The Handy Seaman
The Handy Seaman
The Handy Seaman
Limited First Batch — First Come, First Served This product is available in a limited first batch, sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Lead time is approximately 1–2 weeks for the first batch and 3–5 weeks for orders after it sells out. A tracking number will only be sent once your order ships.
Thru-Spindle Air units are ready to use on arrival. Air Bypass units require the end user to fabricate mounting brackets; CAD for the air block is provided with every gripper purchase.
Spindle-Mounted Gripper Adaptor — Precision adaptor that mounts a parallel gripper directly to a machine tool spindle, turning the spindle into an automated pick-and-place / part-handling axis.
Compatible with the Nimble Gripper NGC25-SR (single-acting, spring-return pneumatic parallel gripper) and the SCHUNK PGN-plus-P 64-1-IS (ID 318500) universal pneumatic parallel gripper. Available in two mounting styles and two air-routing configurations — four total configurations to match your spindle interface and air-supply setup.
Overview
This adaptor bridges a CNC spindle to a pneumatic parallel gripper, letting the machine's own spindle motion and positioning do the work of an automation axis — no separate robot or pick-and-place unit required. It's built for machine-tending, part-transfer, and load/unload applications where a gripper needs to ride the spindle.
Choose the mounting interface that matches your setup (integrated BT30 taper for direct spindle mounting, or a 3/4" sidelock shank for use in a sidelock tool holder), then choose how compressed air reaches the gripper: routed through the spindle's own through-spindle-coolant/air path, or bypassed externally around the spindle.
Mounting Options
| Mounting Style | Description |
|---|---|
| Integrated BT30 | Direct BT30 taper interface, integrated into the adaptor body — pulls into the spindle like a standard BT30 toolholder. |
| Sidelock 3/4" | 3/4" (0.750") straight cylindrical shank with sidelock flat, retained in a sidelock tool holder via its set-screw clamping mechanism. |
Air Routing Options
| Air Configuration | Description |
|---|---|
| Thru-Spindle Air | Compressed air is routed internally through the spindle's through-tool air/coolant passage to actuate the gripper — no external air line crossing the spindle nose. |
| Air Bypass | Compressed air is supplied externally via a bypass line routed around the spindle to the gripper, for spindles without a usable through-spindle air path. |
Product Variants
| SKU / Part # | Mounting | Air Routing | Gripper Compatibility |
|---|---|---|---|
| HSBT30TS | Integrated BT30 | Thru-Spindle Air | Nimble NGC25-SR / SCHUNK PGN-plus-P 64-1-IS |
| HSBT30RB | Integrated BT30 | Air Bypass | Nimble NGC25-SR / SCHUNK PGN-plus-P 64-1-IS |
| HSSLTS | Sidelock 3/4" | Thru-Spindle Air | Nimble NGC25-SR / SCHUNK PGN-plus-P 64-1-IS |
| HSSLRB | Sidelock 3/4" | Air Bypass | Nimble NGC25-SR / SCHUNK PGN-plus-P 64-1-IS |
Compatible Grippers — Reference Specs
Nimble Gripper NGC25-SR
Single-acting, spring-return pneumatic parallel gripper (HDW25 platform), normally-open fail-safe design.
SCHUNK PGN-plus-P 64-1-IS (ID 318500)
Universal pneumatic parallel gripper, size 64, with gripping force maintenance (IS).
Key Features
- Direct spindle-to-gripper mounting — no external bracket or robot arm needed for simple pick/place moves.
- Two mounting interfaces (Integrated BT30, Sidelock 3/4") to match common machine tool spindle standards.
- Two air-routing options (Thru-Spindle Air, Air Bypass) to fit machines with or without usable through-spindle air.
- Compatible with both the Nimble NGC25-SR fail-safe spring-return gripper and the SCHUNK PGN-plus-P 64-1-IS force-maintaining gripper.
- [Add: quick-change capability, sensor/proximity switch provisions, coolant sealing, etc. — TBD]
Typical Applications
Machine tending, part transfer between fixtures/pallets, load/unload of workpieces on CNC mills and machining centers, and other spindle-based automation tasks where mounting a gripper on the spindle eliminates the need for a separate handling robot.