First Place in Poster Category – Technology and Engineering

STUDENTS: Michael Border, Alexandria Trinovitch, Timothy Nelson

ADVISOR: Dr. Mizanoor Rahman

ABSTRACT:

The modern-day gripper designs that are utilized by robots in both laboratories and assembly lines are highly complex with many moving parts and subsystems. This complexity of design leads to high purchasing cost, specialized maintenance, and expensive repair costs. Our team believes that gripping systems do not need to be so complex to complete the tasks at hand. Our design combines simplicity with functionality to maximize ease of maintenance while minimizing purchasing cost and repair cost. The design we decided on is made to be 3D printed; this gives worldwide accessibility to our design while also allowing for modification to other materials and methods of manufacturing.

Our design utilizes an integrated 3D printed spring like bar to maintain the gripper in a naturally open position. This bar bends when force is applied, allowing the gripper to close on any object. When the force is released, the tension in the bar makes the gripper return to its natural open positioning. This simplistic bar sets our design apart from the more complex gripper systems that utilize gears or actual spring systems; this part is easy and cheap to both maintain and replace while also standing up against fatigue stress very well. The design is evaluated based on a comprehensive evaluation scheme, the limitations are identified, and the future extension of the design is presented.