect suction pads for your specific needs.
