Manufacturing Industry is Impact by the Use of Robotic Grippers
Published on : Sunday 23-08-2020
Manufacturers are keen on enhancing production, efficiency, and reducing overall costs simultaneously, the automation trend currently has engulfed a wide range of industrial domains worldwide.
In recent years, the demand for robotic grippers has surged at a commendable pace, owing to rapid progress in AI and gripping technologies. Moreover, manufacturers working in the robotic gripper backdrop have significantly increased their focus on developing cutting-edge and innovative grippers, mainly from the electronic and semiconductor, and automotive industry.
Robotic grippers in the Manufacturing Industry
The below mentioned are the most critical robotic grippers in the manufacturing industry right now:
• Robot grippers with two-fingers - Suitable for many industrial products, these are the simplest robotic grippers, that are easy to manufacture. Different alternatives can be found within this group - with pressure control, picking up pieces by inserting the two fingers inside a hole, opening command, with distant monitoring in the opening and closing. They can also have electric or pneumatic actuation.
• Grippers with three fingers - Since most automation cases can be deciphered with a two-finger gripper, this type of robotic gripper is not used that often. However, when it's required to pick up delicate objects with strength and precision, three fingers grippers are an ideal choice. Moreover, they also adapt better to non-flat surfaces with articulated fingers. This kind of robotic gripper is necessary when there are many various pieces to pick up since a flexible and versatile gripper is needed. It's evident that the greater the complexity, the higher the gripper price, which doubles the two-finger grippers price.
• Robotic grippers with flexible fingers - These are newer and more fit to pick up different objects. They are perfect for delicate things, like food, although they are more limited in general regarding the volume and weight of the object to be picked.
• Grain-filled flexible ball - The robotic gripper in a latex balloon-type filled with grain lays on the object to be picked, sucks in the air of the balloon, and turns into a firm shape that holds the purpose without damaging it. Due to its concept, simplicity, and versatility, it caused quite a shock after it was released.
• Big robotic grippers for palletizing - Since it's possible to purchase different predefined types of grippers, the progress here was made regarding standardization. There's also an increase in variety and capacity.
• Semi-professional 3D printed Robotic Grippers - Such kind of robotic grippers can be used as long as the required strength is not excessive, and the objects are light enough, which consigns these grippers to the academic and semi-professional atmosphere.
• Experimental Robotic Grippers - A different model of the experimental robotic grippers is the EPFL rubber clamp, that's made with five layers of materials - pre-stretched rubber between two layers of electrodes, which form the fins curve outwards when they are off.
Conclusion
The grippers/end-effectors are very adaptable components that have been used in applications such as MEMS grasping, manufacturing lines, prosthetic arms, automotive industries, surgical applications, and vegetable pickers. An impactive gripping strategy is utilized by most of these grippers. Since then, impactive grippers have aced into many segments, including grippers that have added cameras, malleable grippers, added sensors, piezoelectric grippers, MEMS, underactuated grippers, soft grippers, elastic and malleable grippers, multi-arm grippers, and multi-fingered grippers.
On the whole, grippers that have more sensor feedback tend to track and pick up objects more often. Although the MEMS and Piezoelectric grippers do not have much grip strength, they actuate with high precision, whereas malleable grippers can pick up oddly shaped objects. However, they may deteriorate after many cycles of actuation. Besides, in many tasks such as assembly lines and healthcare, the dual and multi-arm grippers are trending to replace humans in several tasks.