Zero-point systems clamp mechanically with spring force and are released by an external medium. The two most common release methods are compressed air and hydraulic oil, and the choice affects force, plumbing and how easily the system integrates with your machine.
Pneumatic systems are the default for most shops: air is already available, the modules are clean, and 5 – 6 bar is enough to unlock the spring and blow chips clear. They suit stand-alone machines and manual load / unload.
Hydraulic actuation delivers higher pull-down force in a smaller envelope, which matters for heavy cutting or large pallet pools. It requires a power unit and hoses but integrates neatly into automated cells that already run hydraulics.
A practical rule: choose pneumatic for flexibility and clean, simple setups; choose hydraulic when you need maximum holding force or are building a fully automated, high-throughput cell.
