Magnetic Gripper

An end effector that holds steel workpieces using an electromagnet or a switchable permanent magnet.

A magnetic gripper is a type of end effector (the part mounted at a robot arm's tip that does the work) that holds ferrous workpieces using an electromagnet, or an electro-permanent magnet, which switches its magnetism with a brief pulse of current, then holds its grip with no power draw at all. It only needs to touch one face of the workpiece, with no fingers to close, making it fast to use and mechanically simple — well suited to moving steel sheets, stamped parts, and other iron-based parts; the electro-permanent version keeps holding even if power is lost, which is safer. Its limits are just as clear: it only works on ferromagnetic materials, thin sheets can get picked up several at a time by accident, and residual magnetism can be left behind after release. Like the vacuum suction cup and the two-finger gripper, it's a common non-dexterous grasping solution in industrial settings.

ExampleOn a stamping line, a magnetic chuck at the end of a robot arm lifts one steel sheet at a time and feeds it into the next press.

Also called

Electromagnetic Chuck, Electro-Permanent Magnetic Gripper

Related

End Effector · Vacuum Suction Cup · Gripper · Electroadhesion Gripper · Industrial Robot · Palletizing / Depalletizing

Sources

Electropermanent magnet - Wikipedia
Robot end effector - Wikipedia