An IP54 electric gripper is a robot gripper whose body is rated dust-protected and protected against water splashing from any direction. In the parameter set we supply from, exactly one model carries that rating: the EPGC-50-150 collaborative parallel gripper. The other series we list (EPGS, EPG2 including EPG2-100-50, EPG3, EPG4, ERG, ERGD and EPGL) are rated IP40. This guide explains what the step from IP40 to IP54 means in a real cell, when it is worth specifying, and what to confirm before you request a quote.
What IP54 means (and what it does not)
Reading the two digits
The IP code comes from IEC 60529. The first digit covers solid particles and the second covers water. These are the general definitions of the standard, not test results for a specific gripper.
| Digit | IP40 | IP54 |
|---|---|---|
| First (solids) | 4 = protected against solid objects larger than 1 mm | 5 = dust-protected: some dust may enter, but not enough to interfere with operation |
| Second (water) | 0 = no protection against water | 4 = protected against water splashing from any direction |
In practice, an IP40 body keeps out screws, wire ends and fingers but makes no promise about water. An IP54 body adds tolerance for fine dust and for incidental splashes.
What IP54 does not cover
- Not dust-tight. That is first digit 6.
- Not water jets or immersion. Those are second digits 5 to 8.
- Not a chemical rating. IEC 60529 tests use water, not cutting fluid, oil mist or cleaning agents.
If your process involves any of these, the IP code alone cannot answer the question. Ask before you buy.
When an IP54 electric gripper is worth specifying
Specify IP54 when the environment, not the part, is the risk:
- Fine dust in the cell, for example near cutting, sanding or powder handling, where an open body could collect debris over time.
- Occasional splashes from a nearby rinse, a dripping fixture or a part that leaves the previous station wet.
- A pneumatic gripper retrofit in a cell where the old air gripper was exposed to dust or splashes. Our pneumatic gripper replacement checklist walks through stroke, force and wiring. Use this guide for the sealing step.
IP40 is usually enough for clean, dry work such as electronics assembly, small-parts handling and lab automation. Both ratings share the same published operating environment: 0–40 °C and 20–85 % relative humidity. IP54 does not extend that range.
Machine tending with coolant
CNC loading is where buyers most often ask about sealing. Our knowledge base lists the EPGL long-stroke series as IP40. Whether any of our grippers can be used in coolant or chip exposure is not confirmed in the documentation. Read our CNC loading electric gripper notes and send us your coolant type and exposure before you choose a model.
The IP54 model: EPGC-50-150 at a glance
The EPGC-50-150 electric gripper is a two-finger parallel unit in the collaborative series. Published parameters:
| Parameter | EPGC-50-150 |
|---|---|
| Stroke | 50 mm, adjustable |
| Sustained clamping force | 40–150 N, adjustable |
| Clamping force accuracy | ±10 % |
| Repeatability | ±0.02 mm |
| Open or close time (one way) | 0.5 s |
| Recommended max clamping load | 3 kg |
| Noise | ≤50 dB |
| Size (without fingers) | 75 × 75 × 102 mm |
| Mass | 1 kg |
| Supply | DC 24 V ±10 %, 0.6 A sustained current |
| Controller / encoder | Integrated / magnetic encoder |
| Communication | I/O (NPN), Modbus RTU (RS485), or both: codes N / M / NM |
| IP grade | IP54 |
| Static load / moments | Fz 300 N; Mx, My, Mz 7 N·m |
| Power-off brake | Confirm configuration at quotation |
If any term is unfamiliar, our guide on how to read an electric gripper datasheet defines each row.
Sizing still comes first
IP54 does not change the selection order. Check stroke, then load, then force. The 3 kg figure is a recommended maximum, not a guarantee for every finger design or acceleration. Use the method in our gripping force guide and keep fingertips short, because the moment limits above apply at the guide.
IP54 vs IP40: EPGC-50-150 or EPG2-100-50?
Cobot users often compare these two models:
| EPGC-50-150 | EPG2-100-50 | |
|---|---|---|
| IP grade | IP54 | IP40 |
| Stroke | 50 mm | 100 mm |
| Recommended max load | 3 kg | 2 kg |
| Force | 40–150 N | 15–50 N |
| Communication | I/O (NPN) / Modbus RTU | I/O (NPN) / Modbus RTU |
Choose the EPGC-50-150 when the cell needs IP54, or when you need up to 150 N and 3 kg within a 50 mm opening. Choose the EPG2-100-50 when the part needs a wider opening and the cell is clean and dry. For more cobot context, see choosing a cobot gripper for small parts.
Both models accept the same command options, so the IP decision does not change your wiring plan. See I/O vs Modbus RTU gripper communication to choose between them.
Checklist before you order an IP54 electric gripper
- Name the medium: dry dust, water splash, coolant, oil mist or cleaning agent. IP54 covers only the first two, and only to the level defined above.
- Check temperature and humidity against 0–40 °C and 20–85 % RH.
- Confirm part mass and opening against 3 kg and 50 mm.
- Pick the interface: N, M or NM.
- Choose the cable outlet: side (standard) or tail, as listed in the selection code.
- Ask about the brake before you approve the quote.
- Design the fingers to suit your part. We supply the gripper body. Fingertips are normally made to fit each workpiece.
FAQ
Is an IP54 electric gripper waterproof?
No. IP54 means protection against splashing water from any direction. It does not cover water jets, washdown or immersion.
Which electric grippers on Grippersupply are rated IP54?
In our current parameter set, only the EPGC-50-150. EPGS, EPG2, EPG3, EPG4, ERG, ERGD and EPGL are listed as IP40. We do not claim IP54 for any other model.
Can I use an IP54 gripper inside a CNC machine with coolant?
This is not confirmed in our documentation. Send us the coolant type, how the gripper is exposed and the cycle, and we will check before quoting.
Does IP54 change the electrical interface?
No. The EPGC-50-150 runs on DC 24 V ±10 % and offers I/O (NPN), Modbus RTU (RS485) or both.
Can I add my own cover to an IP40 gripper?
A cover is your own design choice. It does not change the published IP rating of the gripper, and we do not list a protective cover option.
Request a quote for an IP54 electric gripper
Grippersupply is a supplier of electric grippers for robot arms and automation cells. Send us your part mass, required opening, robot interface and a short description of the environment (dust, splash or coolant):
- Inquiry form: https://grippersupply.com/electric-gripper-inquiry/
- WhatsApp: +86 130 4977 0422
We will reply with the matching model page, the datasheet values and a quote. If the information we have cannot answer an environment question, we will say so.