Quick-Change Tool Coupler
Standardised Quick-Change Tool Coupler
The standardised quick-change tool coupler is a 2 kg stainless steel interface mounted to the L3-ROB-MANIP-ARM manipulator arm, enabling autonomous end-effector swaps in one second without operator intervention. Drawing zero watts while supporting a 25 kg coupling load, the unit integrates a mechanical lock, electrical contacts, and fluid quick-disconnects. Surviving the lunar surface across a 15-year lifetime and a 50,000-hour mean time between failures requires a sealed mechanical lock design, preventing abrasive lunar regolith and hard vacuum from degrading exposed contacts or jamming precision robotic mating operations.
Standardised quick-change tool coupler at the end of L3-ROB-MANIP-ARM enabling rapid tool swaps without operator intervention.
Purpose
Standardised quick-change tool coupler at the end of L3-ROB-MANIP-ARM enabling rapid tool swaps without operator intervention.
Context
Child of L2-ROB-TOOL within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Per Schunk SWS / ATI standard
- ▸Mechanical lock + electrical contacts + fluid pass-through
- ▸Sub-second swap time
- ▸Coordinated with L3-MFG-TOOL-STOR inventory
- ▸Long-life mechanical lock
Typical implementations
- ▸Schunk SWS quick-change
- ▸ATI tool changer
- ▸Industrial robotic tool changers
Lunar considerations
- ▸Standardised across all Ark robotic systems
- ▸Long-life sealed mechanical lock
- ▸Robotic-mate-friendly
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Standardised quick-change tool coupler at the end of L3-ROB-MANIP-ARM enabling rapid tool swaps without operator intervention. |
| swap time s | 1 |
| coupling load kg | 25 |
Physical
| mass kg | 2 |
| materials | Stainless quick-change coupler, Electrical contacts, Fluid quick-disconnects |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 0 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 15 |
| mtbf hours | 50000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Quick-change interface
- Tool mounting
Requires
- Periodic inspection
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Quick-Change Tool Coupler" (L3-ROB-TOOL-CHG). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-ROB-TOOL-CHG
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.