Design, Sizing and Validation of a Heavy-Duty Robotic Gripper for Industrial Palletizing Applications

Track

Mechatronics

Context and objective

Industrial palletizing operations often require the handling of large and heavy products with different dimensions and packaging characteristics. The reliability of the gripping tool is essential to ensure safe handling, repeatable cycles, and effective integration with industrial robots.

This project aims to develop a robust, lightweight, and adaptable end-of-arm tooling solution designed to handle products weighing up to 50 kg. The gripper shall accommodate a defined range of product sizes, provide reliable retention during robot motion, and remain compatible with the payload and wrist load limits of the selected industrial robot.

The main objective is to design, size, and validate a robotic gripper for heavy-duty palletizing and depalletizing applications.

Main tasks

• Functional analysis and specification: Study industrial gripping principles; identify target product families, dimensions, mass range, contact surfaces, and operating constraints; establish the functional and technical specifications.
• Mechanical design and 3D modelling: Develop the gripper architecture and detailed 3D models in SolidWorks; design the gripping mechanism, adjustable elements, structural frame, and robot-mounting interface.
• Material and component selection: Select suitable materials and standard components based on strength, stiffness, mass, manufacturability, availability, and cost.
• Mechanical sizing and strength calculations: Calculate gripping forces, structural loads, load paths, stresses, and deflections. Account for product mass, gripper mass, centre of gravity, and relevant safety factors.
• Finite Element Analysis: Perform SolidWorks Simulation studies for relevant load cases; assess stress distribution, deformation, and safety margins; optimise geometry and material choices based on simulation results.
• Bill of Materials and technical documentation: Prepare the BOM, detailed drawings, assembly drawings, manufacturing information, component references, and a technical dossier, including a cost estimation.

Expected deliverables

• Functional analysis and approved technical specification.
• Complete SolidWorks 3D assembly and native CAD files.
• FEA simulation report with identified load cases and results.
• Bill of Materials (BOM) and component list.
• Technical manufacturing and assembly dossier.

Application documents

Applications must include a CV and cover letter. The subject reference must be mentioned in the email subject line.