This section provides an overview for air chucks as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 15 air chuck manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked air chuck companies as of November, 2024: 1.ATS Systems, 2.Convertech, 3.Henri Azaria PAL Ltd..
Table of Contents
Actuators used in pneumatic systems are broadly classified into three types in terms of their method of operation: linear motion, rotational motion, and gripping motion.
For linear motion, air cylinders are commonly used. For rotary motion, there are air motors and rotary actuators for oscillating motion, both of which are used for circular motion. Clamping motion is used to clamp a workpiece by pneumatically opening and closing the fingers.
The linear motion of the cylinder is converted into an opening and closing motion of the fingers to enable the clamping motion of the workpiece. This is the air chuck.
Air chucks are mainly attached to the end of industrial robots to grip workpieces by opening and closing the fingers to transfer and handle the workpieces. The size of the air chuck is generally expressed by the inner diameter of the cylinder tube, available in diameters ranging from 6 to 63 mm. Normally, the chuck is gripped by attaching a jaw suited to the shape of the workpiece to the finger section. The motion during chucking is accompanied by a conversion mechanism, such as a link. It is necessary to select the size and type of chuck by considering not only the gripping motion and gripping force but also the position of the gripping point and the moment during conveyance.
There are three types of air chucks: parallel open/close chucks, fulcrum open/close chucks, and wide open/close chucks. Select the appropriate type according to the shape of the workpiece to be gripped. The parallel open/close chuck is a type in which the fingers move in parallel, with the number of fingers being 2 jaws, 3 jaws, or 4 jaws. The opening and closing motion is regulated by a guide mechanism, such as a linear guide or a sliding guide.
In the fulcrum open/close chuck, the linear motion of the cylinder drives the fingers directly by means of a link or cam motion. The guide mechanism is unnecessary, and the chuck is compact, but the design of the jaws attached to the end of the fingers is difficult because the gripping force varies greatly depending on the angle. Both types of parallel and fulcrum open/close chucks are available with either a double-acting cylinder or a single-acting cylinder for the opening/closing motion of the fingers. Those with a single-acting cylinder are available in two types: always open and always closed.
The wide open/close chuck is used when a large finger stroke is required. The cylinder motion directly drives the fingers, and the rack and pinion mechanism synchronizes the left and right fingers. The cylinder rod and guide rod are guided by a sliding bearing.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Sort by Features
Sort by Area
ATS Systems, established in 2003, and based in California, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of machine tool accessories and automation provider. The product portfolio includes work hold solutions, chucks, rotary tables, fluid chillers, automation parts, coolant systems, and other accessories. The company also offers robotic integrations, and bar feed systems with the latest advanced technology, customized solutions, technical support, and a service team. The products are used in mainly machinery industries.
Coronet Parts Manufacturing Company Inc. was founded in the early 1960s and headquartered in Brooklyn, New York. The company is a custom manufacturer of industrial hardware and fittings serving the automotive industry and plumbing industry among others. The company’s product lines include fittings, valves, assemblies, and other tools. Plumbing specialty items include tank levers, flood stoppers, and supply tubes. Assorted tools include tube cutters, bending tools, flaring tools, and related parts.
MicroCentric was founded in 1969 and is based out of Plainview, New York. The company is a manufacturer of precision work holding technology that utilizes design, quality materials, and precision workmanship for long-term performance and accuracy. The company’s product lines include multiple varieties of chucks, collets, and air cylinders. The company has a European subsidiary based in Stuttgart, Germany with full manufacturing and design capability catering to the European market. The company also has a Japanese partner in Dynamic Tools Corporation headquartered in Kyoto. Dynamic Tools provides sales, service, and support for all MicroCentric products.
Convertech, established in 1978, and based in New Jersey, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of air shafts and chucks. The product portfolio includes a diverse range of differential air shafts, chucks, portable pneumatic winders, adaptors, inflation tools, rotary unions, and accessories. The company also provides air shaft repair services, quality material, custom-engineered applications, and specifications with research and advanced development products. The products are mainly used in the machinery industry.
Northfield Precision Instrument Corp, established in 1952 and headquartered in Island Park, New York, stands as a distinguished manufacturer of precision workholding solutions. Its product line includes an array of high-precision Pneumatically Actuated Sliding Jaw, Diaphragm, and Collet Chucks. Its Custom Workholding Chucks and Fixturing are designed for applications such as turning, milling, grinding, inspection, and automation. These solutions securely hold workpieces during machining processes, ensuring precision, efficiency, and repeatability in various industrial applications.
Haltec Corporation is a manufacturer of Tire Valves with its headquarters in Ohio The company designs Air/Liquid valves, couplers and nipples, digital and dial gauges, hydraulic jacks, and PT valve systems along with Product Systems inclusive of Standard, Large, Super Large, and Mega Bore Valve systems. They produce specialized tire valve systems, components, and automatic tire pressure inflation solutions for the Mining, Commercial Fleet, Passenger and Light Trucks and Aviation industries.
Holyoke Fittings, Inc. has a 100-year history dating back to its founding in Massachusetts and is now based in Brooklyn, New York. Holyoke Fittings is a distributor of fittings to the plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, gas, and refrigeration industries. Holyoke maximizes domestically manufactured products. Holyoke Fitting’s product line includes various types of fittings, valves, hoses, and tubing. Holyoke Fittings also offers specialty items commonly used in the plumbing, airline, and lubrication sectors.
Worldwide Chuck Services, Inc. is based in Aurora, Ohio. Worldwide Chuck Services is a distributor of new, used, and rebuilt lathe chucks, parts, and accessories. Worldwide Chuck Services also offers service, support, and repair of old, worn lathe chucks and actuators to meet or exceed original OEM specifications. Worldwide Chuck Services has product lines in addition to chucks such as jaw force gages, micrometers, cylinders, and grease. Worldwide Chuck Services also purchases used lathe chucks.
Howa Machinery Ltd, established in 1907 and based in Aichi, Japan, is a manufacturer of machine tools and other equipment. The company engages in the manufacturing and sale of equipment for diverse markets, with a primary emphasis on machine tools. This product line includes transfer machines, flexible transfer lines (FTL), and flexible manufacturing systems (FMS). The company also offers pneumatic and hydraulic equipment, electronic machines tailored for the IT sector, and firearms. The company's Type 64 rifle and Type 89 rifle have been adopted as the official equipment by the Japan Defense Agency (Ministry of Defense).
SMC corporation was founded in 1959 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. SMC Corporation manufactures and sells automatic control equipment and filtration equipment. SMC has production facilities in 30 countries, technical development centers in Japan, the United States, Europe, and China, and sales offices, globally. SMC product lines divided by them include filter replacements, condensation prevention, heat resistance, thermos-chilling, and others. SMC provides a video library as well as product selection guide to assist customers in finding solutions and optimizing product efficiency.
Kondo Seisakusho Co., Ltd. based in Gamagori-city, Aichi-prefecture, is a manufacturer and supplier of specialized industrial equipment. The company's product range includes Parallel Hand, Fulcrum Hand, Chuck, Rotary Joint, and Autohand Changer Aligning Device. These tools play a role in various industrial processes, aiding in operations such as precision alignment, material handling, component installation, and machinery synchronization. They serve industries that require precision equipment and alignment. Additionally, the company offers services in quality assurance, design, manufacturing, and customer support.
SMW Autoblok Corporation, founded in 1942 in Italy, is a multinational manufacturer of work-holding systems for turning and grinding machine tools. The company provides machinery tools for automobiles, off-highway vehicles, Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG), and aerospace industries. Its Proofline Chucks integrate clamping solutions that minimize the maintenance frequency and maximize machine productivity. In 1946, the company commenced its production of manual chucks, which eventually led to it becoming recognized as one of the 100 Industry 4.0 Sites due to its consistent efforts in enhancing energy and data transmission capabilities.
PML-PAL is a manufacturer of machining components based in Israel since 1969. The company provides high precision air, pneumatic, chucks for various CNC machining applications and accessories for multiple workholding fixtures for higher productivity and mass production. The air chuck catalogue includes Turning, Grinding, Milling, Diaphragm and Stationary chuck with accessories like top jaws, air feed tubes, Pneumatic Collet Closer Actuator, jaw rings and flanges. The equipment is designed to work with gripping non-standard shapes, soft materials and complex precise work pieces for fine finishing cut operations catering to high speed turning, milling and grinding.
Mitsuhashi Corporation is a manufacturer and supplier of packaging devices and converting equipment established in 1944 in Kyoto, Japan. The company specializes in producing industrial machinery and equipment for paper and film packaging and conversion. These include pouch loaders, film meandering control devices, and card dispensers. The company also offers product customization as well as technical support and repair services for its clients with unique projects. It mainly serves customers in the paper, packaging, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Ranking as of November 2024
Derivation MethodRank | Company | Click Share |
---|---|---|
1 | ATS Systems |
41.7%
|
2 | Henri Azaria PAL Ltd. |
25.0%
|
3 | Convertech |
8.3%
|
4 | CRAFTSMAN |
8.3%
|
5 | MicroCentric Corp. |
8.3%
|
6 | Coronet Parts Mfg. Co., Inc. |
8.3%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the air chuck page as of November 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
---|---|---|
United States of America | 8 | 72.7% |
Japan | 3 | 27.3% |
3 products are listed.
Kawatatek Co., Ltd.
20+ people viewing
■ Characteristics ・ Built -in air cylinder inside the chuck ・ Ideal for flange processing with a standing machine ring center ・ Thin design