What’s a pneumatic gripper?

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Air grippers are devices that use air pressure to grip objects. There are two types: parallel and angular. Grippers can apply variable or standard pressure and have different opening widths and pressure capacities. They are used in various industries, from computer hardware to automotive parts.

An air gripper is an air pressure based device that uses air to grip objects. There are two main types of units: parallel and angular. Depending on the design of the unit, operators may be able to apply more pressure to the object using more air, or the gripper may simply use a standard amount of pressure for each job. Aside from the gripping mechanism, the other two major distinctions between each unit are the size of the opening and the overall amount of pressure the gripper can apply. Pliers are used in many industries, from small pliers for hardware chips to large ones for gripping automotive parts.

The biggest distinction among all pneumatic grippers is the sealing mechanism, usually referred to as jaws or fingers. In the jaw version, technically called parallel gripper, the two units that make up the jaw approach with a parallel movement, straight to each other to grab the object. They are best for gripping flat objects or moving an object back and forth. Finger, or angular, grippers close from the sides, rotating up and down from a central point. This often works best for objects that are rotated.

Air pressure is used to open and close the air gripper jaws or fingers on the object. In some units, there is variable pressure, where operators can choose to increase or decrease the amount of force used to hold an object firmly. Other grippers offer only a standard amount of pressure and don’t increase or decrease except when the operator tells the device to let go of the object.

While the gripper mechanism is the biggest difference between pneumatic grippers, there are two other distinguishing features. Each fixture will have a different opening width, allowing the gripper to hold various sized items. The overall amount of pressure the gripper can exert will also differ, making it suitable for holding light or heavy objects.

An air gripper is an industrial device used in many different industries. The computer industry uses grippers to move chips and small pieces of hardware during construction. Automakers use large grippers to move parts, such as the engine and transmission, around the manufacturing plant. Air grippers are very versatile units that can be used to perform many different tasks that require an object to be held or moved.




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