Air Rest Buttons

Work Supports & Rest Buttons

Product Information

New item!

Air Rest Buttons allow using pneumatic position control to detect proper workpiece loading in a machining fixture. These modular units consist of a threaded body installed in a fixture, which holds a precision floating plunger. This plunger has a reamed hole, available in a choice of three diameters, that accepts any height of our standard press-fit-type Rest Buttons.

Proper placement of a workpiece on the Air Rest Button assembly causes the plunger to fully retract into the body. This seals off air flow, which increases the overall pressure of the system (30 psi maximum air pressure). This pressure value can be read using an analog or digital pressure sensor which can then be tied into a PLC or control system. Made in USA. U.S. Patent No. US20190232446A1.

Application Information

This example shows three Air Rest Buttons used to provide full 3-point support under a workpiece, with a standard press-fit Rest Button installed in each plunger. Two different circuits for air-pressure monitoring are shown.

Videos

Air Rest Buttons

New Air Rest Buttons from Carr Lane Take Guesswork Out of Part Loading - Find Out How!

Operation

Ready for Workpiece Loading

The floating plunger, with a Rest Button installed, is normally extended by control air pressure, ready for loading.

After Workpiece Loading

When the workpiece is properly loaded, its weight pushes the plunger to the bottom, sealing off air flow to provide a control signal.

Installation & Design Considerations

Air connection with an external fitting

Air connection with a drilled manifold passage

After installation, the retracted plunger’s top surface will be .145” above the fixture surface before a Rest Button is installed (the body’s top flange is .125” thick, and the plunger protrudes .020” above the flange). If desired to achieve ultimate precision, the top surfaces of all Rest Buttons can be reground after installation of all Rest Button assemblies.

When using pneumatic position control, please consider that keeping the support surfaces reasonably clean is always important. Operations that produce fine chips or grit, such as when machining cast iron, should be avoided. The use of flood coolant, or aggressive coolant, should also be avoided.