Solutions for a More Economic Small Batch Production

One example of successful product development and production using additive manufacturing is the DHDG adaptive gripper. It has become an inherent part of Festo‘s production range and is manufactured on a FORMIGA P 100 supplied by EOS. Its structure is adapted from a fish fin and has two flexible bands which form a triangle to converge at the top. Intermediate webs are connected to the bands via joints at regular intervals.

Another example is the Bionic Handling Assistant. The flexible assistance system, which is modelled after an elephant‘s trunk, consists of three basic elements for spatial movement, a hand axis and a gripper with adaptive fingers. With a FORMIGA P 100, a complete handling assistant can be manufactured in just four building sessions.

The EOS technology makes it possible to directly incorporate functions that the final product is supposed to have. This is advantageous, since it reduces the number of parts and the additional assembly costs.

Moreover, the DHDG adaptive gripper is very economic, because it is about 80 % lighter than conventional grippers made of metal. The reason for this is the additive manufacturing of plastics which allows the production of especially light-weight, elastic but very strong structures. Tool-less production saved 40 % of the unit costs compared to injection moulding.