Micro-Grippers (Pneumatic/Electric)

Micro-Grippers are compact, high-precision gripping solutions designed to handle very small, delicate, or lightweight components with exceptional accuracy and repeatability. Available in pneumatic and electric versions, these micro-grippers are optimized for robotic and automated systems where gentle handling, space efficiency, and reliability are critical.

At Norck Robotics, Micro-Grippers are miniature end effectors engineered to pick, hold, and place micro-scale parts using either controlled air pressure or electric actuation. They are designed for seamless integration into robotic arms, end effectors, precision placement systems, and compact automation equipment.

Micro-grippers are used instead of vacuum handling in the lab environment when the items in question need grasping that can be more specified or targeted than suction alone can provide. This is especially important for objects that are irregularly shaped, porous, too small, or that are not flat, where a vacuum may be unable to make a proper seal, but also not provide sufficient stability during transport.

Pneumatic micro grippers or electric micro-grippers would generally be the correct tools to use to securely grip small vials, tube caps, uniquely shaped lab ware etc. Grippers can provide precise force, which can be necessary for handling delicate or fragile parts without deforming or breaking them. Furthermore, in situations of low contamination levels (i.e. sterile environments), mechanical grippers do have more specifically selectable areas of contact than vacuum systems. For these reasons, micro-grippers are excellent choices for precise and repeatable tasks of a laboratory automation effort, while traditional vacuum systems may be unreliable or impractical to use.

Micro-grippers are applied with pneumatic or electric actuation methods, based on the tasks needed for lab automation.

• Pneumatic micro-grippers use compressed air. Compared to size, pneumatic rotary actuator have relatively quick response times and high gripping-force. Pneumatic micro-grippers are best for quick pick-and-place scenarios. Pneumatic grippers can also be optimized to create softer or rigid grips depending on the air pressure.
• Electric micro-grippers use miniature motors or servos to drive a mechanism that offers precise control regarding the gripping force and gripping position. Electric robot gripper have clear advantages in instances that require delicate or variable-shaped items, where it is important to use consistent or programmable gripping force.

The selection of pneumatic and electric is often dependent on the precision, control, and speed desired for lab automation as well as whether the gripper can be integrated to a lab automation system.

In micro-grippers, force control usually relies on high-tech actuation systems but also sensor feedback and the wise design of mechanical systems to not damage delicate things in the lab. 

• Sensors: Many of the micro-grippers have been designed with force or pressure sensors capable of continuously measuring gripping force. Depending on the application, grippers with sensors could allow the operator to adjust the grip while in operation to prevent squeezing an especially delicate item, or dropping a sensitive item altogether. 
• Adjustable pneumatic pressure: For pneumatic grippers, force control is as easy as changing the air pressure, where lower pressures would be selected for particularly sensitive components such as thin glass vials, or soft caps. 
• Programmable electric grippers: Electric valve actuator can also allow for precise programmed adjustments to the force applied, this allows for delivery of consistent, repeatable, controllable force made to the fragile of the item.
• Soft materials or compliant jaw design: A combination of soft materials and compliant mechanisms were often used in gripper jaws to help spread pressure across a larger gripping surface; this being used to to minimize the chance of damaging the item.

With use of these combined strategy approaches, micro-grippers can be used reliably and safely with fragile labware, in high-throughput automated systems.

• High grip accuracy: Our precision micro grippers provide repeatable control for fragile or ultra-small manipulations.
• Low footprint & weight: Light weight form factors to assist with integration into mobile or stationary systems.
• Electric micro grippers with smart control: Allow position feedback, force adjust, and digital interfacing.
• Fast & efficient actuation: Pneumatic rotary actuator support high-speed cycles with low air usage.
• Miniature robotic grippers for dense environments: Built to maximize density of handling and manipulation.

The micro grippers by Norck Robotics that professionals trust to handle ultra-fine gripping in essential works across the globe.

Micro-grippers are a great, if not the best, solution for durable and gentle handling of small, fragile labware that can’t be handled with vacuum-based handling strategies for either practical or safety reasons. This includes:

• Thin-walled or miniature glass vials and glass test tubes - this is made more difficult when cracks occur somewhere else from uneven pressure on the fragile labware.
• Tube caps and bottle caps - these can be distorted with excess or uneven gripping force.
• Microplates or lids to well plates - it is not just vertical force that requires consideration to avoid spills and to maintain alignment.
• Petri dishes and microscope slides - there is no room for error when you place your labware incorrectly or when there is a scratch or crack.
• Custom microfluidic chips - typically, microfluidic chips are created from very fragile plastics or glass that can either shatter on impact or tear due to structural intricacies.

In either of these examples, micro-grippers provide reliability in robotic, automated or handling of fragile labware, as well as, consistency and preciseness in gripping components in the lab environments.