W.S.G. Isaac Newton

1 Internship abstract AWL, Stijn van der Zwan, s3092534

Universal gripper design for jigless joining

AWL specializes in advanced machine integration and design, especially for the automotive, metalworking, and logistics sectors, which demand high levels of automation and flexibility. My internship aimed to address a key challenge in the automotive industry’s shift from mass production to mass customization. Current automated joining techniques and workholding fixtures lack the adaptability needed for this transition due to their specialization for specific parts and the resource-intensive reconfiguration process. A solution, named jigless joining, is proposed where several robots work together in grasping, aligning, and assembling the parts.

I worked on developing a universal gripper based on the innovative concept of granular jamming, paired with a parallel gripper mechanism. This approach promised adaptability and compliance, essential for the proposed jigless joining process. The demonstrator setup tested the gripper’s functionality, adaptability, and stiffness within a robotic cell, using an ABB robotic arm.

During the internship, I experienced working within a professional high-tech company. I was able to work directly with experts, sharing ideas and knowledge. This internship has contributed to the research of a jigless joining process by using principles of soft robotics, uncommon for industrial applications. Despite facing challenges in positioning accuracy and reliability, the internship highlighted the potential of this technology but also discussed the need for further research in machine vision and material science to fulfill industrial standards.