Sind gedruckte Greiferbacken für den Dauerbetrieb geeignet?

Ja, mit dem passenden Werkstoff. PA12-CF und PA6-CF sind steif und verschleißfest genug für viele Greifanwendungen im Mehrschichtbetrieb. Bei sehr hohen Zykluszahlen oder abrasiven Bauteilen empfehlen wir regelmäßige Sichtkontrolle der Kontaktflächen.

Lohnt sich Leichtbau bei bewegten Greifteilen wirklich?

Bei hohen Beschleunigungen und kurzen Taktzeiten ja, weniger bewegte Masse senkt die nötige Beschleunigungskraft und kann die Taktzeit spürbar verkürzen. Bei langsamen Bewegungen ist der Effekt gering, dort zählt eher Steifigkeit.

Wie schnell können Sie Umrüstteile für einen Formatwechsel liefern?

Bei vorhandenen CAD-Daten des neuen Formats meist in 2 bis 4 Werktagen. Für mehrere Formatgrößen auf einmal planen wir die Fertigung gebündelt, das verkürzt die Lieferzeit pro Variante.

Wie verhält sich Verschleiß bei gedruckten Führungsteilen?

Gedruckte Führungen nutzen sich sichtbar an der Oberfläche ab, brechen aber selten spontan, weil die Abnutzung meist gleichmäßig verläuft. Wir legen kritische Führungsflächen daher etwas dicker aus und behandeln sie bei Bedarf mit einer glatteren Oberflächenbearbeitung.

3D printing for automation and assembly lines

Gripper jaws, vacuum pads, part carriers and changeover parts for production lines, light for short cycle times and in wear resistant materials for continuous multi-shift operation.

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Gripper and carrier parts often ready in 2 to 4 working days

Parts for automation lines

In automation, formats and parts change often. Printed components can be adapted to a new geometry quickly, without waiting for a tooling change.

Gripper jaws and vacuum pads

Contoured contact faces that hold delicate parts without marking, light enough for fast acceleration.

Part carriers and nests

Nests that position workpieces precisely along the line and keep them accessible for camera or robot handling.

Sensor and camera mounts

Sturdy mounts for sensors and vision systems, fine adjustable and mounted with low vibration.

Changeover parts for format changes

Changeover sets for different product variants, quickly reprinted when a new format size is added.

Suitable materials

For moving parts, low weight and stiffness matter most, while guides and contact faces additionally need wear resistance.

Read the materials guide

Details needed for automation parts

01Cycle count and cycle time of the application, so wall thickness and material match the duration of load.
02Moving mass and acceleration, when lightweighting is meant to reduce cycle time.
03Contact surface to the workpiece: material, finish and whether marks or scratches must be avoided.
04Interfaces to robot, gripper or line, ideally as a STEP file of the mating geometry.
05Number of required format variants, when changeover parts are planned for several product sizes.

Full DFM checklist

Printed parts in gripping systems and assembly lines

Automation components change more often than typical machine parts, because products, formats and gripping tasks shift at short intervals. That is exactly what makes 3D printing attractive: a new gripper jaw or a new nest for a changed part geometry can be adapted and delivered in days instead of weeks, without tooling cost for every variant.

For moving parts such as gripper jaws or vacuum pad holders, weight matters most. Less moving mass lowers the acceleration force the robot or pneumatic cylinder must supply, and at high cycle counts can noticeably shorten cycle time. At slow handling steps the effect is small, where stiffness against deflection matters more than the last gram of weight.

Wear naturally occurs on guide rails, nests and contact faces, but on printed parts it tends to progress evenly rather than causing sudden failure. We design critical faces a bit thicker than pure load would require, so wear stays visible and predictable before a function fails. At very high cycle counts we recommend regular visual inspection as a simple preventive measure.

Manufacturing data at a glance

Location: Schleswig, Germany
Part size: up to approx. 250 x 250 x 250 mm, larger parts split and joined
Quantities: 1 to several thousand, no minimum order quantity
Tolerances: approx. ±0.2 mm for PLA, PETG and carbon grades, ±0.3 mm for ABS, ASA and PC
Layer height: 0.10 to 0.30 mm
Materials: 20 engineering filaments from PLA to PA12-CF and PC FR
File formats: STEP, STL, 3MF, OBJ, IGES up to 200 MB
Lead time: 2 to 4 working days for samples, 4 to 15 working days for series

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Automation FAQ

Are printed gripper jaws suitable for continuous operation?: Yes, with the right material. PA12-CF and PA6-CF are stiff and wear resistant enough for many gripping applications in multi-shift operation. At very high cycle counts or with abrasive parts we recommend regular visual inspection of contact surfaces.
Does lightweighting moving gripper parts really pay off?: Yes at high accelerations and short cycle times, less moving mass lowers the required acceleration force and can noticeably shorten cycle time. At slow motions the effect is small, there stiffness matters more.
How fast can you deliver changeover parts for a format change?: With existing CAD data of the new format, usually in 2 to 4 working days. For several format sizes at once we schedule production together, which shortens lead time per variant.
How does wear behave in printed guide parts?: Printed guides wear visibly at the surface but rarely fail suddenly, because wear tends to progress evenly. We therefore design critical guide faces a bit thicker and, where needed, apply a smoother surface finish.