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Sign inRobot tool changers
Robot-side and tool-side couplings for changing end-of-arm equipment. Compare coupling load ratings, pneumatic requirements and connection circuits; these components are not complete robot arms.
Review both coupling halves and the carried load
Record which components remain on the robot and which travel with each tool. Include adapter plates, grippers and services in the load discussion. A coupling load rating is not a replacement for the robot wrist load and moment checks.
Questions to resolve before shortlisting
- What is the mass and centre of gravity of each complete tool assembly?
- Which flange dimensions and fasteners must match both sides?
- What air pressure and electrical or fluid services are required?
- How will locked state, docking and a failed coupling be detected?
What to send with your sourcing brief
Submit drawings of both interfaces and a service list. The linked BRQC guide compares the two published load ratings; ask the supplier to confirm the complete configuration.
Platform procurement checklist. Confirm the equipment and integration requirements with the supplier.
Buyer decision notes
Make the coupling, wrist and service checks separately
A tool changer joins the robot-side assembly to a removable tool-side assembly. Selecting it requires more than comparing the stated carried mass: the complete installation includes adapter plates, tool geometry, services and a docking sequence. A coupling rating cannot establish the robot wrist rating or the application’s behaviour during a failed change.
Prepared by RobotLineup Editorial · Analysis updated . Platform analysis, not an independent equipment test.
Compare proposals on the same basis
Ask each bidder to answer these items against the same drawings, parts and operating sequence. An unanswered item is a comparison gap, not a passed requirement.
| Decision | Evidence to request | Avoid this assumption |
|---|---|---|
| Coupling loading | A complete tool-side assembly drawing and supplier-approved load and moment conditions. | The stated kg rating approves any centre of gravity or process force. |
| Robot loading | Mass and geometry of both coupling halves, adapters, tool, services and carried workpiece. | The robot only carries the gripper and part. |
| Utilities | A circuit and connector schedule tied to the quoted modules and operating conditions. | Six air circuits imply an included electrical connector. |
| Change sequence | Docking arrangement, status signals and the specified response to an incomplete lock. | Pneumatic actuation proves a particular fail-safe behaviour. |
Why a larger load rating is not a complete upgrade
The published RA08 and RA10 entries differ in rating and component mass: 5 kg versus 10 kg, with combined half masses of 0.33 kg versus 0.710 kg. These sums are arithmetic only. The rating definition, geometry, robot load and proposed service package need separate confirmation.
ATI’s selection guidance explains why centre of gravity and moment capacity matter alongside payload. Use that as a question framework; ATI limits and mechanisms do not establish BRQC performance. The BRQC entries currently lack published moment-capacity and loss-of-pressure behaviour in the visible data. Keep those gaps explicit.
Worked sourcing brief
Illustrative procurement exercise. Assumptions below are invented for explanation; this is not a customer case, trial result or quotation.
Assume the removable tool, workpiece and adapter weigh 4.6 kg, before the chosen tool-side half is added. The robot must also carry its attached coupling components and other mounting hardware. Prepare a mass schedule with those items on separate rows and ask the two suppliers to identify which are included in their respective ratings. A subtotal below 5 kg is only a preliminary screen; it cannot resolve tool moment or locking behaviour.
What to record before acceptance
Agree the test method, responsibilities and pass conditions before ordering. The items below are records to request, not a completed validation.
- Keep the model-specific mounting drawing and itemised robot-side and tool-side mass schedule.
- Record the quoted air and electrical connections, operating pressure conditions and status interface.
- Request the supplier’s documented coupling and exception-handling procedure; have the integrator define and validate the application response.
Common buyer questions
Can six air circuits carry electrical signals?
Do not infer an electrical package from pneumatic circuit count. Ask for the exact connector and quotation scope.
Does a pneumatic changer retain a tool after air loss?
No such behaviour is established for the listed BRQC models here. Request model-specific documentation; do not transfer claims from another brand.
Continue the comparison
Explore application requirements
Related selection guides
Pneumatic Robot Tool Changers: Check Load, Air and Connections
Compare BRQC-RA08 and RA10 rated loads, component masses and pneumatic requirements, then identify the mounting and connection details to confirm.