CNC Inserts Too Small to Grip? Here’s How a Soft Gripper Handles Them

Small parts are often the hardest parts to automate. CNC inserts are a good example.Before sintering, these powder-pressed inserts already have their final shape — but they are still extremely fragile. A small impact or unnecessary contact can damage the cutting edge and turn a good part into scrap.So the challenge is not simply:“How do we pick it up?”The real question is:“How do we grip it securely without touching the part’s most fragile area?”

Traditional grippers usually work by clamping from the outside.But for unsintered CNC inserts, the cutting edge is exactly where contact should be avoided.This is where conventional gripping methods become difficult.

The Solution: Soft Gripper + Custom Finger Sleeves

To solve this application, we used a soft gripper with customized finger sleeves.Instead of squeezing the outside of the insert, the soft gripper uses the center bore for internal support gripping.The finger sleeves expand inside the bore and hold the insert from the inside.This means:✅ No contact with the cutting edge ✅ Controlled gripping force on fragile parts ✅ Stable handling during automated transferThe idea behind the solution is simple:Protect the sensitive area. Support the stronger area.

One Soft Gripper, Multiple Insert Sizes

Another challenge in production is product variation.Different CNC inserts come with different bore sizes. Traditional tooling often requires a dedicated gripper or fixture for each specification.With a modular finger sleeve design, the same soft gripper can adapt to different insert sizes by simply changing the sleeve.For example, the 3GN Finger Sleeve Series provides configurations covering internal support diameters from 3 mm to 10 mm.Instead of replacing the complete tooling system, engineers only need to change the contact module.

Beyond CNC Inserts

The same gripping principle can also be applied to other small precision components, such as:

• Pharmaceutical vials
• Bushings
• Cylindrical mechanical parts

Whenever the outside surface is fragile, sensitive, or difficult to contact, internal support gripping can provide a different solution.

In automation, the strongest grip is not always the best grip.For delicate parts, the key is understanding:Where can we apply force? And where should we never touch?A soft gripper is not just about being gentle. Sometimes, it is about finding a smarter way to hold the part.

Have you encountered small components that are difficult to automate because they are too fragile to handle?Share your experience — we’d love to learn from real applications