End-of-arm tooling (EOAT) is a robot’s toolkit, attached to the end of its “hand” so it can work on tasks like picking and placing, CNC machine tending, welding, and more.
With the right EOAT, robots like RO1 by Standard Bots go from “just hanging out” to “let me do the heavy lifting, boss.”
Read on to learn more about:
- What EOAT is all about
- Different types of EOAT
- Where EOAT is used
- Challenges
- Why RO1 by Standard Bots is an EOAT champion
Let’s dig into the key features.
How does end-of-arm tooling work?
EOAT doesn’t just sit there looking pretty — it’s the business end of the robot arm.
Here’s how it all comes together:
- Attachment: You mount EOAT at the tip of the robot’s arm. If you’ve got an RO1 by Standard Bots, switching out EOAT is as simple as changing a light bulb — you don’t need fancy-schmancy tools.
- Control: EOAT follows the commands programmed into the robot and executes precise moves like nobody’s business. So if your EOAT includes a welder, you’ll give your robot a blowtorch and say, “Weld those parts perfectly every single time, bub.” (You might not actually say bub unless you’re Hugh Jackman playing Wolverine, though.)
Types of end-of-arm tooling for robots
Robotics end-of-arm tooling comes in all shapes and sizes, making it a tool for every job.
Here’s a taste of what EOAT can do:
- Grippers: Vacuum grippers are meant to handle delicate objects, magnetic grippers for metal parts, or mechanical grippers that can hold onto objects like a strong handshake.
Example: Schunk’s PGN-plus-E gripper (as well as OnRobot) has a solid end-of-arm tooling market and is known for precise handling in electronics manufacturing.
- Welders: These aren’t your DIY soldering irons. EOAT welders can efficiently join heavy-duty metal components.
Example: RO1 is equipped with a spot welder on an auto line, welding car parts faster than you can say. “That Cybertruck design sure is weird, Mr. Musk.”
- Sensors: EOAT sensors can “see” and “feel” what’s happening. With camera sensors for quality control or pressure sensors for detecting the slightest shift, EOAT sensors on robots can check out items on a conveyor belt, catching flaws before they even get a barcode.
Examples are SICK’s InspectorP 2D vision sensor, which helps spot quality issues mid-production, and RO1’s built-in machine vision capabilities.
- Cutters: You want clean cuts? EOAT cutters can handle it. RO1 with a cutter attachment can slice through textiles in a garment factory, trim cardboard in packaging, or cut meat in a food processing plant.
Applications of end-of-arm tooling for robots
EOAT isn’t for show. It’s an indispensable part of what makes robots so useful.
Let’s look at a few ways EOAT proves its worth:
- Manufacturing: From assembling car doors to piecing together smartphones, EOAT attachments let robots build, screw, weld, and glue.
- Packaging: Vacuum grippers are EOAT all-stars in packaging (they can do it all), allowing bots to pick up fragile items and place them gently into boxes. Think about a robot at a busy distribution center sorting glass perfume bottles like they’re made of solid gold.
- Inspection: Quality control EOAT is a boon for electronics, catching flaws before they hit the store shelves. For instance, RO1 can use its machine vision capabilities in a smartphone factory to detect imperfections in screens, cutting out faulty units faster than any human could.
Benefits of using EOAT
EOAT brings out the best in robots, and here’s why it’s a must-have in the automation toolkit:
- Crazy flexible: With interchangeable EOAT, robots switch from one job to another faster than you can change your mind. RO1 by Standard Bots with an EOAT toolkit can go from picking up parts to welding in a single shift.
- Up goes productivity: Robots don’t need coffee breaks, and EOAT lets them do repetitive work faster than any human could ever dream of.
- Accuracy you can rely on: EOAT kicks that robot's precision up a notch. With high-end sensors, robots make perfect, consistent movements, whether they’re slicing fruit or putting microchips together.
Challenges and limitations of end-of-arm tooling
EOAT is amazing, but it comes with its own set of quirks. (It just couldn’t be perfect, could it?)
Here’s what you might want to keep in mind:
- Price tag drama: Some end-of-arm tooling can set you back a bit — especially advanced sensors and custom tools. But the ROI? Worth every cent if you’re looking to cut labor costs and crank up efficiency.
- Tech-savvy setup: You can’t just stick EOAT onto a robot and say, “We’re done!” These tools need programming and a bit of finesse to get everything working smoothly, even if you’re using no-code setups.
- Weight watchers: Robots have their limits. Add too much EOAT weight, and you could throw off performance or max out the payload. Always remember that you must account for the weight of the end-of-arm tooling as part of your bot’s total payload.
Summing up
End-of-arm tooling is what transforms a robot from a one-trick pony into a multitasking do-it-all.
EOAT turns your robot arm into a welder, picker, or inspector — making it more valuable on the job floor.
RO1 by Standard Bots proves that EOAT is not just for the big, bully jobs but adaptable for jobs big and small.
Next steps
Thinking about a robot that can adapt to a wide variety of end-of-arm tooling? RO1 by Standard Bots is the six-axis cobot arm that keeps things simple and budget-friendly.
- Affordable and reliable: Get top performance at a fraction of the cost — RO1 starts at just $5/hour without cutting corners. If you choose to buy, it’s half of the competing models.
- Fast & precise: With an 18 kg payload and repeatability of +/- 0.025 mm, RO1 breezes through even the toughest jobs without flinching.
- Plug-and-play with AI smarts: No code? No problem. RO1’s no-code interface means anyone can operate it, and its modular EOAT setup makes it easy to switch jobs. Plus, with AI on par with GPT-4, flexibility is assured.
- Safety you can trust: Featuring machine vision and collision detection, RO1 is built to play nicely with humans — no cages needed.
Curious? Set up a risk-free, 30-day onsite trial and see how RO1 by Standard Bots makes your shop floor more efficient.
