Pneumatic Vises for CNC Automation
A pneumatic vise clamps your workpiece with shop air instead of a hand crank, closing the jaws in under a second and holding the same force on every cycle. Also called an air vise or air-powered vise, the Gimbel AutoVise line is self-centering, so both jaws move in together and keep the part on your programmed origin without re-indicating each load. Every model is precision-ground steel, repeats to 0.0008", and ships from California ready to run on a standard air line.
Pick a size below, or jump to how pneumatic workholding runs lights-out.
775mm Pneumatic Vise: Compact Self-Centering Air Vise
The most compact vise in the AutoVise Pro line, sized for small brackets, connectors, sensor housings, and any part inside a 3-inch clamp range. Its low profile clears more of the tool envelope, which makes it a strong pick for tight rotary trunnions and multi-vise pallets where table space is short.
Features:
- Clamps a 3" (75mm) jaw range for small brackets, housings, and connectors
- Sits lowest in the line for maximum tool clearance
- Fits more vises per pallet in multi-station setups
- Holds the part with spring retention if shop air is lost
- Repeats to 0.0008" across the clamp range
100mm Pneumatic Vise: The Production Workhorse
The most-ordered size in the line and the default choice for aluminum, mild steel, and everyday production. Its 4-inch jaw range and standard footprint drop straight into most pallet fixtures, so you can plug it into an existing setup or scale into a multi-vise cell.
FEATURES
- Clamps a 4" (100mm) jaw range for mid-size aluminum and steel
- Matches the standard pallet-automation footprint on most fixture plates
- Delivers up to 3,400 lbs of clamping force at 140 PSI, set at your regulator
- Holds the part with spring retention if shop air is lost
- Repeats to 0.0008" across the clamp range
150mm Pneumatic Vise: Heavy-Duty Air Vise
The largest steel vise in the line, built for bigger blanks, heavier steel, and multi-part fixturing. Its 6-inch jaw travel covers a wide range of part sizes without swapping jaws, which suits job shops running variable production. A lighter aluminum AutoVise Lite is available at a lower price point.
FEATURES
- Clamps a 6" (150mm) jaw range for wide parts and multi-part setups
- Carries the highest clamping force in the line for heavy steel cutting
- Handles variable part sizes with extra jaw travel, no jaw swap
- Ships in aluminum too (AutoVise Lite) for lighter production budgets
- Repeats to 0.0008" across the clamp range
Rotary Pneumatic Vises for 4th and 5th Axis
For rotary and trunnion work, the AutoVise line extends to rotary variants with a bottom air pass-through. Air routes through your rotary's bore instead of tangling on the platter, so the vise turns with the axis and keeps clamping through the cut. Available in 75mm and 100mm, with a matching 90-degree trunnion module for five-sided access.
See the Rotary AutoVises for full specs and rotary-union compatibility.
Air Vise Kits
MCodeAir™ Solenoid Kit
A pneumatic vise becomes real automation the moment your machine can open and close it on command. The MCodeAir solenoid kit gives you M-code control in minutes, so the clamp fires straight from your program with no robot arm in the loop. It mounts magnetically, drives two air devices, and works with any CNC or robot, including Haas, Fanuc, Brother, Doosan, Hurco, and DMG Mori.
FEATURES
- Controls two air devices from your CNC M-codes
- Mounts magnetically to the machine
- Actuates by hand with the optional control pendant
- Runs on any CNC or robot control
What Is a Pneumatic Vise?
A pneumatic vise is a machine vise that clamps with compressed air instead of a manual screw. Air drives a cylinder and piston inside the body, the piston moves the jaws, and the part is gripped or released in about a second. You set the clamping force at the air regulator, and because force scales with pressure, every cycle holds the same.
On a self-centering pneumatic vise like the AutoVise, both jaws move inward together from a fixed centerline, so the part lands on the same origin every load without indicating. That removes one of the slowest steps in CNC production and makes lights-out machining possible without a robot arm handling the clamp. Pneumatic vises are also known as air vises, air-powered vises, or automatic vises. If centering the part matters more to you than air actuation, start with a dedicated self centering vise.
Pneumatic Vise vs Manual Machine Vise
A manual crank vise is fine for one-off work. For repeat production, the math turns in favor of air fast.
| Manual Crank Vise | Gimbel Pneumatic AutoVise™ | |
|---|---|---|
| Clamp Time | 15 to 30 sec by hand | Under 1 sec on shop air |
| Clamping Force | Varies with operator torque | Regulator-set, repeatable every cycle |
| Load-to-Load Origin | Re-indicate as needed | Self-centering, holds origin |
| Automation | Not automation-ready | Native M-code, lights-out ready |
Across a 300-part run, that gap is hours of reclaimed spindle time and no drift in clamp force from one operator to the next.
Jaws, Accessories, and Spec Sheets
Every AutoVise ships with hardened serrated jaws standard. Soft jaws in aluminum and steel, hard jaws, rotary unions, and control kits are available for each size through AutoVise accessories.
Download the 100mm spec sheet or the 75mm and 100mm flyers for dimensions, force curves, and mounting details.
FAQs
The AutoVise line runs on standard shop air between 40 and 175 PSI. Clamping force scales with pressure, so you regulate the inlet to set your force. At 140 PSI, the 100mm holds up to 3,400 lbs.
You set it at the regulator on the clamp inlet, not by operator feel. Turn the pressure up for hard materials and heavy cuts, down for delicate parts. Once it is set, the force repeats on every cycle.
Yes. A spring inside the body retains the part with roughly 1,000 lbs of force if air pressure drops, so the workpiece stays clamped.
Yes. The straight AutoVise mounts on any 5-axis table. For a rotary or trunnion where the vise itself spins with the platter, use the Rotary AutoVises with bottom air pass-through.
Yes. With the MCodeAir kit, the vise fires from an M-code on any CNC or robot, including Haas, Fanuc, Brother, Doosan, Hurco, and DMG Mori.
Accessories
