Some technological solutions are so useful that once you’ve adopted them, you can’t imagine going back to the way things were done before.
3arm’s custom-designed, ergonomic lift assist arms are in that category for a lot of our clients. A big part of what sets 3arm’s solutions apart is our commitment to not just selling equipment, but engineering application-specific solutions that are tailored to the precise needs of our customers. That specificity leads to maneuverability, versatility — and ultimately, to greatly enhanced manufacturing productivity.
3arm Lift Assist Arms: Designed to Solve Problems
The team at 3arm is focused on solving problems for our clients and powering their success, which is why we believe so strongly in customization.
Taking the physical weight off of your team members — through powerful zero gravity arms that do the heavy lifting for them, with a full range of motion — reduces operator fatigue and the chance of injury or strain while enabling more precise work.
3arm tool-holding and lift assist arms also relieve all kinds of burdens and stresses for your business as a whole — by providing better workplace safety, increasing morale, and removing friction from your operations so you have the agility to take on more different kinds of projects.
Here are some of the key ways that 3arm zero gravity arms support your business goals by preventing injuries and increasing productivity, including:
- Sophisticated, interchangeable head members designed for different tasks and applications.
- Versatile mounting options that can be integrated with any workspace.
- Custom design collaboration creates real advantages, as 3arm engineers work with your team to identify, select, and modify the right tools for your needs.
>> See our 3arm Series 4 with an impact wrench application for truck tire replacement using mobile trolley column system.
3arm Devices That Enable All Kinds of Applications
Let’s start with the basics: 3arm designs two different types of custom lift assist arms that provide the adaptability needed to take on a wide range of applications, focused on lifting and tool-holding.
- 3arm Manipulators enable pick-and-place tasks with options for gripper jaws, vacuum, or magnet attachments — while custom grippers make sure the part won’t get damaged when picking it up.
- 3arm Tool-Holding arms remove the weight from the operator as well as absorbing the torque reaction. Our most popular and versatile tool-holding arm, the Series 3, allows 360 degree movement at both joints using one Tilting and one Radial arm.
Whether the task requires heavy lifting for pick-and-place operations or for tool-holding, 3arm has a solution that can be designed for your specific application.
>> See the ways you can customize 3arm M5 and M7 Manipulators for almost any task
3arm Manipulator Customization Options
3arm’s Manipulators are the only arm for pick and place operations and include:
- Options for gripper jaws, vacuum, magnetic or custom-designed attachments
- Base or top mount and handlebar options
- Custom grippers ensure part will not be damaged when picking up
- Optional fixed, rotating and/or revolving head assemblies
- 110 lbs max. capacity
- Available with or without pneumatic brakes
- Mountable on customizable trolleys
How 3arm’s Customizable Head Members Multiply Your Options
3arm’s wide variety of head members are one of the most important secrets behind the power and versatility of our list assist devices. They’re the tooling interface that makes the arm truly application-specific, by allowing you to attach and swap almost any tool or attachment.
3arm’s engineers assist our clients to select or modify the right head member to exactly match their needs. Types of head members include:
- Vertical and Flat Mounts: These head members are ideal for straightforward tool holding in vertical or horizontal orientations.
- Articulated and Adjustable Mounts: Designed for applications requiring flexibility and movement.
- Specialized and Heavy-Duty Applications: For tasks involving heavy tools or requiring specific functionalities-including magnetic, electro-magnetic and heavy-duty drill head members.
- Ball and Socket Mounts: Provide multidirectional movement for complex tasks.
- Multi-position and Revolving Mounts: Offer enhanced maneuverability and positioning.
- Giraffe and Pistol Grip Mounts: Tailored for specific ergonomic needs and tool types.
- Fork and Strap Mounts: For unique tool holding requirements.
- Customized Head Member: Our team will work with your engineers to design customized head members for your unique application.`
Each head member is designed to integrate seamlessly with 3arm’s ergonomic lift assist devices, enhancing safety and productivity across various industries
Mounting Solutions: Adapting to Your Space and Workflow
3arm’s mounting solutions provide another level of flexibility and specificity — making it possible to integrate our lift assist arms into a wide variety of workstations.
Whatever the layout of your facility, our engineers can help you choose the right mounting solution to fit seamlessly into your workflow. Options include:
- Fixed Mounting Solutions
These are stationary installations that offer a stable base for 3arm devices:
- Wall Mounts: The arm is secured to a vertical surface, ideal for workstations with limited floor space.
- Rail Mounts: Attached to floor or overhead rails for
- Table Mounts: Attached directly to workbenches or tables, providing a compact and accessible setup.
- Column Mounts: Utilize existing structural columns for mounting, optimizing space usage in industrial environments.
- Mobile Mounting Solutions
Designed for flexibility and movement across various work areas:
- Trolley Systems: The arm is attached to a trolley and can be moved from station to station, facilitating tasks that require mobility along a production line. These can include the addition of compressors to power pneumatic tools.
- Elevators: Provide vertical adjustability, enabling the arm to be positioned at different heights to accommodate various tasks and operator preferences.
3arm’s variety of mounting solutions can accommodate many tasks and give your plant the flexibility to move arms from station to station or maximize floor space by mounting to overhead rails or walls.
How 3arm Beats the Competition: Safety, Productivity, and Customization
3arm’s focus on addressing the specific needs of each client is the key to our advantage over competitors. We know you need rugged tools that can stand up to demanding conditions—but they also need to be sophisticated and capable of high performance under pressure.
All of our products are designed to prioritize operator safety — because your team members are more valuable than any piece of machinery, and their wellbeing is crucial to your productivity.
We make sure that our lift assist devices have no pinch points, unlike some of our competitors. We design them for smooth movement that allows a full range of motion — which reduces strain while at the same time speeding up production cycles.
We also provide brake options that allow operators to lock movements of the arm during operations, which can help increase accuracy in addition to safety.
These benefits are amplified by our emphasis on ergonomic adaptability: allowing adjustments for height, strength, and task-specific demands.
Our research reveals that competitors often focus on “off-the-shelf” products—which is a little like selling you a pair of shoes without bothering to measure your foot. In contrast to that one-size-fits-all approach, 3arm’s engineers develop real solutions that put each client’s unique requirements at the heart of the offerings we deliver.
>> Why 3arm Stands Apart: Customization, Engineering Support & Performance You Can Rely On
Success Story: How a Safety Engineer Created a Safer, Healthier and More Productive Facility with 3arm
Our client knew that something had to change—operators were lifting and handling heavy tools manually, which was not only slow and cumbersome, but caused fatigue and an elevated risk of injury.
So 3arm’s team worked directly with the client’s safety engineer to:
- Analyze work tasks and the associated risks.
- Identify pain points, including the causes of strain and inefficiency.
- Recommend the specific head members and mounting solutions that fit each workstation’s needs.
This created dramatic improvements in improved worker safety—including a measurable reduction in strain-related incidents and complaints. There was a noticeable lift in employee morale because workers felt safer and more valued—as well as finding their tasks less onerous. Another benefit: increased production throughput and capacity, thanks to all of these factors.
>> Read the full success story.
Arm Yourself with the 3arm Advantage
Choosing 3arm gets you more than just a product. You also get a partner who understands your specific process, designs around the needs of your operators and the layout of your facility, and helps you achieve both safety and productivity goals.
If you’re ready to optimize your operations, protect your team, and expand your capabilities, partner with 3arm so we can help you design the perfect lift-assist solution for your facility. Reach out by sending us a message to start a conversation and find out more.
