3D-Printed Pneumatic Gripper Sets New Standards for Soft Robotics
Application: Pneumatic gripper
Material used: NinjaFlex® 3D Printer Filament
Industry: Industrial Manufacturing, Robotics
Cody Umberger of Umburry LLC, created a pneumatic gripper using NinjaFlex TPU filament. This flexible and durable 3D printing filament provided the perfect material for producing soft robotic gripper attachments.
Umberger explains that the current standard for producing soft robotics is to cast silicone in molds or 3D print the soft fingers on an SLA type printer. Using an FDM printer, his innovative design provides a viable alternative to the 3D printing status quo.
In fact, Cody’s design proves several key advantages over traditional solutions:
- SAVINGS: FDM printing provides a functional alternative for significantly lower production costs.
- TIME: 3D-printed design iterations can be re-created and in testing in a fraction of the time compared to silicone casting.
- DESIGN: Cody’s simplified pneumatic system eliminates the necessity for vacuum pressure, which is typically required to open the grippers. A pressure regulator easily controls the gripping force instead.
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