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Product Safety & Intended Use Notice

Product Safety & Intended Use Notice

Last updated: July 3, 2026

Please read this notice carefully before installing or operating any FastGripper Product. A printed copy of this notice ships in the box with each Product, and it is incorporated by reference into our Terms and Conditions of Sale. By installing or operating a FastGripper Product, you confirm that you have read and understood this notice.

This notice is in addition to, not in place of, the safety information on each Product's specification sheet. If anything in this notice conflicts with a Product's specification sheet, the specification sheet controls for that Product.

Contents

Who should operate this Product

FastGripper Products are designed for use by trained technical operators — engineers, researchers, graduate students, and developers who:

  • Understand basic robotics and mechatronics concepts (motors, actuators, control loops, safe workspace practices).
  • Can read and follow technical documentation, including specification sheets and wiring diagrams.
  • Have access to a workspace with appropriate safety equipment (eye protection, e-stop accessible, clear of bystanders).
  • Are willing to assume responsibility for the integration of the Product into a larger robot system.

These Products are not consumer products. They are not designed for unsupervised operation by children, by untrained users, or in any environment where untrained people may come within the workspace of the robot.

Intended use

FastGripper Products are designed, manufactured, and sold for use in research, prototyping, robotics development, evaluation, and educational settings.

Specifically, they are intended for:

  • Robotics research in academic, government, and industrial R&D labs.
  • Prototyping new robotic systems and applications.
  • Algorithm and policy development for grasping, manipulation, and embodied AI.
  • Teaching robotics in university or technical-college courses with appropriate supervision.
  • Internal demonstrations and proof-of-concept builds.

In these environments, occasional failure is expected and tolerated, and the cost of a failure is bounded by the value of the Product itself.

FastGripper Products are not intended for any use other than as set forth above. Any use of the Products for any other purpose is at your own exclusive risk and liability.

Applications you must NOT use this Product in

FastGripper Products are not designed, tested, certified, or warranted for use in any use other than as set forth above under "Intended Use", and should not be used for any other purpose, including any of the following. Using a Product in any of these applications is a violation of our Terms of Sale, voids all warranties, and shifts all liability and risk to you.

  • Safety-critical applications, including medical devices, surgical tools, prosthetics, life-support, life-sustaining, implantable, or assistive equipment.
  • Aviation, aerospace, or space applications, including drones operated in regulated airspace, flight-control surfaces, or any avionics.
  • Autonomous vehicles or mobile robots operating in public spaces, including delivery robots, autonomous vehicles, or any robot operating where untrained people may be in the workspace.
  • Defense, weapons, or military systems where failure-resistance is required.
  • Industrial production lines or any manufacturing operation that depends on uptime or where the Product's output enters a finished consumer product without further inspection.
  • Nuclear facilities, radiation environments, or hazardous-area equipment (e.g., ATEX, IECEx, or other explosion-rated environments).
  • Mass transit, public infrastructure, or critical-infrastructure control systems.
  • Any application in which a single point of failure could reasonably result in personal injury, death, severe environmental damage, or property damage beyond the value of the Product itself.

If you are unsure whether your application falls into one of these categories, contact us before integrating the Product at info@transcendmechanics.com.

Hazards and how to avoid them

FastGripper Products are mechanical devices that move under power. They contain stored energy, sharp metal components, and electrical systems. They can cause injury or property damage if operated improperly.

Pinch and crush hazards

Gripper jaws close with substantial force when actuated. They can pinch, crush, or amputate fingers and other body parts caught between the jaws or between a jaw and a workpiece.

  • Keep hands, fingers, hair, clothing, and other body parts clear of the gripper jaws and the gripper's workspace at all times during operation.
  • Use the manufacturer-recommended workpiece holding fixtures so you never need to position a workpiece by hand while the gripper is powered.
  • Install a safety-rated emergency stop (E-stop) in your robot setup and confirm it cuts power to the gripper as well as the robot arm.
  • For teaching, demonstrations, or hand-guided operation, keep the workspace clear of bystanders and ensure a trained operator can immediately cut power if needed.

Stored mechanical energy

Some gripper designs hold position by spring force, friction, or self-locking mechanisms. A gripper may continue to apply force even when unpowered.

  • Before opening a gripper enclosure, removing a workpiece by hand, or disassembling any component, fully de-energize the gripper and release any stored mechanical energy (springs, locking mechanisms, residual grip force).
  • Treat a powered-off gripper as if it could move unexpectedly until you have confirmed otherwise.

Electrical hazards

FastGripper Products operate on low-voltage DC power (typically 12–48 V), but improper wiring can still cause:

  • Short circuits, fires, or component failure.
  • Damage to the Product or to other equipment connected to the same power bus.
  • Personal injury from arc faults or hot components.

To avoid these hazards:

  • Wire the Product only as specified in its specification sheet. Confirm voltage, polarity, and current capacity before applying power.
  • Use appropriately rated power supplies, fuses, and conductors.
  • Disconnect power before connecting, disconnecting, or modifying any wiring.
  • Observe electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions when handling exposed electronics.

Heat

Motors, actuators, and power electronics can become hot during sustained operation, especially under heavy load or in high-duty-cycle applications.

  • Do not touch motor housings or actuator bodies immediately after use; allow time to cool.
  • Provide adequate ventilation in any enclosure containing the Product.
  • Monitor temperature and reduce duty cycle if surfaces exceed the rated operating temperature in the specification sheet.

Sharp edges and fasteners

Machined surfaces, fingers, and fasteners may have sharp edges, particularly on custom-machined or 3D-printed accessories.

  • Inspect Products for sharp edges or burrs before each use.
  • Wear gloves when handling parts during assembly or maintenance.

Falling payloads

A gripper can lose its grip on a workpiece due to slip, control fault, power loss, or operating beyond rated payload. A dropped payload can damage equipment or injure people in or near the workspace.

  • Operate well within the rated payload stated on the specification sheet.
  • Provide a secondary safety mechanism (catch tray, mechanical interlock, light curtain) where the consequences of a dropped payload are significant.
  • Keep the workspace below the gripper clear of people and sensitive equipment during operation.

Robot motion hazards

A FastGripper Product is intended to be mounted on a robot arm. The arm itself can cause serious injury independent of the gripper.

  • Follow the robot manufacturer's safety guidance for the arm.
  • Maintain a clear workspace around the robot during operation.
  • Use safety-rated guarding, E-stops, light curtains, or other equipment as appropriate for the robot and the application.

Operating limits

Each FastGripper Product has rated operating limits documented on its specification sheet, including:

  • Rated maximum payload (kg)
  • Rated grip force range (N)
  • Supply voltage range (V)
  • Supply current and peak current (A)
  • Operating temperature range (°C)
  • Operating humidity range
  • Recommended duty cycle

Operating a Product outside these rated limits voids the warranty, may damage the Product, and may create a safety hazard. When in doubt, consult the specification sheet before exceeding any rated limit.

Setup, maintenance, and inspection

Before each use:

  • Visually inspect the Product for damage, loose fasteners, or worn components.
  • Confirm that all wiring is intact and connectors are seated.
  • Confirm that the workspace is clear of people and obstructions.

During use:

  • Monitor for unusual sounds, vibration, temperature rise, or behavior. Stop operation and investigate if anything seems wrong.

Periodic maintenance:

  • Inspect connections, fasteners, and moving parts periodically for wear or damage.
  • Replace fasteners and consumable components when they show signs of wear.
  • Do not lubricate, modify, or service the Product except as specified on its specification sheet. Always disconnect power before performing any maintenance, inspection, or modification.

If something goes wrong

If a FastGripper Product fails, malfunctions, or causes an incident (damage to equipment, injury to a person, or any near-miss):

  1. Stop using the Product immediately and disconnect power.
  2. Secure the area to prevent further harm.
  3. For injuries: provide first aid and seek medical attention as appropriate. Do not delay medical care to investigate the cause.
  4. Preserve the Product and any related evidence (workpiece, wiring, photographs of the scene).
  5. Contact us at info@transcendmechanics.com and describe what happened. Even if you do not believe the Product is at fault, we want to know — operator-reported incidents are how we identify and fix design issues.

For a warranty claim arising from a Product failure, see our Limited Warranty.

Disclaimer and limitation of liability

No mechanical system is perfectly safe. Even when operated within rated limits and according to all instructions, a Product may fail in ways that cause injury or damage.

By operating a FastGripper Product, you acknowledge that:

  • You have read and understood this notice.
  • You understand the hazards described above and have taken reasonable precautions in your workspace.
  • You will operate the Product only within its rated limits and intended use.
  • You are responsible for integrating the Product safely into your robot system.

To the maximum extent permitted by law, our total liability for any claim arising from your use of a Product is limited to the amount you paid us for the specific Product, and we are not liable for any indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages. The full limitation of liability is set out in Section 12 of our Terms of Sale.

Nothing in this notice attempts to exclude or limit liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law, including liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, fraudulent misrepresentation, or any other liability that the law does not allow us to disclaim.

More information

  • Terms of Sale — the legal agreement governing your purchase, including the full Intended Use clause and Critical Applications disclaimer.
  • Limited Warranty — what we cover, what we don't, and how to submit a warranty claim.
  • Privacy Policy — how we handle your personal information.
  • Product-specific specification sheets — the authoritative source of safety, operating-limit, and integration information for each Product.

If you have questions about this notice or about safe use of a FastGripper Product, contact info@transcendmechanics.com.