End Effector
An end effector is the tool mounted on a robot wrist — gripper, welding torch, or vacuum cup — that interacts with the part. It is application-specific.
An end effector (or end-of-arm tool, EOAT) is the device mounted on the robot's wrist flange that performs the actual task: a gripper, suction cup, welding torch, dispensing nozzle, screwdriver, or sensor.
The end effector's weight and centre of gravity count against the robot's payload, and its size affects the usable work envelope. Choosing the right EOAT — and quick-change couplers for multi-task cells — is often the difference between a working cell and a stalled one.
Used robots are frequently sold without their original tooling, since EOAT is application-specific. Budget for a new or adapted end effector and confirm the wrist flange pattern (often an ISO 9409-1 bolt circle) matches your tool.