Can the part be picked reliably?
There is a usable contact point and a practical way to present the part at the same point in the sequence.
Robot gripper and tooling guide.
The gripper or process tool is selected from the part and the task, not from the robot alone. This guide shows the information that decides how a robot can pick, hold, place, process, or hand off a part.
What determines the tool
The practical question is not “which gripper?” but “what must the system do with this part at each point in the process?”
- Part condition
- Review the part's size, shape, weight, surface, temperature, fragility, cleanliness, and the features that can safely be contacted.
- Pick point and access
- Identify where the tool can approach, how the part is presented, what can obstruct access, and how the part must be released.
- Orientation and variation
- Define which part variants must be handled, how orientation is known or controlled, and whether changeover or adjustment is needed.
- Process and environment
- Account for machining chips, oil, dust, heat, welding spatter, packaging, clean conditions, or any other process factor that affects the tool.
- Hand-off and verification
- Plan how the tool confirms it has the part, presents it to the next station, and responds when the normal pick or placement does not occur.
What the tooling review should answer
A good selection method establishes whether the complete handling sequence is practical, including the exceptions that happen during normal production.
Can the tool reach the task?
The part, fixture, machine, and surrounding equipment leave enough access for the tool to pick, place, or process without creating a new obstruction.
Can the system recover from variation?
The workflow defines what happens when a part is missing, misoriented, changed, or not released as expected.
When to improve part presentation first
If a person relies on judgement to find or orient every incoming part, the presentation method may need attention before a robot tool can be specified.
No defined pick point
If the part has no consistent accessible contact area, determine how it can be located or presented before selecting a tool.
Unmanaged variants
If variants look similar but need different handling, define how they are separated, identified, or changed over in the workflow.
Unclear recovery method
If a missed pick, part release, or unsuitable part has no planned response, map the exception path before finalising the cell.
Related applications
These applications use a gripper or process tool as part of the production workflow.
FAQs
These answers explain why a robot cell is specified around the part and workflow—not only the arm.
What is end-of-arm tooling?
End-of-arm tooling is the gripper, process tool, sensor, or other equipment mounted at the robot wrist to handle a part or carry out a task. It is selected as part of the complete application.
What determines the right robot gripper?
The tool follows the part's condition, pick point, orientation, surface, variation, access, process constraints, hand-off, and the way the complete system operates.
Can one gripper handle every variant?
Not always. A tooling review must establish which variations need to be handled, where they can be picked, how they are identified, and what changeover or adjustment is practical.
Why is the gripper considered with the cell rather than after the robot is selected?
The tool affects reach, access, part presentation, fixtures, sensors, hand-off, controls, and the overall system assessment. Selecting it alongside the workflow prevents a robot-only decision.
Sources and scope
This guide helps frame a tooling discussion. It does not certify a gripper, set payload limits, or promise handling reliability for a specific part.
OSHA technical manual
Technical review
Confirm the part, tool, process conditions, system safeguards, and test method with Uru Robotics before treating this guide as a recommendation.
Project evidence
Add approved part and tooling examples only when they describe the actual application and its operating conditions.
Return on investment
Use your production figures to explore a simple planning estimate.
Contact Uru Robotics.
Discuss the part-handling task you want to automate.