Abstract: A robotic welding cell is provided, and includes a workstation to receive at least one workpiece, a tool support comprising at least one tool and a robot. The robot includes a robot arm being displaceable in a 3D environment of the workstation, and a robot end effector operatively coupled to the robot arm at a free end thereof. The robot end effector has a gripper adapted to separately and selectively seize and release the at least one tool from the tool support and the at least one workpiece. The tool support is within reach of the gripper such that the robot is operable to manipulate and position the workpiece within the workstation using the gripper and perform a predetermined operation on or around the workpiece using the tool held by the gripper.

Abstract: A gripper may include a plate, a suction manifold, one or more attachment mechanisms, and one or more suction cups. The plate may have a body and one or more extremities and each extremity may have one or more slots formed therethrough. The suction manifold may be connected to the body of the plate. The one or more suction cups may each be attached to the plate via one of the attachment mechanisms and may be fluidly connected to the suction manifold. The attachment mechanisms may each extend through one of the slots of the plate. Each attachment mechanism may be configured to be tightened, loosened, and repositioned by hand.