Inflatable clamps provide uniformed controlled pressure to firmly clamp pieces together during bonding/laminating operations or to hold pieces in place during machining/cutting operations. Unlike standard piston-style clamps, an inflatable clamp gives you more design flexibility.

• A consistent, uniformed pressure along the entire inflatable bladder surface.
• Better control of force. An inflatable clamp's operating pressure and gap (the distance between the bladder and clamping piece) can be varied to optimize force.
• Generation of large amounts of force. In some instances, over 100,000 lbs-force can be generated using one inflatable bladder.
• Soft clamping. If the work piece is delicate, an inflatable clamp can be used to prevent potential deformation or to give you the flexibility to vary the pressure applied to the item.
• Conformal clamping. If the part is not perfectly flat or round, an inflatable clamp can compensate for these designs, yet still provide uniformed pressure.

For a more comprehensive understanding of how this inflatable clamping technology works along with step-by-step instructions on how to design using inflatable clamps, please visit Machine Design's most recent article using the following link or download the full article in PDF format.

Web-link: http://machinedesign.com/ContentItem/70888/GettingaGentleGrip.aspx

PDF Download: "Get a Gentle Grip"

Some typical applications for an inflatable clamp include:

Airframe Component Bonding - Inflatable clamps, in series, are used to bond the skin of an aircraft wing together. Force generation and the ability to vary pressure are two key attributes used in this application.

Conveyor Brakes or Stops - Inflatable clamps are used to stop product as it travels along a conveyor and can be placed under the conveyor belt itself to stop the entire line.

Quick Clamps for Semiconductor Filtering Equipment - Inflatable clamps are used both as seal and clamp to hold filters in place. If the filters need to be changed, the inflatable clamps are deflated. the filters replaced, and the machine is back on-line within seconds.