A frame and adapter plate connected the robot flange to interchangeable end-of-arm tools.
The customer’s challenge
Tool changes lost positional repeatability, while inadequate adapter stiffness caused machining chatter.
Material and fabrication route
3.0 mm 7075 aluminum; 304 stainless adapter plate.
Process route: Laser cutting → bending → CNC machining → anodizing → assembly → repeatability testing.
Manufacturing changes
A stiffer adapter geometry, finish-machined mounting faces, and combined dowel-and-bolt location controlled the tool interface.
Engineering analysis
The adapter had to return a tool to the same location after removal, not merely hold it during one operation. The dowel-and-bolt arrangement separated repeatable location from fastening, while machined faces and stiffness addressed the loaded interface. The reported repeatability belongs to the tested changeover setup. A new tool’s mass, offset and flange geometry must be considered before using the same acceptance limit.
Inspection and project results
The tested arrangement achieved ≤0.02 mm repeatability without chatter. Tool replacement no longer required recalibration in this setup.
| Project measurement or production detail | Recorded value |
|---|---|
| Repeatability | ≤0.02 mm |
| Flange diameter | ≥100 mm |
| Tool load | ≥20 kg |
These figures describe the project configuration and production scope above. Dimensional, material and production details are identified separately from performance tests. For a new order, the inspection method and acceptance criteria should be agreed against the released drawings.
Planning a similar OEM component
A useful RFQ for this application should make the following interfaces and acceptance requirements clear:
- Robot and tool flange drawings.
- Tool mass and offset.
- Location and clamping features.
- Changeover repeatability test conditions.
Include the current drawing revision, mating-component information, quantities and required delivery sequence. Identifying unresolved requirements at quotation stage helps distinguish fabrication work from the equipment-level checks that the project needs.
For related manufacturing support, review our Robot End-Effector Frames and Adapter Plates and sheet metal quality capabilities. Use the existing quotation form below to share the drawing package for review.
