Rubber products for robotics are used for sealing and insulation, vibration and shock absorption, and grip and traction. Robotics engineers have a choice of rubber materials and manufacturing processes, so it’s important to choose a supplier who can help with material selection and support you from prototyping to production.   

Elasto Proxy is a rubber fabricator and distributor that serves the robotics industry, a growing market that was valued at $41.9B in 2023 and is projected to reach $192B by 2033. Keep reading to learn more about rubber parts for robots, and contact us if you’re ready to discuss your project. We can help you choose the right rubber, and Elasto Proxy welcomes low-to-medium volumes.

Abrasive Water Jet Cutting Services
Elasto Proxy's fabrication equipment includes this robotic arm.

Robots, Robotics, and Rubber Parts

Robots are physical machines that perform automated tasks such as picking, placement, and inspection. Robotics is the field of engineering that designs and builds robots. Sometimes the two terms are used interchangeability, but the fact remains that both robots and robotics need rubber parts. Ideally, the time to design them is as early as possible in the product development process.

Sealing and Insulation   

Many of the rubber products that robotics engineers need provide environmental sealing and insulation. For example, rubber gaskets and rubber O-rings help protect sensitive electronic and mechanical components from the environment. Sometimes, an O-ring or gasket may also need to provide shielding against electromagnetic interference (EMI) from nearby circuits.

Typically, rubber products for environmental sealing are used to prevent the ingress of dust, water, dirt, or other contaminants that can reduce a robot’s performance or shorten its service life. For example, underwater robots need rubber seals that can keep out fresh water or salt water. The robotic arms and cobots that are used in factories may need to resist chemicals like degreasers.

Electrical and environmental insulation are also concerns. Rubber supports safety because it’s a good electrical insulator; however, it can be compounded with metal or metal-coated particles if electrical conductivity is required. Rubber can’t match the temperature resistance of metal, but there are rubber compounds that can resist hot and cold temperatures.        

vibration mounts | anti-vibration mount
Elasto Proxy also supplies rubber-to-metal bonded parts like these vibration mounts

Vibration and Shock Absorption

Rubber can also provide protection against shock and vibration, problems that can damage sensors, cameras, and sensitive electronics. For example, rubber mountings and bushings reduce the transmission of vibrations from motors to the rest of the robot. With factory robots that perform heavy lifting or operate on uneven surfaces, shock-absorbing rubber feet are used.   

Rubber comes in a range of durometers, or hardnesses, that can provide either greater cushioning or greater impact resistance. In soft robotics, softer and more flexible rubber is used in actuators and manipulators. Rubber that provides a balance between rigidity and elasticity is used in joints and couplings because it allows for controlled movement while absorbing minor misalignments.

Grip and Traction

Robots also used rubber parts for gripping and traction. For example, the robotic arms that are used for parts picking and placement may need grippers with rubberized surfaces to avoid damaging sensitive parts or dropping slippery ones. In mobile robots, rubber wheels or tracks can provide traction and stability on terrain ranging from warehouse floors to outdoor environments.

Medical robots can have even more stringent requirements. For example, a surgical robot may need rubber grippers that can support cleaning with chemicals, steam sterilization, or autoclaving. Laboratory robots for handing vials may need rubber parts that can withstand many rapid cycles and that won’t outgas or release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  

MTAP | type of rubber
Avoid gasket failure by partnering with Elasto Proxy and using MTAP

Rubber Materials for Robots

The table below lists some commonly used rubber materials for robotics and describes their applications and relative advantages. Elasto Proxy can help you with material selection and recommends using what we call MTAP in your rubber product design.   

Rubber Material

Applications

Advantages

Natural Rubber

Gripping and traction

Superior flexibility and elongation

Good resistance to wear and tear

Silicone

Seals, gaskets, and flexible parts, especially in higher-temperature environments

Wide temperature range
Resistance to UV, ozone, and weathering
Biocompatible grades for medical robots

Nitrile (NBR)

Seals and O-rings that are exposed to oils and fuels

Excellent fuel and oil resistance

Good mechanical properties

EPDM

Robots that are used outdoors, or where there is water (e.g., greenhouses).

Superior resistance to outdoor environments
Good heat and chemical resistance

Flexibility at low temperatures

Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE)

Soft robotic components, flexible joints and couplings

Combines the properties of rubber and plastic

Moldable and recyclable

Customizable hardness and flexibility

Neoprene (CR)

Vibration dampers, hoses, and gaskets in industrial and mobile robots

Moderate resistance to oils and chemicals
Good resistance to weathering and ozone

Flame retardant properties (fire safety)

Polyurethane

Wheels, tracks, rollers, and impact-resistant components

Excellent tear and abrasion resistance
High load-bearing capacity
Good resistance to oils and chemicals

Fluoroelastomers

Rubber seals and gaskets for extreme environments  

Exceptional chemical resistance
High-temperature tolerance

The Best Way to Buy Rubber Products for Robotics

Elasto Proxy is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company that distributes and fabricates rubber products for robotics. If you need ready-to-install parts, ask about our water jet cutting services near Montreal, Canada and in Simpsonville, South Carolina (USA). The latter is near Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. Elasto Proxy also has branches near Toronto, Canada and in Europe.

With water jet cutting, there’s no tooling to wait for or pay for – and the cuts are fast and precise. This fabrication process is ideal for quick-turn prototyping, but it can also handle production volumes in low-to-medium quantities. Compare that die-cutting and other processes that are only cost-effective at high volumes because of their tooling costs.   

In addition to water jet cut parts like rubber seals and gaskets, Elasto Proxy can supply you with molded products such as rubber feet and vibration dampeners. Plus, we can order rubber products according to your sales forecast and then store ready-to-fabricate materials or ready-to-install parts at one of our strategically located warehouses.

Are you designing rubber products for robots? Don’t make rubber parts an afterthought, and make sure to select a manufacturing partner instead of a parts provider. Contact Elasto Proxy to discuss your robotics application.

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