3 Air Clamp Manufacturers in 2023
This section provides an overview for air clamps as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 3 air clamp manufacturers and their company rankings.
Table of Contents
What Is an Air Clamp?
An air clamp is an automated clamp that combines a toggle mechanism with an air (pneumatic) cylinder.
A clamp is a device that holds and secures a workpiece (workpiece to be processed), enabling it to be held securely without the use of hands.
Pneumatic pressure (air force) is applied to tighten the clamp, and by using a toggle mechanism, the clamp can be secured with even greater force than the applied force.
Uses of Air Clamps
Air clamps are used in a wide range of fields, such as shipbuilding, automotive industry, and other general machinery processing and assembly.
They can be used to safely and securely clamp large objects.
The selection should be made in accordance with the load required to secure the desired object, and the air cylinder should be equipped with heat shielding measures when used in high-temperature locations.
Principle of Air Clamps
Air clamps are a type of toggle clamp that uses a toggle mechanism to secure an object.
The toggle mechanism is a type of link mechanism consisting of two links and a slider. In a toggle clamp, when an external force is applied, a force is applied to the clamp in the opposite direction to that of opening during locking, thus creating a very large tightening pressure.
With air clamps, the object is secured by air pressure using an air cylinder. Note that the extrusion force = thrust of the air cylinder must be controlled by reducing the pressure with a regulator. (Thrust = cylinder pressure-receiving area x working pressure)
Types of Toggle Clamps Applicable to Air Clamps
A toggle clamp is a jig that uses a toggle mechanism to secure a workpiece. Since air clamps use an air cylinder to tighten the clamping force while the toggle mechanism provides firm fixation, it is important to select the most suitable toggle clamp for the type of item to be fixed and the direction of fixation.
In addition to the downward clamping type, which is self-locking and exerts downward clamping pressure, there are other types of toggle clamps, such as the horizontal push type, in which the shaft moves in and out to the left or right, and the pull stop type, which can be fixed while retaining the pulling force.
In addition, accessories such as special fittings and bolts are indispensable for toggle clamps. It is recommended to select the appropriate material and size for the properties of the material to be clamped and to purchase and secure them at the same time as the toggle clamp itself.
Clamping Jig Incorporating Air Clamps Mechanism
The toggle clamp is generally operated by applying force while gripping the handle, but the air clamps are an automated system in which this power is replaced by an air cylinder instead of human power.
In other words, by purchasing a commercially available toggle clamp, adding an air cylinder as the power source, and performing additional detail work, it is possible to create a clamp jig that operates with air clamps mechanism.
One design example is a clamping jig suitable for the process of drilling holes in a workpiece. For the toggle clamp, which is the main component, we select a bottom-holding type, and for the air cylinder, we select and procure one that has an outside diameter calculated backward from the thrust force and is compatible with the clamp opening angle. The handle attached to the toggle clamp is removed with additional labor, and a long hole is machined for the mounting hole of the grip hand to enable movement that follows the cylinder motion.
Thus, by modifying a jig to control the clamping motion with air clamps, which has tended to rely on a manual operation in the past, a receiving jig with an automatic mechanism that links the cylinder motion with the clamp opening and closing can be created through relatively easy machining. In addition to contributing to the downsizing of the jig because a handle is not required, the electrical control has the advantage of stabilizing the maintenance and control of the clamping pressure.
List of 3 Air Clamp Manufacturers
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
- Default
- Company Size: largest first
- Year Founded: oldest first
- Year Founded: earliest first
Sort by Area
- United States of America
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Carr Lane Manufacturing
Air-Powered Clamps
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Pascal Corporation.
Hydraulic clamp / Air clamp
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Air Clamp Manufacturer Ranking
*Including some distributors, etc.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
- Carr Lane Manufacturing: 1952 (71 years ago)
Company with a History
- Carr Lane Manufacturing: 1952 (71 years ago)
