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A Key Step in Injection Molding Automation Upgrades: A Comprehensive Analysis of Intelligent Gripper Technology

Arburg 2025-08-13 13:50:27

With the deepening advancement of Industry 4.0, the injection molding industry is accelerating its transition towards intelligent and flexible production.Gripper (EOAT)As the "hand" at the end of the manipulator, its performance directly determines the efficiency and adaptability of the automation system. We will proceed from...Technical Principles, Application Advantages, Development TrendsFrom three aspects, systematically analyze the key role of modern intelligent grippers in injection molding automation.

Technical Principles:From Pneumatics to Intelligence: The Evolution of Grippers

1. Grippers can be classified into three types based on their driving methods.

2. From the perspective of clamping methods, the injection molding industry commonly uses the following four types:

Parallel gripperSuitable for regular workpieces

Diagonal claw clampSuitable for space-constrained scenarios.

Three-finger gripperAdapt to circular or irregular objects

Non-destructive gripping for flat or thin objects

Smart Gripper: Enabling Robotic Hands to "Feel and Think"

Compared to traditional grippers, intelligent grippers integrate sensors, vision systems, and AI algorithms, offering the following advantages:

Adaptive Grasping

Through real-time feedback from force/torque sensors, the gripper can automatically adjust the gripping force to prevent product deformation or damage.

High-precision positioning

With visual guidance, the repeat positioning accuracy can reach ±0.01mm, meeting the precision picking requirements for high-end injection molded parts.

Quick changeover

Modular design supports quick replacement of grippers, adapting to flexible production modes with small batches and multiple varieties.

Future Trends: Grippers Will Become Smarter and More Flexible

Stronger material adaptability

To address high temperatures in newly demolded products, it is necessary to develop new heat-resistant and wear-resistant contact materials to enhance the lifespan and stability of grippers.

More flexible structure, adaptable to more complex situations.

For complex workpieces such as irregular shapes and curved surfaces, flexible grippers or bionic structures will be increasingly adopted in the future to enhance grasping stability.

Higher level of intelligence

Currently, control relies heavily on preset rules. In the future, deep learning algorithms will be introduced to achieve autonomous recognition, path planning, and optimization of grasping strategies.

The intelligent gripper is not only the "hand" of injection molding automation, but also the "nerve ending" of smart manufacturing. With continuous technological evolution, grippers will become more intelligent, flexible, and efficient, serving as a key force driving the injection molding industry towards flexible manufacturing and smart factories.

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A Key Step in Injection Molding Automation Upgrades: A Comprehensive Analysis of Intelligent Gripper Technology

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