Gripsters & Lifters

About gripsters & lifters

Gripsters are end-of-arm tooling (EOAT) components designed to grasp and manipulate objects in automated systems. They are broadly categorized by their actuation method and gripping mechanism. Mechanical gripsters, including parallel (two-jaw, three-jaw) and angular types, utilize pneumatic or electric power to actuate jaws that physically clamp onto a workpiece. Key selection parameters include jaw stroke, gripping force (N), repeatability (mm), and jaw opening (mm). Vacuum gripsters employ suction cups or pads, often coupled with venturi vacuum generators or vacuum pumps, to lift non-porous materials. Critical specifications include cup diameter (mm), lifting capacity (kg), and material (e.g., NBR, silicone, polyurethane). Magnetic gripsters use permanent magnets or electromagnets to handle ferromagnetic parts, with holding force (N) and demagnetization time being crucial. Soft gripsters and adaptive gripsters conform to irregular shapes, often using compliant materials or underactuated designs. Collaborative robot (cobot) gripsters are designed for safe human-robot interaction, often incorporating force sensing and compliant surfaces. Common gripster materials include anodized aluminum, hardened steel for jaws, and various elastomers for suction cups.