Robot end effectors

[ballen0989]

This maybe the wrong forum for this but you guys seem to be well informed. I need an end effector to grip the inside of a pipe and introduce the pipe to a coating system. I don't care which robot is used just need some sort of expandable gripper to grip pipe. These things weigh about 20 lbs and lifting them 8 hours a day is a tremendous strain on people. If I can pick them up with a robot and coat them it will save back problems

 

[StephenSDH]

Our company does a lot of custom robotic controls. Almost all of the end effectors end up being custom to fit the customers product.

I could envision a screw driven expander, simular to a concrete anchor or even a lathe chuck, with a servo to monitor torque.

Or..

In the converting industry they use expanding spindles to grip the cardboard core of paper rolls. You can load the core and apply air to grip the inside of the roll. Similar to your application.

http://www.convertech.com/shaft-adapters.php