While some storefronts may describe it as a “dexterous robot hand,” the EG2-4C is most accurately characterized as a two-jaw electric gripper (often referenced as EG2-4C2 within the EG2-4C series) that emphasizes large stroke, integrated control electronics, and closed-loop force and position control.
A defining capability of the EG2-4C series is power-off self-locking, intended to maintain a grasp during a loss of power (subject to load, friction, and application conditions). The gripper is also commonly documented as supporting RS485 communications with MODBUS RTU, and it is described as including a built-in pressure/force sensing capability used for threshold-based gripping behavior.
The EG2-4C is manufactured by Inspire Robots and appears in official product pages and operation instructions, as well as distributor spec tables that summarize its mechanical envelope and electrical requirements.
Design and Features
Integrated controller and compact, self-contained form factor
The EG2-4C series is described as having a controller integrated into the gripper assembly, reducing external drive requirements and simplifying wiring in small robotic wrists and cobot toolheads. This “all-in-one” approach is common in modern electric grippers intended for quick deployment in lab automation and pilot production cells.
Large stroke for size class
A prominent specification of the EG2-4C2 variant is its total stroke (both sides combined) of 70 mm, which allows the gripper to accommodate a wider range of object sizes than many comparably compact units. In practice, stroke length is often the limiting factor in end-effector selection, especially when a system must grasp both small parts and larger fixtures without changing tooling.
Force and position control with power-off self-locking
The EG2-4C is presented as supporting precise force control and position control, enabling the user to tune grasp behavior for different materials (rigid parts vs. more delicate surfaces). The gripper’s power-off self-locking behavior is intended to help prevent accidental drops during power interruption.
Sensing for contact-aware gripping
In official operation instructions for the EG2-4XX family, the gripper is described as including a built-in pressure sensor and supporting threshold-based control—where users set different pressure thresholds to grip objects with different hardness. This kind of sensing is commonly used to reduce crushing risk and to improve consistency in handling parts with variable tolerances.
Technology and Specifications
Core mechanical and performance specifications (commonly listed for EG2-4C2)
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Communication interface: RS485
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Total stroke (both sides): 70 mm
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Gripping force: 0–20 N
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Gripping force adjustment resolution/step (listed): ±1 N
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Weight: 231 g
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Repeat positioning accuracy: ±0.50 mm
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Full-stroke closing time: 1.3 s
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Maximum speed (listed): 70 mm/s
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Ingress protection: IP40
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Recommended environment: 0–40°C
Electrical specifications (commonly listed for EG2-4C2)
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Working voltage: DC 24 V ±10%
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Static current: 30 mA
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No-load running current (listed): 200 mA
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Peak current (listed): 0.70 A
Communications and protocol support
The EG2-4XX operation instructions state that the RS485 interface supports MODBUS RTU. In addition, the manufacturer support/download area lists supplementary protocol documentation (including MODBUS protocol supplements and CAN protocol supplements) and provides access to software utilities and 3D model resources for EG2-series devices.
Applications and Use Cases
Industrial automation and light assembly
With adjustable force and a relatively wide stroke for its size, the EG2-4C is commonly positioned for:
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pick-and-place of components and subassemblies,
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machine tending for small parts,
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packaging and kitting workflows,
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fixture loading/unloading in bench-scale automation.
Education and research robotics
The RS485 MODBUS RTU control model and integrated controller can make the EG2-4C attractive for universities and labs building:
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mobile manipulators,
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robotic perception + grasping pipelines,
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learning-based grasp experiments (where repeatable force and position control is useful).
Service robotics and field prototypes
For service robots and prototypes, compact electric grippers are often preferred over pneumatic tooling because they reduce external infrastructure needs (compressors, valves, air lines). The EG2-4C’s self-contained design aligns with these constraints.
Advantages / Benefits
Simple integration compared with pneumatic grippers
Electric grippers typically simplify deployment by eliminating compressed air requirements. The EG2-4C’s integrated controller further reduces integration overhead.
Tunable grasp behavior for mixed objects
Adjustable force/position control and pressure-threshold style gripping help support a broader variety of objects than fixed-force solutions—useful when a single robot must handle parts of different stiffness or fragility.
Holding capability during power interruptions
Power-off self-locking can reduce drop risk during unexpected power loss events (though real-world performance depends on payload, jaw material, contact geometry, and safety factors).
FAQ Section
What is the Inspire EG2-4C (EG2-4C)?
The Inspire EG2-4C is a compact servo electric gripper (two-jaw end effector) designed for robotic grasping, with an integrated controller and adjustable force/position control.
How does the EG2-4C work?
The EG2-4C uses an internal electric drive and controller to open/close its jaws to a target position and/or force. It communicates via RS485, and official documentation states it supports MODBUS RTU for command and status exchange.
Why is the EG2-4C important in robotics?
It provides a relatively large stroke (commonly listed at 70 mm total) and tunable gripping force (commonly listed 0–20 N) in a lightweight package, which helps robots handle more object sizes without changing tooling.
What are the benefits of the EG2-4C?
Commonly listed benefits include an integrated controller, precise force and position control, a 70 mm total stroke, RS485 MODBUS RTU communications, and power-off self-locking for grasp retention during power loss.
Summary
The Inspire EG2-4C (EG2-4C) is a compact electric gripper end effector designed for reliable robotic grasping with an emphasis on large stroke, adjustable force/position control, and simplified integration through an integrated controller. Commonly published specifications for the EG2-4C2 highlight a 70 mm total stroke, 0–20 N gripping force, DC 24 V operation, and RS485 MODBUS RTU communications, along with power-off self-locking to support grasp retention during power interruptions.