With the "Schmalz Bernoulli suction pads SBS", the vacuum specialist J. Schmalz GmbH in 72293 Glatten presents a completely new series of vacuum grippers for the handling of delicate parts or parts whose surface is easily damaged or has a large number of small holes. In these floating suction pads, which operate on the Bernoulli principle, the compressed air enters from the top or the side and flows out around the edges of the pad. This outflow of air generates a vacuum and also forms an air cushion on which the pad floats. It is thus possible to grip sensitive objects safely, but with minimum contact with the pad, and to position them precisely elsewhere. Three elastomer studs compensate for any lateral forces which occur during handling or movement (due to acceleration and deceleration), thus permitting the reproducibly accurate positioning of the handled parts.

Another advantage of the Bernoulli principle is the high flow rate of the compressed air which generates the low vacuum, because this allows structured or delicate parts, or parts with easily damaged surfaces, to be gripped without deformation or damage. The suction pads also leave almost no marks on the surfaces of the parts. In addition, the high flow rate provides good compensation for any leaks, without deforming the parts. They are thus ideal for handling thin printed circuit boards without components mounted on them, which have a large number of tiny holes for subsequent mounting of the electronic components. While normal suction pads press strongly against the surfaces of the parts (due to the higher vacuum), the floating suction pads SBS hardly touch the parts. They thus leave almost no marks on the surface and are thus a very good solution for applications where marking of the surfaces is undesirable for technical or optical reasons.

Although the demand for such floating suction pads originally came from the wafer and electronics industries, the SBS suction pads are also very suitable for universal and flexible use. In addition to the above applications, they are also used in the optical industry, in the manufacture of solar cells and for the handling of paper, films and veneers.

The floating suction pads SBS are available as vacuum components, ready for installation, and weigh 55 grams. At the moment, the SBS suction pads are available in a diameter of 40 mm with a holding force of 6.5 N and a lateral force of 4.5 N at an input pressure of 5 bar.