Pneumatic clamping cylinders are tools used to grip and hold equipment or materials. The clamps are great for quick clamping in production operations, for securing the actuator rod in a vertical position and preventing it from retracting, which is essential for operator safety.

They have spring-like mechanisms that are kept in an open position by the pressure in the pneumatic system. If a drop in pressure occurs because of a leak, the clamps will snap closed and secure the rod until the air pressure is normalised. There are different types of cylinder mounting which includes through-hole mounting and tap mounting.

RS have a great range of standard pneumatic equipment including pneumatic clamping cylinders with bore diameters ranging from 12 mm to 63 mm and clamping arm attachments made from corrosion resistant material to meet all your clamping tasks.

What are clamping cylinders used for?

Pneumatic clamps use air actuated cylinders to operate the clamping action. Clamping cylinders secure equipment while repairs take place or while materials are being handled. They are typically found in robotics processes within the automotive and manufacturing industries.

Types of clamping cylinders

Pneumatic cylinders are mechanical devices that convert the energy of compressed air to a linear motion. Clamping cylinders come in single-acting, double-acting and through-rod variants and designs for specific applications. These include:

• Rotary clamping actuators – operate on lubricated compressed air with an clamp arm attachment to secure the equipment or materials.
• Pancake clamping actuators – can operate with lubricated or unlubricated compressed air and are ideal for small spaces due to their compact size.
• Pin clamping actuators – have pins that allow for precise positioning as well as clamping.