Atmospheric pressure
Outside pressure pushes the workpiece toward the suction cup.
Custom Silicone Vacuum Suction Cups
Custom silicone suction cups for stable gripping, gentle handling in automated pick-and-place systems.
- Custom shapes with rapid tooling
- Food-grade, high-temperature, and chemical-resistant options
- Secure grip on rough or irregular surfaces without marks
Custom Vacuum Suction Cup Manufacturing Service
Fecision designs and manufactures custom silicone vacuum suction cups or pads around the real workpiece and operating environment. Standard suction cups are easy to buy, but they may not solve weak holding force, falling parts or short service life in demanding automation lines.
We support custom lip structures, bellows shapes, mounting threads and material compounds. The suction cup can be matched to curved surfaces, uneven surfaces, semiconductor wafers, glass panels, food products, and other delicate parts.
How Vacuum Suction Cups Work？
A vacuum suction cup is a vacuum actuator. Its air port connects to a vacuum generator or vacuum pump. When the vacuum source starts, air inside the suction cup is removed and the internal pressure drops.
The pressure inside the cup is lower than the outside atmospheric pressure. This pressure difference pushes the workpiece against the suction cup. The higher the vacuum level and the better the seal, the more stable the grip becomes.
P2 < P1 The internal vacuum pressure is lower than the outside atmospheric pressure, so the pressure difference creates holding force.
Vacuum pressure
Air is removed from the inner chamber to create suction, so P2 is lower than P1.
Vacuum Suction Cup Structure
The outer shape may look simple, but sealing force depends on the cup body, sealing lip, diaphragm, air path, and mounting design working together.
Cup Body
The main elastic body can be round, square, rectangular, oval, bellows-shaped, or custom-molded. It forms the vacuum chamber and contacts the workpiece.
Sealing Lip
The lip and diaphragm control sealing behavior, deformation, and holding force. Thickness and elasticity affect pull-off force and vacuum stability.
Air Mounting
The air connection and mounting thread need to match the EOAT system, vacuum line, and machine structure. Common threads include M5, M6, and M8.
Types of Vacuum Suction Cups
The best suction cup shape depends on the workpiece surface, geometry, leakage level, and handling motion.
Round Suction Cups
Commonly used on glass, metal sheet, plastic panels, and other airtight flat workpieces.
Best for: flat, smooth surfaces
Rectangular Suction Cups
Useful when the workpiece needs a larger contact area or more stable gripping across a straight edge.
Best for: boxes, panels, and wide edges
Oval Suction Cups
The elongated contact surface helps seal on slim profiles, curved parts, and elongated components.
Best for: long, narrow, or tubular parts
Bellows Suction Cups
Corrugated cups add cushioning and adapt to height differences during pick-and-place movement.
Best for: uneven height and curved surfaces
Vacuum Suction Cup Material Comparison
Workpiece material has a direct effect on the vacuum level and cup selection. Airtight surfaces often need only 60% to 80% vacuum to lift, while porous materials require further calculation or testing.
Rating guide: *** highly suitable, ** suitable, * basically suitable, - not suitable.
| Material Factor | Nitrile Rubber | Polyurethane | Vulkollan | Silicone Rubber | Fluororubber | Antistatic Nitrile Rubber |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Color | Black | Blue | Blue | White transparent | Gray | Black with white specks |
| Typical use | General applications | Rough surfaces | Automotive applications | Food applications | Glass applications | Electronics applications |
| Temperature range, long-term | -10 to +70 °C | -20 to +60 °C | -20 to +60 °C | -30 to +180 °C | -30 to +200 °C | -30 to +70 °C |
| Shore hardness | 50 +/- 5 | 60 +/- 5 | 60 +/- 5 | 50 +/- 5 | 60 +/- 5 | 50 +/- 5 |
| Main advantage | Low cost | Wear resistance | Oil resistance | Food-grade use | Chemical and temperature resistance | Antistatic performance |
| Very high pressure | - | * | * | * | - | - |
| Food processing | - | - | - | * | - | - |
| Greasy workpieces | * | * | *** | - | * | * |
| High ambient temperature | - | - | - | * | * | - |
| Low ambient temperature | - | * | * | * | - | - |
| Smooth surfaces, such as glass | * | * | * | - | * | - |
| Rough surfaces, such as wood or stone | - | * | ** | - | - | - |
| Antistatic handling | - | - | - | - | - | * |
| Low marking | - | * | * | * | - | - |
| Resistance Capability | ||||||
| Weather resistance | * | ** | ** | *** | *** | ** |
| Tear resistance | ** | *** | *** | * | ** | ** |
| Wear and abrasion resistance | ** | *** | *** | * | ** | ** |
| Permanent deformation resistance | ** | * | ** | ** | *** | ** |
| Mineral hydraulic oil | *** | *** | *** | - | *** | - |
| Synthetic ester hydraulic oil | * | - | - | - | * | - |
| Non-polar solvents, such as white spirit | *** | ** | ** | - | *** | - |
| Polar solvents, such as acetone | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ethanol | *** | - | - | *** | * | - |
| Isopropanol | ** | - | - | *** | *** | - |
| Water | *** | - | - | ** | ** | - |
| Acid, 10% | - | - | - | * | *** | - |
| Alkali, 10% | ** | * | * | *** | ** | - |
Why Use Silicone Vacuum Suction Cups?
Silicone suction cups combine soft contact, stable sealing, and broad material flexibility for automation systems.
High Holding Capacity
Custom lip and bellows structures can improve friction and sealing on smooth, airtight workpieces.
Easy Material Handling
Vacuum gripping can handle many non-magnetic materials as long as the surface can form a stable seal.
Gentle On Workpieces
Elastic silicone contact helps reduce scratches, dents, and surface marks during pick-and-place movement.
Material Options
Silicone compounds can be selected for food contact, ESD control, temperature resistance, or chemical exposure.
How To Choose A Vacuum Suction Cup？
Selection starts with the workpiece, then moves into suction force, vacuum source, and mounting details.
Review The Workpiece
Smooth metal, glass, and plastic parts often work with standard cups. Rough, porous, or breathable parts may need foam cups or a higher-flow vacuum source. Curved and tubular parts may need oval, arc, or bellows cups.
Calculate Holding Force
F = A x Delta P x eta
F is suction force, A is suction area, Delta P is vacuum pressure difference, and eta is the safety factor. A safety factor of 1.5 to 3 is commonly used.
Check The Vacuum Source
Vacuum generators respond quickly and fit single-machine systems. Vacuum pumps provide higher flow for multiple cups. Typical vacuum levels are around -60 to -80 kPa.
Confirm Mounting
Fixed mounts fit rigid structures. Universal mounts handle angle deviation. Spring-loaded brackets absorb height variation and reduce impact during contact.
Custom Manufacturing Process
Fecision connects suction cup design, material selection, tooling, sampling, testing, and production quality control.
Requirement Review
We review workpiece material, weight, surface roughness, movement speed, temperature, media, and operating environment.
3D Design
We prepare suction cup and insert drawings, then review deformation and stress distribution during suction.
Tooling
Precision CNC mold machining helps control suction cup dimensions, wall thickness, and sealing lip geometry.
Sampling And Testing
Samples can be tested for pull-off force, sealing behavior, fatigue life, surface marking, and antistatic function.
Production
Vulcanization time, mold temperature, material batch, and final dimensions are controlled for consistent quality.
Vacuum Suction Cup Applications
Custom silicone vacuum suction cups are used where the handling system needs reliable sealing, soft contact, and repeatable release.
Electronics
Wafers, chips, and mobile phone glass panels.
Design: ESD protection, mark-free suction, and high flatness accuracy.
Food
Pastries, bagged food, and medicine bottles.
Design: FDA-grade material, easy cleaning, and soft gripping without damage.
Automotive
Stamped body parts and curved metal shells.
Design: Oil resistance, multi-bellows cushioning, and high tear strength.
Logistics
Cartons, plastic bags, and irregular packages.
Design: Rough or breathable surface handling and high-flow suction design.
Need A Custom Silicone Vacuum Suction Cup?
Send your workpiece details, handling speed, vacuum source, and mounting interface. Fecision can help review the suction cup structure and material route.