MECHATRONICS – TOPIC 01: Design, Sizing and Validation of a Heavy-Duty Robotic Gripper for Industrial Palletizing Applications

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 for products weighing up to 50 kg. The objective is to design, size, and validate a robotic gripper for heavy-duty palletizing and depalletizing applications. The gripper must 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.

Main tasks

• Study industrial gripping principles.
• Identify target product families, dimensions, mass range, contact surfaces, and operating constraints.
• Establish the functional and technical specifications.
• Develop the gripper architecture and detailed 3D models in SolidWorks.
• Design the gripping mechanism, adjustable elements, structural frame, and robot-mounting interface.
• Select suitable materials and standard components based on strength, stiffness, mass, manufacturability, availability, and cost.
• Calculate gripping forces, structural loads, load paths, stresses, and deflections.
• Account for product mass, gripper mass, center of gravity, and relevant safety factors.
• Perform SolidWorks Simulation studies for relevant load cases.
• Assess stress distribution, deformation, and safety margins.
• Optimize geometry and material choices based on simulation results.
• Prepare the Bill of Materials, detailed drawings, assembly drawings, manufacturing information, component references, and technical dossier.
• Include 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 and component list.
• Technical manufacturing and assembly dossier.

Candidate profile

Mechanical, Mechatronics, or Electromechanical Engineering student, autonomous and proactive, with a strong interest in mechanical design, dimensioning, and industrial robotics.

Required skills and tools

• Good knowledge of SolidWorks and technical drawings.
• Familiarity with FEA tools such as SolidWorks Simulation, Abaqus, or ANSYS.

Application documents

CV and cover letter are required.