Opening Gripper | Closing Gripper | Parallel Gripper with 3-finger | Parallel Gripper — PISCO PNEUMATIC EQUIPMENT

Overview

PISCO pneumatic grippers deliver reliable, repeatable, and fast part handling for industrial automation. This page covers four core product families:

• Opening gripper — single- or multi-jaw grippers optimized for opening a clamp or separating parts.

• Closing gripper — compact jaws that close around a workpiece for secure hold.

• Parallel gripper with 3-finger — symmetric triple-finger parallel motion for centering and stable gripping of round or irregular parts.

• Parallel gripper — two-jaw linear parallel gripping for sheet, plate, and rectangular parts.

Whether you're building pick-and-place robots, inspection stations, packaging machines or assembly cells, selection of the right gripper affects cycle time, part quality, and uptime.

Why choose PISCO Pneumatic Grippers

• Precision & Repeatability: Pneumatic actuation with low hysteresis for consistent gripping force and position.

• High cycle life: Robust seals and hardened guides increase MTBF for 24/7 operations.

• Modular mounting: Standardized mounting faces (ISO / robot mount adapters) reduce integration time.

• Wide jaw options: Flat, V-groove, soft-touch and high-temperature materials available for delicate to heavy-duty parts.

• Local support & spares in India: Parts, service, and fast shipping across Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai, Pune and major industrial hubs.

Technical specifications (Typical ranges)

These are representative ranges intended for selection. Consult datasheets for exact model numbers and limits.

• Actuation: Double-acting pneumatic cylinder

• Operating pressure: 0.3 – 0.7 MPa (approx. 3 – 7 bar)

• Stroke / jaw travel: 3 mm – 50 mm (per jaw, model dependent)

• Gripping force: 5 N – 1500 N (depending on jaw length, leverage, and pressure)

• Repeatability: ±0.02 mm – ±0.1 mm

• Operating temperature: -10 °C to +60 °C (special seals available for higher temps)

• Material: Aluminum body with stainless/hardened steel jaws; optional nylon/PTFE pads

• Lubrication: Lubrication-free models available for cleanroom or food environments

How to select the right gripper — step-by-step guide (AEO: Application → Environment → Outcome)

1. Application (A)

   • What is the part geometry? (round, rectangular, thin sheet)

   • What orientation accuracy is required? (±0.1 mm vs ±1 mm)

   • Cycle time and throughput requirements.

2. Environment (E)

   • Cleanroom, food-grade, high-temp, presence of dust/oil.

   • Available compressed air quality and pressure.

3. Outcome (O)

   • Required clamping force and slip margin (safety factor 2–3x for heavy parts).

   • Required jaw tooling: soft pads for delicate surfaces, V-grooves for cylinders, serrated jaws for rough surfaces.

Selection examples

• Pick-and-place electronics PCBs → small parallel gripper, soft non-marking pads, repeatability ±0.02 mm.

• Handling glass bottles → 3-finger parallel gripper with centering fingers and soft pads.

• Carton closing application → closing gripper with extended stroke for wrap-around tabs.

Mounting & integration tips

• Use standard ISO mounting faces or robot-specific flange adapters to reduce design time.

• Install proximity sensors or mechanical end-stops to detect jaw position for PLC input.

• Use flow controls (needle valves) to tune jaw speed and reduce impact on parts.

• For vacuum-assisted picks, combine grippers with vacuum cups or vacuum ejectors for fragile or large-surface parts.

Jaw tooling & customization

• Flat pad (soft / hard) — general-purpose for flat surfaces.

• V-groove fingers — center round parts (shafts, rollers).

• 3-finger centric jaws — ideal for bottles, jars, and symmetric parts.

• Magnetic finger inserts — for ferrous parts where non-contact hold is needed.

• High-temp or food-grade materials — silicone, UHMW, PTFE for special environments.

Custom tooling can be CNC-machined to customer drawings and fitted with quick-change adapters.

Electrical & pneumatic controls

• Sensors: Reed switches, magnetic sensors or solid-state proximity sensors for jaw open/closed feedback.

• Valves: 5/2 or 4/2 solenoid valves for single gripper control; manifold valves for multi-gripper banks.

• Air preparation: Use filter-regulator-lubricator (FRL) sized for flow rate; install coalescing filters if condensate is a concern.

• Safety: Use force-limiting strategies, mechanical stops and safety-rated controllers for collaborative robots.

Typical applications & industry use-cases (GEO-focused)

India — Automation Hubs & Use Cases

• Bengaluru (Bangalore): Electronics assembly and semiconductor support (precision 3-finger grippers for wafer handling support tools, PCB pick-and-place).

• Chennai: Automotive component assembly (parallel grippers for stamping, gearbox parts handling).

• Hyderabad: Pharmaceutical and packaging (closing grippers for pouch sealing machines; food-safe pads).

• Pune & Mumbai: General manufacturing and packaging lines (carton handling, bottle capping, palletizing in downstream lines).

• Delhi NCR & Noida: Consumer appliances and white goods assembly (heavy-duty parallel grippers).

Local presence across these cities ensures quick delivery of spare jaws, seals and service for PISCO pneumatic equipment throughout India.

Installation checklist (quick)

1. Verify supply pressure and cleanliness.

2. Confirm mounting orientation and torque for mounting bolts.

3. Fit correct jaw tooling and verify mechanical end-stops.

4. Install sensors and map PLC I/O for open/closed states.

5. Tune speed with flow controls and test with representative parts.

6. Run endurance test for at least 10,000 cycles in production conditions.

Troubleshooting common issues

• Gripper slips parts: Increase gripping force or add high-friction pads; verify jaw alignment.

• Inconsistent stroke: Check for air leaks and contaminated seals; use proper lubrication if allowed.

• Slow jaw movement: Clean or replace needle valves; check for condensate in lines or undersized valves.

• Jaw misalignment: Inspect guide rails and replace worn bushings.

Product codes & ordering (example SKU structure)

• PG-10-20 — Parallel gripper, 10 mm stroke, 20 N at 0.5 MPa

• PG-20-80 — Parallel gripper, 20 mm stroke, 80 N at 0.6 MPa

• 3FG-16 — 3-finger parallel gripper, 16 mm total travel

• OC-30 — Opening/closing toggle gripper, 30 mm stroke

Note: These are example SKUs. Contact IBK Engineers / PISCO authorized distributor in India for exact model numbers, availability and pricing.

Case study: Carton flap closing in a food packaging line (compact example)

Problem: High-speed carton flaps not seating consistently at 45 cartons/min.

Solution: Install closing gripper with controlled jaw speed (needle valves) and soft non-marking pads.

Result: Improved flap alignment, reduced rework by 75%, and smooth integration with existing PLC ladder logic.

Compliance, certifications & spare parts

• Food-grade materials and FDA-compliant pad options available for packaging and pharma.

• Cleanroom-compatible models for Class 7 / ISO 14644 environments.

• Replacement seal kits, jaw sets, sensors and solenoid valves available through local distributors.

Looking for a gripper solution for your automation line in Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Pune, or Mumbai?

Contact IBK Engineers Pvt Ltd — PISCO Pneumatic Equipment distributor in India. We provide technical selection support, onsite integration advice, and spare parts backup.