What You Should Know When Choosing Suction Cups and Robot Vacuum Grippers

Suction cups are an integral component in robotic vacuum grippers. They leverage the process of close suction to create a powerful grip on a variety of surfaces.

When you are choosing your vacuum gripper, it’s important to pick the right suction cups. They can affect various factors, including the type of material you can lift, the weight of objects, and the cycle time.

How can you ensure you pick the right vacuum gripper and suction cups for your application?

These versatile grippers come in different of shapes and functionalities, from simple vacuum grippers to strange and complex designs for advanced lifting.

Here’s what you should know when choosing suction cups and vacuum grippers for your robot.

Where Suction Cups Fit in a Robotic Vacuum Gripping Application

A vacuum gripper is a type of robotic end effector that uses pneumatic suction to lift object. They can be more flexible than fingered grippers for some applications as they don’t require gripping points.

Suction cups are the business end of a vacuum gripper. They are usually circular and create a vacuum seal against the object surface, which allows the robot to lift and transport the object.

For this reason, it is important to pick the right suction cups for your application. The wrong suction cup can lead to air leakage, which stops the gripper from functioning correctly.

How Vacuum Grippers Work: The Science Behind Pneumatic Suction Cups

It’s helpful to understand the science behind suction cups so you can make the best selection for your application.

Vacuum grippers leverage the Bernoulli Principle. When air flows quickly over the top of the suction cup, it results in a lower pressure compared to the inside of the cup. This causes the suction cup to press tightly against the surface, effectively “sticking” to it.

This strong suction can allow vacuum grippers to have a higher weight capacity compared to other types of gripper. They can also have a fast response time, as releasing the object only requires deactivating the vacuum.

Often, various sizes and shapes of suction cup are available for any particular vacuum gripper. You should pick the suction cup that allows you to meet the suction requirements of your application.

When you are selecting suction cups for your robot application, various factors can affect your choice.

7 Key Factors to Consider When Choosing Your Robot’s Suction Cups

Here are 7 key factors to consider:

1. Gripper support — First, it’s important to pick suction cups that are compatible with your chosen vacuum gripper. The best place to start is with those provided by the gripper manufacturer.
2. Material composition — The composition of the objects that you are lifting will affect the operation of your vacuum gripper. For example, highly porous materials can lose air.
3. Cup diameter and shape — The shape of your suction cup can affect task performance. For example, larger diameter cups provide a greater surface area, which can enhance lifting capacity in some cases.
4. Pressure rating — Your chosen suction cups should match the pressure rating of your vacuum gripper and pneumatic pump. This helps to reduce the chance of failure.
5. Surface compatibility — Some suction cups only function optimally on particular surface types. Smooth, porous, or textured surfaces may require a special type of suction cup or gripper.
6. Environmental suitability — Suction cups can be affected by environmental factors like humidity, dust, or temperature. For example, some suction cups stop working when subjected to freezing temperatures.
7. Easy programming — Finally, look for vacuum grippers that can be easily programmed as part of your robotic system. This ensures that you can get your robot up and running as quickly as possible.

By evaluating these factors, you can select suction cups that will enhance the reliability and performance of your robot cell.

3 Vacuum Gripper Models from the RoboDK Library

RoboDK natively supports several vacuum grippers in our extensive Robot Library. This allows you to load them into your robot simulation at the touch of a button and begin programming your application.

Here are 3 vacuum grippers available in the library:

1. RobotiQ EPick

The EPick from Robotiq is a self-contained vacuum gripper with its own source of compressed air, eliminating the need for an external pneumatic compressor.

The RoboDK model of the EPick makes it just as easy to program as it is to integrate the physical vacuum gripper into your robot.

2. SMC ZP20U-X1

The ZP20U-X1 from SMC is designed to streamline vacuum handling tasks for collaborative robot applications. Its integrated system includes a vacuum ejector, valves, and pressure sensor.

The RoboDK model of the ZP20U-X1 allows you to easily use it with many different robots, as this vacuum gripper is compatible with robots from a wide range of brands.

3. OnRobot VGP20

The VGP20 from OnRobot is a high payload electric vacuum gripper that supports objects up to 20 kg. It is designed to easily handle irregular shapes and porous surfaces.

The RoboDK model of the VGP20 allows you to get the most from this gripper’s extensive customization options and suitability for various applications.

Choosing the Right Suction Cups for Your Robot Vacuum Gripper

Suction cups are an integral part of any vacuum gripper application. When you choose the right suction cup, you can ensure that your robot will be able to grasp and lift all the objects in your task.

To choose the right suction cup, look at the various factors that we have listed above. Before you deploy your robot to your workplace, test out your chosen vacuum gripper in a robot simulation using RoboDK’s simulator.

What suction cups would be suit your chosen application? Join the discussion on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or in the RoboDK Forum.. Also, check out our extensive video collection and subscribe to the RoboDK YouTube Channel

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