ATI Industrial Automation has introduced the AOV-10 Axially-Compliant Orbital Sander that is designed for robotic surface preparation and finishing. With built-in compliance, the AOV-10 is well-suited for many robotic applications.

A pneumatically-actuated compliance mechanism allows for dynamic control of contact forces. The compliance force is adjustable to accommodate a variety of applications. Double-acting motion offsets the weight of the tool to produce the desired finish no matter how it is oriented.

Users can mount the AOV-10 directly to their robot or to a fixture, in any orientation, including upside-down. The design is compact and lightweight, which suits a range of robot sizes and types, from collaborative robots to industrial models.

ATI’s robotic sander is optimized with 3M abrasives and includes a media kit of sanding discs and backup pads.

In manual operations, a skilled person’s ability to feel and visually inspect subtle changes in surface conditions allows them to instinctively adjust forces to compensate for variations and produce a uniform process on the workpiece. Manual material removal jobs, often labeled as dull, dirty, and dangerous, need responsiveness to ensure consistent results.

ATI’s Axially-Compliant Orbital Sander provides a direct replacement for manual surface preparation and finishing techniques; high quality results without the safety hazards or compromised labor.

Automation with a robot and an AOV-10 end-effector not only keeps employees away from undesirable conditions, but also overcomes process variation due to part misalignment, part geometry inconsistency, or robot path deviations. This leads to two main benefits: the programming process becomes quicker and easier, and the overall quality of the process increases which ultimately drives costs down.

ATI’s Compliant Robotic Sander streamlines surface preparation processes to increase efficiency, lower costs, and eliminate safety hazards. The ability to integrate an assortment of media options, configure the tool to fit their unique project, and vary the air pressure and contact forces on the workpiece make the AOV-10 a versatile tool for automation.