Microgripper
0302211-112
[DEFINITION]
A mechanical device that grasps microscopic objects.
[DESCRIPTION]
Microgrippers have two roles. They can be used as tools to
assemble micromachines or as the hands of microrobots, etc. In either case, the microgripper has
fingers to grasp objects and an actuator to handle them. Compared to a microrobot hand,
microgrippers are structurally large but require precise control. As the function of a microgripper
is simply to grasp an object, multi-degrees of freedom handling requires the combination of suitable
manipulators. Compared to non-contact-type handling using a laser beam, contact-type handling based
on a microgripper or similar gives better attitude control of the object. However, if the object to
be handled is below several tens of micrometers in size, the attractive forces between the surfaces
of the microgripper fingers and the object handled make manipulation difficult.
[References]
(2)(4)(5)(6)
[Related Terms]
Micro-manipulator