Air-Powered Needle Grippers
The needles on these grippers grab hold of flexible and porous items that are difficult for vacuum cups and magnetic grippers to grasp, such as fabric, foam, glass and metal fiber, and carpet. Since needles puncture items, they are not the best choice for delicate or fragile pieces. Paired with an air system, all of these grippers are good for lifting and moving items at any angle in a variety of automated production lines and pick-and-place systems. CE-marked, they meet stringent European Union safety standards.
When choosing a needle gripper, you must consider the construction of the items you’re moving to determine the diameter, number, and stroke length of the needles you’ll need. For example, fine-woven thin materials require smaller diameter needles than loosely woven thick materials. Use the size and flexibility of your items to guide how many needles are best—larger and more flexible pieces require more needles for a secure hold. The needles extend to grip items and contract to release them, so use the longest stroke length possible for a secure hold. The stroke length, however, should be less than the depth of the item.
Warning: Never use to lift people or items over people.
For technical drawings and 3-D models, click on a part number.
![](/prerenderstable/mvPRE/contents/gfx/imagecache/457/4572n11multipositive_front_positive_top_straighton_1611666783_536@halfx_637472420409089391.png?ver=imagenotfound)
![](/prerenderstable/mvPRE/contents/gfx/imagecache/457/4572n12multipositive_front_negative_top_straighton_1611614102_627@halfx_637471893795745301.png?ver=imagenotfound)
![](/prerenderstable/mvPRE/contents/gfx/imagecache/457/4572n15multipositive_top_positive_front_straighton_1611614202_581@halfx_637471894749095811.png?ver=imagenotfound)
Grippers with a plastic housing are lighter than those with an aluminum housing, so they’re good for applications where weight on your tool arm is a concern.
Grippers with an adjustable stroke let you make changes to the needle stroke length for creating a secure grip on items of varying thicknesses. Those with a thumbwheel adjustment have a scale that allows you to precisely adjust the stroke length with your thumb, so you don't have to measure it while you're adjusting it. They’re good for jobs that require frequent stroke-length changes. Others with a hex-key adjustment can be modified with a hex key. The needle stroke length must be measured as it's adjusted.
Grippers with three ports have an extra port that requires an additional air connection for generating air flow through the needle openings. They’re good for difficult-to-release items that may not drop when the needles are retracted, such as pieces with adhesive.
O'all | Port | |||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Number of Needles | Stroke Length, mm | Needle Dia., mm | Insertion Angle | Wt. | Pressure Range, psi | Lg., mm | Wd., mm | Dp., mm | No. of | Thread Size | Thread Type | Temp. Range, °F | Features | Specifications Met | Each | |
Aluminum Housing | ||||||||||||||||
4 | 3 | 0.8 | 30° | 0.18 lbs./ 0.08 kg | 60-85 | 25 | 35 | 32 | 1 | M4 × 0.7 mm | Metric | 45° to 140° | __ | CE Marked | 0000000 | 0000000 |
Aluminum Housing with Hex-Key Adjustment | ||||||||||||||||
6 | 0-5 | 0.8 | 30° | 0.19 lbs./ 0.09 kg | 45-85 | 40 | 115 | 15 | 2 | M5 × 0.8 mm | Metric | 45° to 140° | Adjustable Stroke | CE Marked | 0000000 | 00000000 |
6 | 0-5 | 1.2 | 30° | 0.19 lbs./ 0.09 kg | 45-85 | 40 | 115 | 15 | 2 | M5 × 0.8 mm | Metric | 45° to 140° | Adjustable Stroke | CE Marked | 0000000 | 00000000 |
10 | 0-7 | 1.2 | 30° | 0.59 lbs./ 0.27 kg | 45-100 | 56 | 149 | 32 | 2 | M5 × 0.8 mm | Metric | 45° to 140° | Adjustable Stroke | CE Marked | 0000000 | 00000000 |
Plastic Housing with Thumbwheel Adjustment | ||||||||||||||||
10 | 0-3 | 0.8 | 30° | 0.42 lbs./ 0.19 kg | 45-85 | 80 | 65 | 35 | 3 | M5 × 0.8 mm | Metric | 45° to 165° | Adjustable Stroke | CE Marked | 0000000 | 00000000 |
10 | 0-3 | 1.2 | 30° | 0.42 lbs./ 0.19 kg | 45-85 | 80 | 65 | 35 | 3 | M5 × 0.8 mm | Metric | 45° to 165° | Adjustable Stroke | CE Marked | 0000000 | 00000000 |
10 | 0-10 | 0.8 | 45° | 0.50 lbs./ 0.23 kg | 45-85 | 106 | 80 | 35 | 3 | M5 × 0.8 mm | Metric | 45° to 165° | Adjustable Stroke | CE Marked | 0000000 | 00000000 |
10 | 0-10 | 1.2 | 45° | 0.50 lbs./ 0.23 kg | 45-85 | 106 | 80 | 35 | 3 | M5 × 0.8 mm | Metric | 45° to 165° | Adjustable Stroke | CE Marked | 0000000 | 00000000 |
10 | 0-20 | 1.2 | 45° | 0.89 lbs./ 0.40 kg | 45-85 | 160 | 120 | 35 | 3 | M5 × 0.8 mm | Metric | 45° to 165° | Adjustable Stroke | CE Marked | 0000000 | 00000000 |
![](/prerenderstable/mvPRE/contents/gfx/imagecache/457/4572n14--7ceaf83a1301614201247-p9@halfx_637497764521200580.png?ver=imagenotfound)
![](/prerenderstable/mvPRE/contents/gfx/imagecache/457/4572n24matte-aluminumnegative_right_positive_front_flop15_1611614416_994@halfx_637471896954339567.png?ver=imagenotfound)
Use mounting adapters for attaching grippers to tool positioning arms.
Mounting Hole | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pipe Size | Thread Type | Thread Gender | Wt. | Material | Mounting Fasteners Included | Each | ||
Pipe Mounting Adapter | ||||||||
For Grippers with Aluminum Housing and 4 Needles For Grippers with Aluminum Housing and 10 Needles | 1/4 | BSPP | Female | 0.07 lbs./ 0.03 kg | Aluminum | Yes | 0000000 | 000000 |
For Grippers with Aluminum Housing and 6 Needles For Grippers with Aluminum Housing and 10 Needles For Grippers with Plastic Housing and 10 Needles | 1/4 | BSPP | Female | 0.04 lbs./ 0.02 kg | Aluminum | Yes | 0000000 | 000000 |
![](/prerenderstable/mvPRE/contents/gfx/imagecache/457/4572n261611677170@halfx_637472525740181647.png?ver=imagenotfound)
Replacement needle assemblies allow you to replace all the needles at once.
Number of Needles | Stroke Length, mm | Needle Diameter, mm | Insertion Angle | Wt. | Pair | |
4 | 3 | 0.8 | 30° | 0.06 lbs./ 0.03 kg | 0000000 | 0000000 |
6 | 0-5 | 0.8 | 30° | 0.22 lbs./ 0.1 kg | 0000000 | 000000 |
6 | 0-5 | 1.2 | 30° | 0.23 lbs./ 0.11 kg | 0000000 | 000000 |
10 | 0-3 | 0.8 | 30° | 0.09 lbs./ 0.04 kg | 0000000 | 000000 |
10 | 0-3 | 1.2 | 30° | 0.2 lbs./ 0.09 kg | 0000000 | 000000 |
10 | 0-7 | 1.2 | 30° | 0.27 lbs./ 0.12 kg | 0000000 | 000000 |
10 | 0-10 | 0.8 | 45° | 0.2 lbs./ 0.09 kg | 0000000 | 000000 |
10 | 0-10 | 1.2 | 45° | 0.2 lbs./ 0.09 kg | 0000000 | 000000 |
10 | 0-20 | 1.2 | 45° | 0.21 lbs./ 0.1 kg | 0000000 | 000000 |