Vacuum Clamping

METAPOR®: Porous material for Vacuum Clamping Applications

METAPOR® offers new possibilities as a result of its easy machining properties.

A constant decompression within the material allows a strong holding force, even when the clamping surface is “only” partially covered.

With clamping elements made out of METAPOR®, Work pieces can be precisely and evenly fixed without deformations.

Your high requirements placed on surface smoothness and flatness are able to be met without any problems with METAPOR®.

Due to the absence of any grooves and drill holes, even sensitive parts will not show any deformation.
Statical adhesion can be eliminated by using compressed air, which creates a smooth and even air cushion.

Advantages

  • Even vacuum and homogeneous airflow on the entire surface.
  • Deformation-free fixing due to micro-porous surface (high flatness and parallelism)
  • Very thin and sensitive films and parts will be clamped without damage (this can happen when drilled aluminium plates are used)
  • Areas that should not have air permeability can be easily covered.
  • Economical construction; no drill-holes needed whatsoever.

 

METAPOR® Products for Vacuum Clamping Applications

METAPOR® BF100 AL is advantageous for vacuum clamping devices for fixation of sensitive materials like very thin films (around 0,01 mm) or for engraving flat objects. It allows steady clamping forces even with partial covering of the surface.

METAPOR® CE 100 White is an extremely fine porous material with a white surface. It has proven to be very useful in silicon-wafer production, also due to its strong surface hardness and precision milling capability. Flatness of vacuum chuck surfaces less than 5 microns. Clean room surrounding approved. It allows steady clamping forces even with partial covering of the surface.

Vacuum clamping devices made out of METAPOR® MC 100 AL are used for complex 3D-shapes and for complete surface coverage, to clamp parts and films without any deformation.

METAPOR® MA100 BLACK is a unique micro porous product for applications where a complete dark surface is needed and no reflections are allowed. This porous material will stay Black even after milling. It can be used e.g. as a vacuum chuck for 3D- and Optical-measurement equipment or e.g. to make quality inspections for transparent RFID foils. Like our other products is it possible to precisely clamp pieces with very high flatness requirements and without deformations. It allows steady clamping forces even with partial covering of the surface.

Applications

  • Plane clamping:  worktables, fixing foils, printing tables, measuring tables, engraving tables, clamping inserts within compression moulds.
  • Profile clamping: vacuum supported form grippers for complex tools, trimming of thermoformed parts. Ultrasonic-cutting of slush-skins e.g. for instrument panels in the automotive industry
METAPOR® BF 100 AL Spannwerkzeug für Scheckkarten
METAPOR® 3D Vakuumspannvorrichtung

Quality control

Clamping devices for the quality assurance industry made out of METAPOR® assure a very precise and accurate clamping of your test parts. It’s possible to use our Material for optical Quality checks and measuring- inspections. Our components are compatible for various measuring machines.

Plant manufacturers use METAPOR® within their process chain to clamp and transport their components reliable and repeatable.

METAPOR® CE 100 White chuck
Transmitted light version made by WITTE
METAPOR® CE 170 White chuck with integrated temperature sensor for use in a measuring device
METAPOR® MA100 BLACK structure is micro porous and complete black, there are no reflections which is gladly seen in the optical measuring industry.

Principle of a METAPOR® vacuum clamping device

Before gluing the METAPOR® slab, degrease the surfaces of the support elements and coat them with e.g. ARALDIT 2014 adhesive. Afterwards, fill in the slab joint of the METAPOR® slab, approx. 2 mm, with ARALDIT 2014 or silicone.

KomponenteSpezifikation
METAPOR®-slab: 10 – 15 mm thickness, milled on first side.
Base plate / Support frame:Aluminium plate, milled support elements
Dimensions of support elements:Approx. 20 mm x 10 mm x 5 mm (LxWxH)
Distance of support elements:Approx. 40 mm (center – center)

 

Based plate with air distribution channels
METAPOR® - part inserted
Gap filled with e.g. ARALDIT 2014 - adhesive, top surface milled