INTEGRATOR OF NEW AND USED ROBOTS FOR INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

Robot grippers are a type of end of arm tooling (EOAT) used to move parts from one location to another. They can be driven hydraulically, electrically, and pneumatically. Dual grippers offer quick part changeovers. Vacuum grippers and electromagnets also offer flexibility in the size and shape of a product.

• Friction grippers rely totally on the force of the gripper to hold the part. The squeeze of the gripper does all the work.
• Encompassing grippers add stability and power by cradling the part. This option is more forceful because the jaw must be driven open for a part to be dropped.

The encompassing style is preferred for its strength and stability, however the amount that the jaw encompasses must be subtracted from the usable stroke. The weight of the part that the gripper experiences, both from gravity and from acceleration, is a critical factor in determining the required gripper force.

The torque created by the gripper is also critical to the gripper selection process. Jaw torque comes from two sources: the torque generated by the gripper and the torque generated by the acceleration and weight of the part.