Choosing the Right Robotic Gripper for Your Application

How to Select the Right EAOT for Your Application

It is critical to select the correct end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) device when building an automated system for your manufacturing line. These grippers, designed for robots, grasp and move objects to enhance production, but you need to have the correct type of robotic gripper to ensure the success of your automation process.

Things to Consider When Selecting a Gripper

There are various types of grippers in robotics, ranging from claw grippers to magnetic grippers and more, as well as other aspects that can influence your decision. At Yaskawa, we can assist you with finding an end-to-end solution to match your requirements. Together, we'll collaborate to take into account the following factors:

The task itself

It is important to visualise, in detail, which tasks the robot will perform. These tasks usually determine the type of gripper that should be used. A fast-loading and unloading requirement favours vacuum cups, but a slower operation favours standard claw grippers for accuracy.

Speed

When it comes to speed, one should consider both the speed of the robot and how quickly the EOAT can pick up your product. As a general rule, vacuum grippers or cups are the most efficient. The vacuum supply can be switched even before the EOAT has reached the product, reducing response times. This is appropriate for applications with big, flat surfaces. If your product is not suitable for vacuuming, claw grippers with robotic fingers may be a better solution.

The robot’s environment

Not all grippers are appropriate for every process. Hydraulic grippers, for example, are prohibited in the food and pharmaceutical industries due to the possibility of oil leaking and contamination. Vacuum and pneumatic grippers are also not advised in many clean room sectors because they can generate particle flow in the air. Grippers used in less clean environments such as foundries, machining, and welding must be shielded from dirt and particles. Corrosive or toxic situations in nuclear or chemical industries necessitate extra precautions to secure the gripper's stability and safety of use. In most cases, the gripper must be failsafe. 

Precision

Some assembly operations will require extreme precision; a mechanical gripper powered by servo-electric motors would be ideal. Part sorting processes will need gripper adaptability to ensure that parts can be sorted, particularly those that vary in size or are positioned differently from one another.

Yaskawa 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.