What are the industrial robot grippers and what do they need to be aware of when working?

2022-06-27


Industrial Robot Gripper Modules are configurable key components of automation systems. An industrial robot fixture module is an actuator with grippers whose primary application is to pick up, transfer and place objects. Industrial robot fixtures can be standardised or custom-designed to fit the physical specifications of the workpiece that the robotic device must grasp.

Industrial robot fixtures have features such as adjustable force and travel characteristics that allow the robotic device to perform tasks with human-like precision and dexterity. The number of industrial robot grippers varies by model, but most industrial robot grippers have two to four fingers.

What are Industrial Robot Fixtures
Industrial robot vacuum grippers are standard EOAT in manufacturing because they are highly flexible. Industrial robots fitted with vacuum grippers are ideally suited to picking up uneven or even homogeneous workpieces made of different materials, such as cardboard, glass, sheet metal and plastics.


What are industrial robot grippers?
Pneumatic fixtures for industrial robots are popular because of their compact size and light weight. They can easily fit into tight spaces, which is helpful in manufacturing. Pneumatic robotic fixtures can be opened or closed because metal-to-metal fixtures make noise when operated.

Hydraulic industrial robot grippers offer very high strength and are often used in applications that require a lot of force. These robotic grippers generate force through pumps that can provide up to thousands of psi of pressure. Despite their robustness, hydraulic fixtures are dirtier than other fixtures due to the hydraulic oil used in the pump. They may also require more maintenance because the forces used during application can damage the fixtures.

Considerations when working with industrial robot fixtures
It is important to prevent any contaminants from entering the industrial robot fixtures when the industrial robot is working in an environment with contaminated conditions in order to maintain trouble-free operation throughout its service life. There may be large amounts of dirt, debris, oil and grease. In these environments, temperature variations, often higher, can also affect the inner workings of industrial robot fixtures and be detrimental to their operation. These environments are common in automotive, foundry, machining and general industrial applications.

Many models offer purge ports. A purge port is simply an additional air port on the body of the fixture that has access to the internal mechanisms of the fixture. Low pressure air is introduced to maintain positive pressure inside the fixture housing and to prevent contaminants from being drawn into the internal workings. In very harsh environments, grease fittings may also be required to remove dirty grease or add new grease to the equipment as part of a preventative maintenance programme.


What are industrial robot grippers?
In dusty work environments, the focus is on preventing anything on or inside the industrial robot fixture from being released into the work environment and contaminating parts or processes. This is common in the medical, pharmaceutical, electronics, and food production industries where only very small amounts of air or surface contaminants are allowed. Many fixtures have cleanroom ratings and can operate in environments with a specified cleanroom classification.

Purge ports are available for many fixture models. These ports are often dual-purpose, just like the purge ports mentioned earlier. The difference is that when the port is used for purging, contaminants that may be present in the industrial robot fixture itself will not escape into the environment. To achieve this, a low-level vacuum is applied to the port to create a negative pressure, and clean air from inside the working environment is drawn out of the work cell through the fixture.

The article focuses on what industrial robotic fixtures are available, and by browsing the full article you can learn about the common types of fixtures such as vacuum fixtures, pneumatic fixtures, and hydraulic fixtures. In addition, the article also describes the considerations for choosing industrial robot fixtures. It is important to prevent any contaminants from entering industrial robot fixtures in working environments with contaminated conditions in order to maintain trouble-free operation throughout their service life. Whereas industrial robots operate in environments with contaminated conditions, it is important to prevent any contaminants from entering the industrial robot fixture in order to maintain trouble-free operation throughout its service life.