SoftGripping lowers cost by 50% by 3D printing food gripper base

In food production lines, all manner of ingredients and products are handled, from robust potatoes to delicate doughs. For the more fragile items, specially engineered robots are used to handle the items with care. Hannover-based SoftGripping GmbH specializes in developing and manufacturing sophisticated grippers for these robots that ensure a product’s quality as it moves through production. This means the company develops modular gripper systems that meet the food industry’s strict standards and can conform to various product geometries. Recently, SoftGripping teamed up with 3D printing company EOS to explore the benefits of the latter’s technology in developing gripper components. The results, as we’ll see, we’re highly satisfactory.

Leveraging EOS’ SLS technology and its PA 2200 material, SoftGripping set about developing a new pneumatic gripper base that could handle delicate food products like vegetables and balls of dough. In developing this base, the goal was to fulfill two key functions: to be a mount for silicone fingers and to integrate pneumatic air distribution directly—all while remaining cost effective.

One of the big challenges in this project was figuring out a way to design a gripper base with built-in pneumatic air distribution. By integrating this function into the design of the base, SoftGripping sought to eliminate the need for external components and post-assembled connectors as well as minimize assembly requirements and make a more resilient, hygienic part. With traditional subtractive manufacturing, the gripper base would have required multiple components, including separate parts for each gripper finger, as well as connectors, seals, and pneumatic parts. This would have not only introduced complexity, but also created potential weaknesses in terms of leakages and hygiene.

With 3D printing, however, the team was able to integrate all these functionalities into a single structure, with complex internal air channels for pneumatic functionality. The design process was an iterative one, with the SoftGripping team testing out various prototypes to validate things like gripping distances, contact points, and more. For early prototypes, FDM technology was used, however the company eventually leveraged EOS’ SLS technology for the end-use part, along with  EOS’ PA12-based PA 2200, a material with a combination of mechanical performance and durability. (The final part also underwent chemical smoothing for a smooth, airtight surface in line with food industry requirements.)

The resulting gripper base is a multi-functional component that enables pneumatic air distribution and functions as a support for the silicone gripper fingers. Notably, by integrating the air channels directly into the design, SoftGripping was able to consolidate the part from upwards of four components down to a single structure.

Not only that, but AM allowed SoftGripping to bring down its development lead times and costs. That is, the company was able to develop the 3D printed gripper base in just three weeks, whereas it previously would have taken near 12 weeks (marking a reduction of about 75%). In terms of costs, the manufacturing of the new gripper base was brought down by 50% thanks to the simplification of the design and assembly processes.

“With EOS technology, we were able to realize a gripper base that would not have been possible with conventional manufacturing methods,” said Alexey Stepanyuk, CTO of SoftGripping GmbH. “The combination of design flexibility, complex internal air routing, and airtightness is a major advantage for our customized solutions. Additive manufacturing gives us the freedom to design gripper components around functionality and application requirements. For our customers, this means faster development processes, greater flexibility, and solutions tailored precisely to their needs.”