Robotics & Automation Manufacturing: End Effectors, Frames & Sensor Mounts
Custom end-of-arm tooling, grippers, frames, sensor mounts and fixtures for industrial robotics and automation cells — engineered for repeatable motion, quick design changes between robot generations and tight integration with your control hardware.
- 5-axis machining for monolithic grippers
- Aluminium extrusion frames & rails
- Lightweight magnesium structures
- Quick-turn NPI iterations
- Documentation for system integrators
What we make for robotics programs
Typical parts we manufacture for robotics & automation
| Part type | Why we make it this way | Material families |
|---|---|---|
| Gripper jaws and fingers | 5-axis machined monolithic pairs that align without assembly adjustment | 7075-T6, 6061-T6 with hard anodize |
| End-effector bodies and adapters | Machined from solid or bonded sheet metal, with dowel-pin features for repeatability | 7075, 6061, magnesium for weight-sensitive cells |
| Robot frames and bases | Custom aluminium extrusion with machined mounting surfaces | 6061, 6063 |
| Sensor mounts and brackets | Small precision parts that locate cameras, LIDAR and IMUs | 6061, 7075, titanium for harsh environments |
| Locating fixtures and nests | Hard anodized or ground reference surfaces for million-cycle repeatability | Hard anodized 7075, ground tool steel |
| Cable and harness routing hardware | Sheet metal and 3D printed prototypes for cable chains and strain reliefs | 5052 sheet, PA-CF printed |
Manufacturing route we recommend
- 5-axis CNC machining for monolithic gripper jaws, finger pairs and integrated brackets.
- CNC milling and turning for sensor mounts, adapters and locating fixtures.
- Aluminum extrusion for frames, rails and the structural skeleton of the cell.
- Sheet metal fabrication for covers, cable trays and connector plates.
- Rapid CNC prototyping to iterate on gripper geometry before committing to tooling.
- Dimensional inspection with first article inspection for new parts and repeatability checks on locating surfaces.
Materials for robotics programs
- 7075-T6 aluminium
- 6061-T6 aluminium
- 6063 aluminium extrusion
- Magnesium AZ31B sheet & plate
- Ti-6Al-4V for harsh environments
- Hardened tool steel for locating fixtures
- Engineering plastics (PEEK, PPSU, nylon)
Weight-critical cells often replace steel gripper jaws with magnesium or aluminium. See our magnesium alloy capability for the alloys and tolerances we work in.
Integration details we get right
Mechanical repeatability
- Dowel-pin features on every mating surface
- Ground or hard anodized locating faces
- Pre-loaded dowel pins on inspection fixtures
- Repeatability check after every batch
Documentation for integrators
- STEP and IGES files of the finished part
- Ballooned drawing with measured values
- Mounting surface flatness and parallelism reports
- Material certificates for OEM traceability files
Recent project snapshot
Modular gripper jaw set — 5-axis machined 7075-T6
A modular gripper jaw set for a bin-picking cell was redesigned as a single 5-axis machined part to eliminate the adjustment shims that had caused downtime. Flatness of the locating face was held to 0.02 mm and the dowel pin holes were checked against a master fixture before packing.
- Process
- 5-axis CNC machining from 7075-T6 plate
- Tolerance
- 0.02 mm flatness on locating face
- Documentation
- First article report, material cert, repeatability log
- Outcome
- 300 jaw sets delivered annually on a three-week Kanban
Frequently asked questions
How fast can you iterate on a gripper design?
Rapid CNC prototyping from aluminium or magnesium stock delivers a design-test-redesign loop in days, with the same surface finishes available on the final part.
Can you produce lightweight grippers in magnesium?
Yes. Magnesium is our preferred lightweight option for weight-sensitive cells. We confirm the alloy grade and certification with every batch.
Do you supply frame kits?
Yes. Extruded aluminium sections cut to length, machined and shipped as a kit with hardware and documentation — ready for the integrator to assemble.
Can you hold the locating flatness of gripper jaws?
Yes. Flatness to 0.02 mm on the locating face is a standard capability. We log the result with the inspection record so you can match it to your system integration report.
Do you build end-effectors as finished assemblies?
We supply individual parts and small sub-assemblies. Pneumatic and electrical integration are typically handled by your system integrator.
Send your robot geometry
STEP, IGES or a drawing — tell us the cell layout, the payload and the cycle time target. We will propose a manufacturing route and a quote within a working day.