Soft Gripper Case Study: Circular PCBA Handling with Internal Support & Layered Separation

Recently, a customer sent us a sample for testing: a round PCBA component that required not only safe gripping, but also internal expansion support and layered separation during handling. This presented a complex automation task where precision and gentle contact were equally important

The Challenge

The product was a circular PCBA assembly with sensitive electronic structures. Standard grippers created several risks:

• Uneven force could damage the board or mounted components
• External clamping might slip due to the round shape
• Tight stacking required controlled separation between layers
• Positioning consistency was needed for downstream automation processes

For many factories, these issues lead to slower manual handling, inconsistent placement, and higher defect rates.

Rochu Soft Gripper Solution

After evaluating the sample, we designed a custom soft gripper solution tailored to the product geometry and production needs.Instead of squeezing from the outside like a conventional claw, the system used a gentle internal support gripping method, allowing the gripper to expand inside the center area and securely hold the component with balanced force.At the same time, the flexible gripping structure enabled controlled layer-by-layer separation, helping operators or automation systems pick parts smoothly from stacked positions