Powerful yet gentle transportation: contactless vacuum gripper of the XT661-X427 series in Bernoulli design

The contactless vacuum gripper of the XT661-X427 series in Bernoulli design offers high lifting force, reduces vibrations of workpieces, prevents slipping—and thus ensures increased process safety and productivity. (Photo: SMC Deutschland GmbH)

When transferring delicate workpieces such as circuit boards, tissues, or various types of films, especially gentle procedures are important to avoid marks or damage to the workpiece. At the same time, high flexibility, safety, and low installation effort are required. With the new contactless vacuum gripper from series XT661-X427, SMC meets the high requirements in multiple ways. Thanks in part to high lifting force, vibration suppression, prevention of workpiece slipping, and process monitoring via pressure sensor, process engineers gain extensive advantages for their transfer applications.

From the automotive industry to packaging and food industries, and medical technology, workpieces are transported that may have shape-stable, breathable, or surface-sensitive properties. In these cases, contactless vacuum grippers are used to ensure particularly gentle transfer. To offer users even more flexibility and safety, SMC, the specialist for pneumatic and electrical automation, has further developed the series XT661 with a new model of the XT661-X427 series: a contactless vacuum gripper in Bernoulli design that features high lifting force, reduces vibrations, and prevents workpiece slipping – thus guaranteeing a new level of process safety and flexibility.

Literally lives up to its promises

The contactless vacuum gripper of series XT661-X427 enables safe and gentle transfer. It achieves a lifting force of up to 13 N on airtight workpieces at a supply pressure of 0.5 MPa – approximately 4.4 times higher than the previous version. It utilizes the Bernoulli effect, creating an air cushion through the accelerated air exiting sideways, which maintains the distance between the gripper and the workpiece. Optionally, the pressure sensor from series PSE541-M5 can be added via the multi-connection. This detects whether a workpiece is being sucked in, contributing to process safety. In addition to its high lifting force, the contactless vacuum gripper, with a diameter of 40 mm and a housing made from an aluminum alloy in basic design, weighs only 48.8 g.

Flexible and safe – in many industries

There are two options for connecting the supply of series XT661-X427 – from the side or from above. If connected from above, no tubing is required thanks to the O-ring mounting, which minimizes installation effort for process engineers. Additionally, due to the combination of selectable connection direction and high lifting force, they can operate very flexibly for various applications.

To make transport even safer, one stop made of NBR (black) or silicone rubber (white) prevents slipping of workpieces. Furthermore, a plastic cover can be attached, which not only reduces vibrations of thin workpieces but also diminishes vibration noise during absorption. Since the plastic cover complies with FDA regulation 21CFR §77, its use in the food and medical industries is also easily possible.

Overall, users receive a contactless Bernoulli-type vacuum gripper with series XT661-X427 that offers high process safety and flexibility for gentle, imprint-free handling of workpieces of various sizes, shapes, weights, and/or materials. And all this across industries – whether in packaging, food, electronics, textiles, automotive, medical technology, or general automation.