Robotics & Automation worked example
Gripper Force with part weight at the jaws of 13 lb: a worked example
Push part weight at the jaws up to 13 lb and the picture changes. This example computes every intermediate figure at that operating point. Use it when sizing a parallel or angular gripper for a new part so the required clamp force comes from the part, the move, and a safety factor instead of a guess.
The inputs for this scenario
- Part weight at the jaws: 13 lb (raised for this scenario; the documented default is 5)
- Acceleration and orientation factor: 3 g (unchanged)
- Friction or form-closure factor: 3 1/mu (unchanged)
- Safety factor: 2 x (unchanged)
Working through the calculation
- Applying the documented formula (Required gripper force = part weight x acceleration and orientation factor x friction or form-closure factor x safety factor) to the inputs above produces each figure below.
- At this operating point the engine returns 234 lbf for required gripper force, the number this scenario is built around.
- At this operating point the engine returns 117 value for base product.
- At this operating point the engine returns 2 x for multiplier.
- At this operating point the engine returns 39 value for factor a x b.
How this compares with the baseline
- Against the tool's baseline example, where part weight at the jaws sits at 5 lb and the headline result is 90 lbf, this scenario comes in 160% above the baseline at 234 lbf.
- It multiplies part weight by an acceleration/orientation factor, a friction or form-closure factor, and a safety factor to produce the minimum gripper holding force in pounds-force. The value of this scenario is the size of the gap it exposes: that gap, priced out over a year, is the budget you can justify spending to close it.
Results at a glance
- Required gripper force: 234 lbf (headline result)
- Base product: 117 value
- Multiplier: 2 x
- Factor A x B: 39 value
Run it with your numbers
- Every input above is editable in the live Gripper Force calculator, which recalculates instantly and can be shared with the inputs intact.
Last reviewed 2026-05-12.