Types of Pneumatic Valves: The Pneumatic Gripper
Pneumatic grippers are pick-and-place machines that use compressed air to operate gripper jaws that are also called gripping fingers. These fingers, almost similar in design to human fingers, help in holding, grasping, and releasing work or load items. Commonly, grippers have two fingers that can be parallel or angular, or three fingers with single or double-acting pneumatic valves or cylinders for control. Work or load items can be small items such as chips or circuit boards to large items like engine blocks or mining equipment.
Advantages of pneumatic grippers:
- Lightweight.
- Cost-effective.
- High and strong gripping force.
- Ability to grip a variety of items, workpieces, and configurations.
- Adjustable gripping force.
How does a pneumatic gripper work?
The gripper is connected to an external compressed air supply system. As the compressed air is pumped into the cylinder or valve, the piston rods power up. The piston rod is connected directly to the gripping fingers and as the air pressure moves the piston up and down, the fingers open or close in an angular or parallel manner. Grippers can thus be used for pick-and-place operations or to change the orientation of an object.
Repeatability
Repeatability is the measure of maximum positioning accuracy that grippers can achieve. Pneumatic grippers can have different repeatability based on the speed of operations and the number of fingers used. Repeatability can be determined based on the precision required for the application or operation.
Safety factor and mounting options
The normal recommendation for safety factors for a particular application can be based on:
- 2 – For normal use.
- 3 – For movement in several directions.
- 4 – For shocks, fast accelerations, or decelerations.
Mounting holes are always found either on the front, side, or bottom of a gripper to provide secure mounting options. Depending on the application, any side can be selected for mounting. Always make sure that the ports for compressed air are free and unencumbered.
Other considerations for safety factors and mounting:
- Gripping force.
- Workpiece weight and configuration.
- Air pressure.
- Environment.
MasterMac 2000
For quality pneumatic valves, MasterMac 2000 P/L is the sole authorised distributor for Mack Valves in Queensland and Northern New South Wales. Mack Valves are exclusively made in Australia. It has become a brand widely known locally and internationally for its robust design, reliability, and longevity. Call us on 07 3344 4711 for your queries. You can also send us a message or enquire at https://mastermac2000.com.au/contact-us/.
About MasterMac2000: Your Trusted Pneumatic & Process Automation Partner.
LEADING THE INDUSTRY: Established in 1989, MasterMac2000 has grown to become one of Australia's largest privately owned pneumatic and process automation companies. We stock top-quality brands like Univer, Mack, Tolomatic, Mac, Piab, American, and Rotoflux in Brisbane.
SERVING QLD & NORTHERN NSW: We proudly service Queensland and Northern New South Wales for all your pneumatic and process equipment needs. Our mission is to provide the best pre and post-sales support while actively expanding our client base.
SOURCING HARD-TO-FIND PARTS: Not only do we stock quality components, but we also excel at sourcing those elusive, hard-to-find parts. With our extensive database and global network of contacts, getting the parts you require is as easy as a call to our highly skilled, professional sales team.
DEDICATED TO YOUR SUCCESS:
- Decades of expertise in pneumatics & process automation
- Carefully curated selection of world-class brands
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About The Author
Stuart Havill
Stuart Havill is the owner and manager of MasterMac2000, Queensland's largest privately owned pneumatic and process valve company.
With his early working career as a maintenance fitter for Boral in 1992, Stuart has spent his life in the field of pneumatics and process equipment. He gained extensive experience in plant design, maintenance, repairs, fabrication, and site management.
In 1996, he transitioned to a pneumatic sales technician role at MasterMac2000, where he excelled in key account management, providing cost-effective solutions, and managing a sales team of 9 employees.
Since 2002, Stuart has been the manager at MasterMac2000, overseeing the company's growth and establishing it as a leader in pneumatic automation and process valve engineering. His expertise spans customer training, CRM setup, industrial compressor sizing and installation, and turn-key project management.
Under Stuart's leadership, MasterMac2000 has been servicing the industry since 1988, with 5 full-time sales representatives covering northern rivers NSW, Queensland, Northern Territory, and PNG. The company prides itself on providing the best-priced solutions to all customers in the marketplace.
View Stuart’s LinkedIn profile to learn more about his expertise in pneumatics and process equipment.