The right contact between workpiece and holder.
Gripper jaws, soft jaws and contoured inserts connect your existing equipment to the workpiece shape. FORMACT manufactures plastic components and simple holding assemblies to suit the contact surface and mounting interface.
Made to suit your task. With CAD data or a description of your requirements.
Start with the workpiece.
A thin edge, curved surface or delicate visible face needs suitable contact geometry. The holder must keep the part in the required position while allowing the next processing or transfer step. We consider the workpiece contour, clearances, movement space and interface to your existing gripper or clamping equipment together.
Gripper jaws for a specific contour
A pair of contoured jaws reproduces the workpiece contact geometry. Mounting points and clearances are adapted to the existing gripper; TPU inserts can complement selected contact zones.
Soft jaws and protective jaws
Workpiece-specific plastic jaws or fitted protective jaws create suitable contact surfaces. Clamping direction, forces and the specific process step determine their geometry and specification.
Holders for presentation and transfer
Contoured nests position parts for picking or placement. Hand access and clear gripping areas connect the workpiece carrier to the station workflow.
What the right geometry changes.
Distribute contact deliberately
The geometry defines where the workpiece makes contact and which surfaces stay clear. Flexible inserts can be separate from the main body.
Use existing interfaces
The custom jaw builds on your equipment's mounting points. Spacing, screw access and installation space are considered early.
Design replacement areas separately
An interchangeable contact insert can be tailored to a product variant while a shared carrier remains in use.
Jaws, inserts and simple holding assemblies.
Supply can range from a single gripper insert to a simple assembled holder. Plastic bodies, threaded inserts, bolts and protective pads are coordinated. You specify gripping or clamping force, workpiece mass and movement; these determine the key requirements for specification and material.
- Contoured jaws and soft jaws to suit workpiece geometry
- Interchangeable TPU contact surfaces and protective pads
- Carriers with fastening and locating elements
Materials for carriers, jaws and contact surfaces.
A rigid jaw body and flexible contact surface can work together as separate components. Material and geometry are matched to gripping force, workpiece surface and movement.
FDMPA-CF (carbon-fibre-reinforced polyamide)
Rigid jaw and holder bodies
- Heat deflection temperature (HDT)
- up to 147 °C
- Tensile strength
- up to 63 MPa
FDMPETG
Workpiece nests for presentation and placement
- Heat deflection temperature (HDT)
- up to 70 °C
- Tensile strength
- up to 50 MPa
FDMPolyamide / PA / Nylon
Tough contact and guide components
- Heat deflection temperature (HDT)
- up to 110 °C
- Tensile strength
- up to 36.4 MPa
FDMTPU
Flexible gripping contacts and protective surfaces
- Hardness
- 88 Shore A
- Tensile modulus
- up to 42 MPa
Installation orientation is part of manufacturing planning.
FDM enables contoured jaws and separate flexible inserts. Resin can be an option for small, detailed holders. We tailor layer orientation, mounting and contact geometry to the specified loads.
Which workpiece needs to be held?
Workpiece data, a mounting drawing and a description of movement are helpful. Photos and clear dimensions also let us agree on and prepare designs for simple jaws or holders.
Enquire about your custom partGeometry, function and specification follow your task. A description is enough for an initial enquiry; you can add any existing files.