Robot Catalogue Fields: Gripper Weight, Payload and Force Are Different

A robot model catalogue can list a gripper’s payload, gripping force and weight in adjacent fields. Those values describe different things. If a catalogue merges them into one “capacity” number, readers may compare incompatible specifications or assume a component is suitable for an application that has not been evaluated.

Give each quantity its own field

Record the manufacturer’s exact field name, value, unit, product model and the document from which the information came. A mass value and a force value are not interchangeable labels. A catalogue should also preserve conditions stated by the manufacturer, such as the specified configuration or type of grasp.

When importing a spreadsheet, keep the column heading and any footnote associated with the value. A number in a copied table may otherwise lose the distinction between a component’s own mass and the mass it is intended to handle. If the original table uses a range, preserve both ends and the surrounding explanation rather than converting it into a single representative number.

The manufacturer’s Robotiq Hand-E manual is a useful example: its mechanical specification table separately labels recommended payload, gripper weight and grip force for a stated configuration. These entries apply to the product and conditions described in that manual; they are not generic limits for all grippers.

Record the units and their source

Keep the unit symbol exactly as published and identify whether the table uses a mass, force, length or other quantity. When a supplier provides values in more than one unit system, record both if useful and label any conversion performed by the catalogue team. Do not infer a missing unit from a number’s apparent size.

The International Bureau of Weights and Measures publishes the SI Brochure, which describes the International System of Units. It is a general reference for units, not a specification or certification for a particular robot product. Product suitability must be assessed from the manufacturer’s applicable documentation and the intended use.

Preserve conditions attached to a value

A catalogue entry should retain whether a value depends on a particular attachment, configuration, direction, grasp or test condition. If the source distinguishes different types of grasp, store those descriptions rather than selecting the largest value and presenting it as a universal limit. Where the conditions are not published, mark them as unknown and ask the supplier.

Keep the measurement conditions alongside the value in any export as well as in the internal database. A field that looks complete on one screen can become ambiguous when it is copied into a quotation or comparison without its qualification.

For example, the Hand-E manual discusses payload and force in relation to grasp conditions and motion. A catalogue may link readers to the relevant section while avoiding an independent claim that a particular workpiece can be safely handled. The correct assessment belongs to the equipment integrator and manufacturer for the actual application.

Use a hypothetical data-entry review

Imagine a catalogue receives a supplier table with separate fields for component weight, gripping force and a recommended payload under named conditions. An editor who copies only the largest number into a generic “capacity” field would remove information necessary to interpret it. The better record retains each field name, unit and source, and flags any missing context.

This example contains no real product values. It does not imply that two products with similarly named fields are directly comparable. Different manufacturers may define and test their specifications differently; consult the original materials before making a comparison.

Keep catalogue data apart from a safety assessment

A data sheet helps a user identify questions, but it does not establish that a gripper, robot, tool and workpiece form a safe system. The combined application may have additional constraints described in product manuals and site procedures. Do not use a public catalogue article as permission to install a part, change settings or conduct a motion test.

If a purchaser needs a determination for a specific task, record the intended configuration and ask the manufacturer or qualified integrator for the relevant documentation. If the necessary evidence is unavailable, keep the suitability field as unconfirmed rather than marking the product as approved.

Maintain the source when a specification changes

Store the manual title, revision, table or section, access date and any manufacturer clarification. If a later manual changes a field, preserve the earlier record and document which version supports each value. Do not apply a revised figure to previously delivered equipment without confirming the affected model and configuration.

The site’s guide to product aliases and model records addresses a separate identification issue. The industry information section provides further background. This article explains catalogue fields, not the operating limits of a particular installation.