Fairlane Products Expands GripShape Services

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Fairlane Products adds to GripShape services to change the way automation is being conceptualized, manufactured and integrated.

Fairlane^® Products (Fraser, MI), a leading manufacturer of workholding and positioning components, announces the addition of new products and services to the GripShape line of automation offerings. GripShape was officially launched in 2020 as a way for end users, designers and engineers to quickly customize and purchase gripper tooling for robotic end-of-arm tooling applications. Over the last year, Fairlane has added and updated user interface, free low-fidelity CAD model downloads, high-definition CAD model options, a wide variety of finger blanks, standard CNC machined gripper fingers and full-service design options. The expanded scope of services will help customers get the tooling needed to ensure a successful project. 

GripShape’s free online design tool, available at www.GripShape.com allows for users to configure custom gripper tooling in minutes. Fairlane has added over one hundred and sixty gripper modules from a wide range of industry leading gripper manufacturers so users can select a gripper that fits their application. The configurator now has easy to follow, on screen information panels to give expert guidance throughout the entire process and the ability to save or share the design has been added to allow for easy collaboration on projects. Downloading a free, low-fidelity CAD model directly from the application is easy and allows for integrating the CAD into a project or finalizing the design aspects themselves.

“By offering a quick way to get to a low-fidelity CAD model, the user can easily design a set of custom gripper fingers while only having to focus on the basic parameters,” explained Nick Jenks, Engineering Business Development for Fairlane Products. “Once they get the model how they want, simply select the option for our experts to finalize the design by adding mounting geometries for hardware and production ready fillets and chamfers. In less than an hour, the customer has a high-definition model back that they can use to 3D print or machine themselves all for a very low cost.” This decreases the amount of time companies will spend designing which allows them to focus on areas that have more opportunity to increase their bottom line.

For companies that have some manufacturing capabilities such as a tool room, the GripShape line of standard gripper blanks are a perfect option. The blanks come pre-machined to fit the tabs of the gripper module selected so all that is needed is to cut the grip area to the desired shape. This eliminates the need to think about tolerances, stroke at contact and other factors that make designing robot gripper tooling challenging. GripShape blanks will be available through our related business, Fixtureworks with aluminum and steel versions to fit a wide variety of gripper modules.

GripShape’s new line of standard gripper fingers were designed to offer grip areas and other geometries that would normally be designed into custom tooling, but in such a wide variety that ordering a custom gripper finger could be a simple as picking a part number. The standard gripper tooling is offered for many of the leading gripper modules and the parts are in-stock, ready to ship. Standard robot fingers are a great way to get the custom tooling needed without designing or waiting on long lead times. Standard components will be available in a variety of materials and finishes through Fixtureworks.

Designing automation tooling can be complex and often requires an iterative design. GripShape experts can help design and manufacture a custom solution for you that goes beyond gripper tooling. The mechanical aspects of the application can all be sourced from GripShape saving both time and money. This includes robot mounting stand or bases, part presentation trays, interface plates, dual or special module mounting brackets, and more. 

Fairlane Products designs, manufactures and stocks a range of standard components used in machine tool workholding, specialty fastening and material handling. Our related business, Fixtureworks, supplies an extended range of standard machine components and complete workholding solutions.

Learn more about Fairlane at www.FairlaneProducts.com