SMC adds grippers for cobots from Universal Robots

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SMC recently introduced a series of electric grippers designed to be used with collaborative robot arms (cobots) from Universal Robots (UR). Available in basic and longitudinal types, SMC said the LEHR series can be adapted to different industrial environments like narrow spaces.

The new series offers gripping forces between 60 to 140 N and have M8, 8-pin plug-and-play connectors. SMC said it can be operated with the connection of 1 electrical wire. The grippers feature a battery-less absolute encoder and a motor type rated 24VDC.

SMC said that by using the dedicated software certified for Universal Robots, URCap, the teach pendant can conduct various operations of SMC grippers intuitively, allowing for sensor signals to be easily incorporated. SMC also said all that’s needed to install the software is to save a copy of the URCap software to a USB flash drive and insert it into the cobot’s teach pendant.

SMC will be exhibiting in booth 301 at the Robotics Summit & Expo, which takes place May 1-2 in Boston. Produced by The Robot Report and parent company WTWH Media, the Robotics Summit will have 5,000 attendees from the commercial robotics development ecosystem and 200+ exhibitors. The event will feature 75-plus speakers in 45 technical sessions, including keynotes from Agility Robotics, Amazon, Disney, Medtronic and Teradyne, which owns UR. Register by March 8 to save 25% on full access passes to the Robotics Summit & Expo.

SMC’s new LEHR grippers are design for Universal Robots’ collaborative robot arms. | Credit: SMC

In addition to these new grippers, SMC offers technology in pneumatic components such as actuators, cylinders, directional control valves, airline preparation equipment, chillers and dryers, vacuum components, static elimination products, fittings and tubing, electric actuators and more.

SMC said the new LEHR series has a durable and flexible design with IP20-rated housing with a rounded protective cover and simplified tool changing. SMC added that the durable design makes the gripper resist vibration and impacts and is also able to work in relatively harsh environments.

UR is the world’s leading developer of cobot arms. The Denmark-based company generated $304 million in revenue in 2023. While its sales were down 7% year-over-year from the record $326 million generated in 2022, the cobot maker ended the year on a high note. The fourth quarter of 2023 was UR’s largest revenue quarter ever. This represented 21% growth from Q4 2022 and 47% growth from Q3 2023, which the company attributed to demand for its the UR20 and UR30 cobots.

Ujjwal Kumar, who was named president of Teradyne’s robotics group in mid-2023, will deliver a keynote at the Robotics Summit. Kumar has a 25-year career spanning multiple industries and major multi-national corporations, including General Motors, General Electric, and Honeywell. He has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business, a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland and Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology.

The conversation with Kumar will discuss ways to drive the transformation of the robotics industry. He will share some lessons he has learned and how they can be applied to accelerate the transformation of industry with robotics.