{"id":2887,"date":"2025-07-01T16:04:23","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T14:04:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/?p=2887"},"modified":"2026-09-02T17:10:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T15:10:57","slug":"plastic-gripper-inserts-for-delicate-small-parts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/kunststoff-greifereinsaetze-fuer-empfindliche-kleinteile\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic gripper inserts designed for delicate small parts"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n \n \n\t\n\n\n\n

Plastic gripper inserts designed for delicate small parts<\/h1>
\n
\n\t
\n\t\t
\"Models<\/div>\n\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\n<\/div>

\nSilicone balloons are a thing of the past \u2013 Why modern plastic gripper inserts are the better choice
\n<\/h2>
\n

In industrial automation, secure and gentle handling of delicate small parts<\/strong> plays a central role\u2014especially for products such as unsintered powder compacts (\u201cgreen compacts\u201d) or fragile components.<\/p>

For many years, ROBOWORKER utilized balloon grippers with silicone molded components (balloons) in various sizes and shapes. While these proved reliable in many applications, they also exhibit inherent system-related weaknesses<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\"EXamples

\nSilicone balloons: proven, yet not without drawbacks
\n<\/h2>
\n

Silicone balloons are flexible but also delicate<\/strong>. Due to the material, they are subject to natural wear<\/strong> and can tear quickly<\/strong> under excessive pressure. Additionally, pressure regulation requires precise adjustment to the specific balloon size\u2014an extra effort that complicates handling and can affect process reliability.<\/p>\n<\/div>

\n3D-printed plastic gripper inserts \u2013 the cost-effective alternative
\n<\/h2>
\n

At its in-house 3D printing center, ROBOWORKER has developed a solution that compensates for many of these drawbacks: membrane finger inserts made from special plastic<\/strong>. These gripper components are not only custom-tailored but also more durable, economical, and versatile<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\"family

\n

Advantages at a glance<\/strong><\/p>

  1. Precise, gentle gripping<\/strong>
    The inserts are specially optimized for delicate workpieces like green compacts \u2014 ensuring even force distribution and high process reliability.<\/li>
  2. Simple pressure control<\/strong>
    Unlike silicone balloons, no pressure-dependent adjustment to the geometry is required. The plastic membrane operates within a wider pressure range, simplifying handling.<\/li>
  3. Extended gripping range<\/strong>
    A single gripper insert can reliably handle workpieces of different sizes \u2014 a clear advantage in flexible manufacturing environments.<\/li>
  4. Long service life<\/strong>
    The plastics used feature consistently stable elasticity and mechanical durability, resulting in extended service intervals.<\/li>
  5. High environmental resistance<\/strong>
    The membranes are shape-retaining, dust-resistant, and heat- and chemical-resistant \u2014 ideal for continuous industrial operation.<\/li><\/ol>

    \u00a0<\/p>

    >> This is how a membrane finger insert works...<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

    \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>

    \nNew variants and even more flexibility
    \n<\/h2>
    \n

    Thanks to the positive feedback from our customers, we have consistently expanded our range of gripper inserts: They are now available for both internal and external gripping<\/strong> and are compatible with all ROBOWORKER gripper systems, whether in the basic version or with motorized functions such as rotating, turning, or tilting.<\/p>\n<\/div>

    \nQuick insert exchange for more efficiency
    \n<\/h2>
    \n

    The new system also offers clear advantages in terms of setup time: with specially designed quick-change adapters<\/strong>, different inserts can be swapped within seconds \u2014 a decisive factor in boosting productivity.<\/p>\n<\/div>

    \nConclusion\n<\/h2>
    \n

    With the new plastic gripper inserts, ROBOWORKER offers a flexible and durable solution for demanding gripping tasks. They replace silicone balloons in many applications \u2014 more efficient, more robust, and better adaptable.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>

    \nWould you like to learn more about our membrane finger inserts and their related accessories?\n<\/h3>
    \n

    We are happy to advise you. Contact us for your customized solution.<\/p>

    Johannes Sonntag<\/strong>
    Production Manager Components at ROBOWORKER<\/strong>
    +49 751 50920-36<\/strong>
    johannes.sonntag@roboworker.de<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

    \u00a0<\/p>

    >> Discover more about 3D printing at ROBOWORKER...<\/strong><\/a><\/p>

    \u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>

    \n1.7.2025\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Plastic gripper inserts for delicate small parts offer a modern alternative to traditional silicone balloons. <\/p>\n

    They stand out due to their shape-retaining properties, long service life, and especially gentle gripping behavior \u2014 ideal for automated processes handling sensitive workpieces such as green blanks or intricate components.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2891,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_breakdance_hide_in_design_set":false,"_breakdance_tags":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[19,20,17,22,18,24,21],"class_list":["post-2887","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allgemein","tag-3d-druck","tag-automatisierung","tag-greiftechnik","tag-industrie-4-0","tag-kunststoffgreifer","tag-prozessoptimierung","tag-robotik"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2887","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2887"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2887\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3335,"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2887\/revisions\/3335"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2891"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2887"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2887"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.roboworker.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2887"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}