Case Studies > Agile Industrial Robot Grippers with Topology Optimization & Metal 3D Printing

Agile Industrial Robot Grippers with Topology Optimization & Metal 3D Printing

Customer Company Size

Mid-size Company

Region

Europe

Country

Italy

Product

nTopology
Desktop Metal Studio System

Tech Stack

Metal 3D Printing
Topology Optimization
Reusable Design Workflows

Implementation Scale

Enterprise-wide Deployment

Impact Metrics

Productivity Improvements
Cost Savings
Innovation Output

Technology Category

Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Analytics & Modeling - Generative AI
Functional Applications - Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)

Applicable Industries

Automotive

Applicable Functions

Process Manufacturing
Quality Assurance

Use Cases

Predictive Maintenance
Manufacturing System Automation
Factory Operations Visibility & Intelligence

Services

Software Design & Engineering Services
System Integration

About The Customer

Preziosa Francesco SRL is a manufacturer of sheet metal cabinets based in Bergamo, Italy. The company has established itself as a leader in its field by investing in advanced manufacturing technologies, including a robotic cell and an automated press brake bending machine. These investments are crucial for maintaining their competitive edge and ensuring high-quality production. However, the company faced challenges with the long lead times associated with CNC machining custom robot grippers, which are essential for their automated processes. By partnering with Add-it and leveraging metal 3D printing, Preziosa Francesco SRL aimed to overcome these challenges and enhance their manufacturing capabilities.

The Challenge

Preziosa Francesco SRL faced a significant bottleneck in their automated press brake bending machine due to the long lead times of CNC machining new sets of custom robot grippers. This bottleneck threatened the efficiency and reliability of their robotic cell, which was a substantial investment. The challenge was to find a way to produce these grippers more quickly and reliably to ensure the smooth operation of their manufacturing process.

The Solution

To address the bottleneck, Preziosa Francesco SRL partnered with Add-it to move part production in-house using metal 3D printing. They utilized nTopology's software to create reusable design workflows, which allowed them to quickly generate custom grippers with optimized geometry. The engineers applied a honeycomb-like perforation pattern to the grippers to increase traction and reliability. Additionally, they used topology optimization to design more agile grippers with a smaller footprint, enhancing the robot's safe zone and process repeatability. This approach not only improved the reliability of the bending process but also enabled lights-out manufacturing and full utilization of their robotic system.

Operational Impact

The redesigned gripper significantly improved process reliability, eliminating stops and enabling lights-out manufacturing.
The ability to produce parts in-house within a few days allowed Preziosa Francesco SRL to adapt their system on short notice and revisit processes as needed.
Reusable design workflows created in nTopology facilitated rapid generation of custom industrial tools and fixtures, enhancing the overall manufacturing process.
The new gripper design expanded the robot's safe zone and increased its agility, ensuring safer and more repeatable operations.
The integration of metal 3D printing and topology optimization unlocked the full potential of their expensive hardware equipment, maximizing its capabilities.

Quantitative Benefit