Types of robot grippers and their industrial uses

Robotic grippers are also known as end effectors. They have a wide range of uses and come in different shapes and sizes. Depending on your needs, you’ll need different grippers for different tasks. After getting your robot you’ll need to consider what automated task it will perform to select the right gripper.

The gripper is attached to the wrist of the robot and performs tasks like picking and placing and assembly, among others. It’s the part that comes in direct contact with your products and should be carefully considered to ensure that you have the correct one. You don’t want a pneumatic arm if you need it for assembly. They are mainly used with
cobots and deliver precision and efficiency.

 

There are five different grippers that can be used for different needs. Let’s have a look at different robotic arms and their industrial applications.

 

Types of robot grippers

Vacuum grippers

Mostly used for packaging and palletizing, the vacuum gripper can produce between four and ten times more power than other grippers. They are a good fit for lifting heavy objects and also work for applications that need a high degree of mobility.

They use the difference between atmospheric pressure and a vacuum to hold, lift, and move objects. The vacuum flow is generated by a small electromechanical pump and a compressed air-driven pump. They work for a wide range of automated tasks and are very versatile because of their ability to grip most products.

 

Advantages of vacuum grippers:

●      Can handle different types of items, even if they are imperfectly positioned.

●      Has a lower price than other types of grippers.

●      Can be used for many applications.

●      Has a wide range of movement.

 

Disadvantages of vacuum grippers:

●      Higher electrical costs.

●      Is sensitive to dusty conditions.

 

Pneumatic grippers

Using gripper jaws, a pneumatic gripper uses compressed air to operate it for picking and placing. It has fingers, similar to humans, that are designed to grasp, hold, and work objects. They have two parallel or angular fingers or three fingers that have a single or double cylinder to control it. They are mainly used for automated manufacturing processes where pieces need to be gripped. This can be small objects such as circuit boards or chips to large objects like engine blocks.

 

Advantages of pneumatic grippers

●      Light weight.

●      Cost-effective.

●      Strong gripping force.

●      Can grip a variety of workpiece configurations.

●      Gripping force is adjustable.

 

Hydraulic grippers

These are strong grippers that are often used for tasks that need a big amount of force. Despite their strength they can be messy because of the oil that the pumps use. They also require more maintenance that means more downtime for your production line. They are strong and can handle heavier objects.

 

Servo-electric grippers

They are becoming more popular in the industry because of their easy control. The grippers are very flexible which is good for handling different materials. The jaw movements are controlled by electric motors. They are also cost-effective and require less maintenance because they don’t have air lines meaning that they are cleaner.

 

Magnetic grippers

Magnetic grippers can be used with permanent magnets and electromagnets. Permanent magnets don’t require an external supply for grasping, when an object is picked up there is a device called the stripper push which separates the object from the jaws of the gripper. The electromagnets work with a controller unit and a DC power to grasp objects.

 

Yaskawa’s robotic grippers

We are a trusted partner and leader in the manufacturing of robotic solutions. It involves flexibility through 2D and 3D vision software as well as specialized software and tooling to enable customization 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.