The ability to use our hands is of the utmost importance. They are involved in almost everything we do - from brushing our teeth in the morning to the strenuous work we do during the day to putting our tired children to bed in the evening. Impaired hand function can therefore have serious consequences both at work and at home. The mission of an enthusiastic technology and development company from Sweden is to produce bionic, strength-giving products for people with reduced muscle strength or additional strength requirements. The desire to find the perfect drive solution for the latest revolutionary innovation has led Bioservo Technologies AB to Eichenberger.
The Ironhand® combines medical expertise, robotics and computer technology. With a passion for perfect movement, the Swiss thread specialist breathes life into this magic hand.
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Listening is the path to success
For the thread experts from Burg (CH), exotic materials and dimensions or thread forms that are outside the norm are welcome challenges. Eichenberger's design engineers listen to customers and understand their concerns. Answers are sought and found in a consultative, solution-oriented dialog. The competitive and successful innovation of customers and the inspiring discussions associated with this are Eichenberger's driving force for new developments. According to the credo: quality begins with a focus on the customer and ends with their satisfaction.
Quality of life thanks to Ironhand®
Weak hands can pose a number of challenges for working people who have to perform gripping-intensive tasks. Pain or loss of strength can lead to sickness-related absences. In emergency situations, tasks may even have to be redefined (retraining). This can have an impact on society as a whole and also on the physical and mental health of the individual. By providing people with aids, they can continue to cope with everyday life and/or return to work. As a result, companies lose fewer valuable employees with key skills and the individual remains integrated in the world of work.
Ironhand® is based on Soft Extra Muscle technology and was launched on the market in 2019. The modular system consists of a glove that covers five fingers and a drive system. Pressure sensors integrated into the Powerhand control the servomotors in the device. This gives the wearer a particularly strong grip.
One step ahead with the right technology partner
Eichenberger Gewinde AG ventures into exotic materials, thread forms or dimensions that are outside the norm. Unusual geometries, proprietary interfaces, special materials and hardening processes offer impressive extras. Where, for example, can you get a ball screw with dimensions of 9.3 x 2.125 mm? Only from Eichenberger! The company manufactures the necessary tools itself. In this way, the thread specialist guarantees a short time-to-market for application-optimized products of the highest precision and cost-effectiveness.
Together with Bioservo, Eichenberger developed the perfect screw drive solution for Ironhand®. Bioservo is a global leader in soft exoskeletons and motor support, focusing on the hand and other extremities of the upper body. The Bioservo team had the idea to develop a glove that could help prevent stress injuries, rehabilitate and support people in their daily activities at home or at work.
Superpowers made easy - thanks to ball screws
Ironhand® consists of a lightweight glove with a portable control unit that is worn as a backpack. Within milliseconds, it can increase the wearer's gripping force by up to 80 N. At the heart of this kit are five electrically driven, cold-rolled ball screws from Eichenberger. They convert the rotary motion of the small servomotors into a linear motion. The impressive efficiency of over 94 % ensures optimum drive performance.
The function of Ironhand® is similar to that of our hands. A hand movement is normally initiated by the muscles of the forearm and hand. These muscles pull the tendons that extend from the five fingers. Ironhand® works in the same way: the pressure-sensitive sensors in the fingertips of the glove detect when the user grasps an object. A microcomputer calculates the required power. Servomotors drive five filigree 5 x 2 mm ball screws (Ø 5 mm, pitch 2 mm). These are connected to the fingers of the glove by thin wire strings. The fine connections move the fingers and the additional force is generated by the slim glove. The higher the pressure on the sensors, the more power the glove delivers. Ironhand® therefore recognizes how the user grasps an object and adapts the gripping movement intuitively and automatically.
Standard ball screws - or would you like a little more?
Small installation space often poses a challenge with high loads. Noiseless movements in the smallest of spaces are required. This is exactly how Bioservo describes the requirements for the mechanical drive elements in the specifications. High positioning accuracy with the smallest strokes and high dynamics in continuous operation must be mastered. The focus is on safety and reliability. Maintenance intervals, service life and, last but not least, costs play a key role.
At Eichenberger Gewinde AG, products that are comparable in terms of dimensions or quality perform better than expected. Through individual design or special manufacturing processes, the thread professional adapts its products to the application and makes the impossible possible. This results in products that bring customers' innovations to the forefront of the market. The cold-formed, induction-hardened Ironhand® ball screws in the 5×2 mm dimension combine speed, precision and minimal space requirements. In addition, the ideal lead ratio of the spindle increases the efficiency of the movement. The "five Swiss heroes", with three ingenious single-gear feedback systems built into the nut, also impress with their low weight and increase the cost-effectiveness of the overall solution.
