4 Ideal features of robot grippers

Robots are becoming more popular in a wider range of industries. As their use increases, grippers need to be adapted to conform to different applications. Through advanced technology more gripper solutions are being developed. They offer various features that can be applied for different functions which has made their usability more diverse.

There are many qualities to look out for when considering robot grippers. Generally, there are two types; ones that grasp and ones that attach. Based on the items that they will be handling you will need to select what would work best for your business. Grippers that grasp are better suited to handling packages, whereas grippers that attach are better to use with items such as windscreens.

Some types of pneumatic or electrically driven grippers can conform to different shapes which makes them more versatile in their uses. This is especially advantageous in the handling of fruit and vegetables that don’t conform to a specific shape and needs to be handled with more care.

To find the right gripper there are four important features to look out for.

Easy integration

In order to function optimally grippers need to easily integrate with the hardware and software of the robot it’s attached to. Manufacturers of robot grippers have started to offer pre-integrated gripper programs to make it easier to install and use. The aim is to decrease time spent on implementation and programming to get you up and running faster.

Flexible

The more functions a gripper has, the more you will get from the investment. As you want the robot to function collaboratively it’s important that the gripper is flexible and can grasp or attach as many different items as possible.

As good as an application-specific gripper

There are many specialized grippers available for all types of gripping requirements. When doing research for the gripper that would work best for your needs, you need to determine if an optimized gripper has been developed that has solved an unusual handling problem. Along with this, if the gripper meets these requirements and the ones above it will be ideal for your specific situation.

Supports the operation’s long-term data integration goals

For businesses moving toward IIoT and Industry 4.0 operations, grippers that provide operational data are superior to those that do not. The more data you can acquire the more flexible your gripper will be.

Investing in a robot gripper to optimize your operations can be very rewarding and it is important that you first do your research and speak to experts. The above features are a great starting point for you to determine which would work best and should be taken into consideration when shopping around.

Yaskawa’s robotic grippers

We are a trusted partner and leader in the manufacturing of robotic solutions for palletizing and depalletizing. It involves flexibility through 2D and 3D vision software as well as specialized software and tooling to enable customisation for speed, safety, accuracy, and maximum productivity. We can also provide you with the necessary training to use your robot to its full potential. Contact us for more info.