Manufacturers often use the term "gripper" to describe a part of a robotic arm (manipulator) that is used to grab and move items from one place to another.
Grippers / grippers are used in a variety of industries, including packaging goods, wood products, construction and automotive assembly. There are several types of grippers, the most common of which are: Manual grippers: these grippers may have multiple tips extending forward, similar to human hands. Suction cups: these grab cups have high-power suction cups that can be connected to items for transportation.
-Key factors to be considered in gripper manufacturing.
No matter what the gripper looks like, robot grippers have one thing in common - they must be light and very strong. If the gripper is made of heavy materials such as steel, it may cause the robot arm to be compressed. Over time, the performance of the manipulator may begin to decline, which may delay the whole assembly process. Heavy grippers may also overload the manipulator, so it will not be able to grasp heavier items as expected. When making grippers for robots, it is important to find lightweight and strong materials.
Aluminum grippers seem to be a good choice because they are three times lighter than steel. Aluminum is a relatively soft metal, so it is easier to machine into the shape of gripper through computer processing. However, technological advances have provided us with better, stronger and lighter materials than aluminum. These materials are carbon fiber and carbon fiber composites. Carbon fiber is a very strong but very light material. The strength of carbon fiber is five times that of steel and the hardness is twice that of steel. However, the weight strength ratio of carbon fiber is very low, which means that the carbon fiber board is very light, but the tensile strength is very high. Usually, carbon fiber is used in combination with other materials, and the final product is called carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP). Carbon fiber can be used to make anything, including sporting goods, medical equipment, auto parts and robot parts.
-Why does carbon fiber have advantages in robot claw manufacturing. Aluminum seems to be the preferred material for robot grippers, but the softness of this metal will lead to a decline in long-term service life. According to statistics, carbon fiber composites are 42% lighter than aluminum and three times lighter than steel. This makes it the best choice for both materials. The characteristics of carbon fiber suitable for robot carbon fiber gripper are as follows:
a. High tensile strength: tensile strength refers to the resistance of a material to tension. Carbon fiber parts are highly resistant to such damage.
b. Corrosion resistance: in the long run, the factory environment may lead to corrosion of materials used to make robot grippers. Carbon fiber composites have stable chemical properties and will not rust.
c. Various forms: carbon fibers can be woven, which means that carbon fibers can be connected with various patterns. Different weaving methods make the final product slightly different, so the robot gripper can be customized in many ways to best suit its task and environment.
d. Light weight: the biggest advantage of carbon fiber over its competitors is weight. The strength weight ratio of carbon fiber is very favorable. You can get an almost indestructible robot grip without crushing your arm.
e. Low thermal expansion: carbon fiber has high resistance to temperature change, which means that the carbon fiber gripper will not expand or contract at different temperatures. For this reason, it is very suitable for the placement of factories or assembly lines.
In general, the advantages of carbon fiber robot gripper include:
1.42% weight reduction
2.Stiffness increased by 30%
3.The carrying capacity of the manipulator is greater
4.Higher manipulator operating speed
5.Increased durability / longer service life
6.Fashionable, high-tech matte black appearance
In general, carbon fiber poses a great challenge to traditional materials such as aluminum and steel when manufacturing the gripper of robot arm. The high strength to weight ratio of carbon fiber composites, as well as the tolerance and durability to different temperatures, make them the best choice for robot arms. Customized carbon fiber boards of different thicknesses can be manufactured to create more effective robot arms, and the end result should make the robot faster and more effective, and it will be more resistant to damage in the long run.
(main reference: nykdaily)
