Festo, an automation specialist, has announced the debut of its new “compact, simple and precise” electric parallel gripper.

According to its developers, the HEPP electric gripper from Festo features a compact design and the ability to handle complex movements precisely. The company suggests that this makes the HEPP suitable for applications in the electronics and small parts industry, laboratory automation and special machine building.

Source: Festo

The HEPP is available in three different sizes with a gripping force of up to 400 N and a stroke up to 56 mm. Further, the motor, encoder and controller are integrated into a single component, making the HEPP a compact solution by eliminating the need for an external controller in the panel.

Additionally, the HEPP can be adjusted for a wide range of workpieces, both in terms of size and type of material as well as gripping force, to ensure the workpiece is handled accurately.

Festo explained that to achieve high gripping forces within the compact unit, a precise counter-rotating spindle is employed that can manage the high stress from the feeder forces. Likewise, the spindle also reportedly maintains process positioning reliability of under 0.02 mm during endurance testing.

The HEPP is also capable of handling a workpiece in an e-stop condition due to the integrated holding brake on the motor. In the event of a power supply failure, the integrated holding brake will reportedly hold the gripper fingers in position to prevent the workpiece from being dropped and subsequently damaged.

For more on the HEPP electric parallel gripper, visit the Festo website.