EOAT Glossary: Robotic Automation Terms Explained
Robotic automation comes with its own vocabulary, and understanding it makes conversations with integrators, suppliers, and robot manufacturers much faster. This glossary defines the most common terms in End of Arm Tooling (EOAT) and vacuum automation in plain language, with links to deeper resources where it helps. We update it as the industry and our product line evolve.
Jump to a term: End of Arm Tooling (EOAT) · End Effector · Gripper · Vacuum Gripper · Area Surface Gripper (ASG) · Suction Cup · Vacuum Ejector · Venturi Vacuum Generator · Tool Changer · Robot Flange (ISO 9409) · Payload · Tool Center Point (TCP) · Cobot (Collaborative Robot) · Pick and Place · Degating · Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
End of Arm Tooling (EOAT)
End of Arm Tooling, shortened to EOAT, is the equipment mounted to the end of a robot arm that interacts directly with the product. It includes grippers, vacuum tools, tool changers, and flanges. EOAT turns a general purpose robot into a purpose built machine for a specific task. Read our complete guide to end of arm tooling or browse our EOAT solutions.
End Effector
An end effector is any device attached to the end of a robotic arm that performs work, from grippers and vacuum tools to welding torches and spray heads. In material handling, end effector and end of arm tooling are used interchangeably.
Gripper
A gripper is an end effector that grasps and releases parts. The main families are vacuum grippers, mechanical grippers with moving jaws or fingers, and magnetic grippers. Gripper selection depends on part geometry, surface, weight, and cycle speed. See our full range of EOAT grippers.
Vacuum Gripper
A vacuum gripper holds parts using suction generated by a vacuum source. It excels on flat, smooth, or lightly porous surfaces and is the dominant gripping method in packaging and palletizing because it is fast, gentle, and mechanically simple. See our Area Surface Grippers.
Area Surface Gripper (ASG)
An Area Surface Gripper (ASG) spreads vacuum across a wide foam contact face instead of individual suction cups. This allows it to grip porous materials such as corrugated cardboard, handle mixed product sizes with one tool, and tolerate positioning error. Its lightweight companion, the Spider Gripper (SPI), uses strategically placed vacuum inlets for fast picking.
Suction Cup
A suction cup is the flexible interface between a vacuum system and the part. Cups come in flat, bellows, and oval geometries, with the choice driven by surface texture, part rigidity, and how much height compensation the pick requires.
Vacuum Ejector
A vacuum ejector generates vacuum from compressed air using the Venturi principle, with no moving parts. Ejectors respond quickly and mount close to the gripper, which shortens evacuation time. Stackable designs such as the Anubis 3D VAC STAC scale flow by adding stages.
Venturi Vacuum Generator
A Venturi vacuum generator forces compressed air through a converging nozzle, creating a low pressure zone that draws in surrounding air. It is the working principle behind vacuum ejectors and most compact robotic vacuum sources.
Tool Changer
A tool changer is a two part coupling between the robot and its tooling that allows tools to be swapped quickly. A Manual Tool Changer (MTC) is operated by hand in seconds, while an Integrated Vacuum Tool Changer (IVTC) builds vacuum generation into the changer body itself.
Robot Flange (ISO 9409)
The robot flange is the mounting face at the end of the arm, standardized by ISO 9409-1 bolt circle patterns. Adapter flanges match tooling to a specific robot model and can integrate air routing, offsets, and sensor mounts in a single printed part.
Payload
Payload is the maximum mass a robot can carry at its flange, including the tooling, the part, and dynamic loads from acceleration. Because tooling weight consumes payload before the part is even attached, lightweight EOAT directly increases the usable capacity of a robot.
Tool Center Point (TCP)
The Tool Center Point (TCP) is the reference point on the tooling that the robot positions and orients in space, for example the contact face of a gripper. Accurate TCP definition is essential for path accuracy and offline programming.
Cobot (Collaborative Robot)
A cobot is a robot designed to work safely alongside people, using force limiting, rounded geometry, and speed monitoring instead of safety fencing. Typical cobot payloads of 5 to 20 kg make lightweight tooling especially valuable. See our FANUC CRX tools and accessories.
Pick and Place
Pick and place is the automation task of picking a part from one location and placing it in another, such as loading cartons or arranging products on a conveyor. It is the most common application for vacuum based pick and place EOAT.
Degating
Degating is the removal of the gate, sprue, and runner material from an injection molded part after molding. Robotic degating tools combine part specific grippers with nippers or cutters, and benefit from printed geometry matched to the molded part. See our molding applications.
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS)
Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) is an industrial 3D printing process in which a laser fuses polymer powder layer by layer. Because the surrounding powder supports the part, SLS produces complex, functional geometry without support structures, which makes it ideal for production EOAT components in PA12 nylon.
Need Help Choosing the Right Tooling?
Definitions are the starting point, and the right tool for your application depends on your part, your robot, and your cycle time. Start with our complete guide to end of arm tooling, or contact our team to talk through your application.