VACUUM GENERATION
VAC STAC Compact Vacuum Ejector, Stackable by Design
The VAC STAC is a compact vacuum ejector that generates vacuum right at the tool and scales by stacking: add modules as your gripping area grows instead of buying a bigger pump. Designed and 3D printed in Mississauga, Ontario, it mounts where the vacuum is needed, cuts hose runs, and shortens evacuation time on every cycle. Lightweight, modular, and adaptable, it is built to work inside the Anubis 3D EOAT ecosystem alongside grippers like the Spider Gripper (SPI) and the Area Surface Gripper (ASG).
Stack up or stack out
VAC STAC Modularity
VAC STAC
Modular vacuum that grows with your application.
Stack up for more flow. Stack out for more zones.
The building block
One VAC STAC. Two ways to grow.
Stack vertically
More flow. Add an Expansion to a Primary: 3 ejectors and up to 520 l/min on a single vacuum zone.
Stack horizontally
More zones. Run 7 or more Primary modules side by side, with one vacuum zone per VAC STAC.
Option 1: vertical stack
Stack up for more flow
Primary: works on its own
1 ejector, plus the solenoid valve and electronics. Every system starts with one.
Expansion: nearly doubles the flow
Adds 2 ejectors to a Primary. It never runs alone, and only one fits per stack.
Always one zone
The Primary’s solenoid switches all ejectors together.
Option 2: horizontal stack
Stack out for more zones
Scale to 7 or more Primary modules side by side, 266 l/min each.
One zone per VAC STAC, each with its own vacuum circuit.
Pick selectively: run zones together or one at a time.
Side by side
Vertical vs. horizontal at a glance
| Feature | ↑ Vertical stack | → Horizontal stack |
|---|---|---|
| Grows | Up: more flow | Out: more zones |
| Building blocks | Primary, or Primary + 1 Expansion | Primary modules side by side |
| Ejectors | 1 or 3 | 7 or more |
| Flow per zone | 266 or 520 l/min | 266 l/min |
| Vacuum zones | Always 1 | Multiple, 1 per VAC STAC |
| Best fit | Single pick zone that needs more flow | Large, multi-part or selective picking |
Need more flow? Stack up.
Need more zones? Stack out.
Tell us about your application and we will configure the right VAC STAC and gripper.
Request a QuoteMEET THE VAC STAC
Vacuum Generated Right at the Tool
Watch how the VAC STAC generates vacuum directly at the tool. No motors, no moving parts, no maintenance schedule: compressed air in, gripping vacuum out.
ANIMATION VS REALITY
Same Design, Real Cell
We built the animation from the same CAD our engineers print from and matched its movement to a real robot cell. Then we filmed the real thing. Same tool, one air line, one cable.
INSPECT IT IN 3D
Turn It Over in Your Hands
Rotate and zoom both modules, the Primary and the Expansion, the same models our engineers print from.
VAC STAC Primary
VS-D1-PRM-A-2201 | ANU002270
The Primary is the module that connects to the robot and carries the complete control interface: the vacuum and blow-off valves, the vacuum sensor port, and the electrical connection. A single integrated venturi generator delivers up to 266 L/min of suction flow through two G1/4 vacuum access ports, enough for most single-zone gripping tasks on its own.
VAC STAC Expansion
VS-D1-EXP-A-2201 | ANU002271
The Expansion mounts under the Primary when your gripping area grows. It adds two more venturi generators and raises the total suction flow of the stack to 520 L/min, with no extra electronics, no separate plumbing, and no changes to your control setup.
Drag to rotate, scroll to zoom. Hover a marked point, or tap it, for details.
STACKABLE BY DESIGN
Stack Up for Flow, Stack Out for Zones
Traditional vacuum systems put a large pump at the end of a long hose, so the pump size dictates the tool and the hose length dictates the response time. The VAC STAC flips that: compact ejector modules stack to match the flow your gripping area actually needs, mounted directly at the tool. The result is faster evacuation, shorter response, less compressed air wasted in dead volume, and a vacuum supply that grows with the application instead of being replaced by it. Stack an Expansion on a Primary for more flow, or run Primary modules side by side for more vacuum zones. Either way, it pairs naturally with our EOAT grippers.
NO MOVING PARTS
How a Compact Vacuum Ejector Works
A vacuum ejector converts compressed air into vacuum through the Venturi principle: air accelerates through a nozzle, pressure drops, and the low pressure zone evacuates the gripping circuit. No motors, no impellers, no maintenance schedule, just geometry doing the work, which is exactly the kind of problem 3D printing is built for. The full physics is in our EOAT glossary, and the distribution side of the story lives in our 3D printed vacuum manifold application.
WHY VAC STAC
Lightweight, Modular, Adaptable
Every design decision in the VAC STAC follows the same rule: the vacuum system should adapt to the application, never the other way around.
Lightweight
SLS printed PA12 nylon keeps the mass out of the tool, so the robot payload goes to the part, not the plumbing.
Modular
Stack ejector modules to match the flow the gripping area actually needs, and add more when the application grows.
Ecosystem Ready
Built to drop into the Anubis 3D EOAT ecosystem alongside the Spider Gripper (SPI), the Area Surface Gripper (ASG), and custom tools.
Adaptable
Configurable ports, sensing, and expansion parts let one platform cover applications that would otherwise need different hardware.
ON A REAL ROBOT
Pick, Place and Palletize
The same cycle filmed from the front and from above.
266 L/min
VAC STAC Primary suction flow
520 L/min
Total stack flow with the Expansion
0
Moving parts to maintain
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
VAC STAC at a Glance
| Specification | VAC STAC Primary VS-D1-PRM-A-2201 | ANU002270 | VAC STAC Expansion VS-D1-EXP-A-2201 | ANU002271 |
|---|---|---|
| Max total suction flow | Up to 266 L/min | Up to 520 L/min (stack total) |
| Venturi generators | 1 | 2 |
| Vacuum zones | 1 | 1 |
| Vacuum access ports | 2 × G1/4 (BSPP) | – |
| Peak air consumption | 153 L/min | 306 L/min |
| Optimal feed pressure | 80 to 90 PSI (5.5 to 6.2 bar) | Fed by the Primary |
| Pneumatic connection | 12 mm O.D. | – |
| Vacuum sensor port | M8 3-pole, A-coded receptacle, male | – |
| Electrical connection | M12 4-pole, A-coded receptacle, male | – |
| Operating voltage / peak current | 24 VDC / 150 mA | – |
| Vacuum / blow-off valve position | N.C. / – | Controlled by the Primary |
| Weight | 0.34 kg | 0.27 kg |
| Dimensions (L × W × H) | 154 × 120 × 37 mm | 154 × 98 × 37 mm |
| Peak noise level | ~83 dB | ~83 dB |
| Robot interface | PRF-D (recommended) | |
| Product integration | ASG-D, SPI-D, MTC-D, custom tooling | |
| Materials | PA, SS, Al, Ni, NBR, ED, POM | PA, SS, Ni, ED, POM |
Full datasheets with dimensions and configuration options are available on request.
CONNECTIVITY AND CONTROL
Onboard I/O, Configured Your Way
The VAC STAC carries its control interface onboard, so sensing, release, and integration are configured at the module instead of wired in from outside the tool.
M8 Sensor Input (3 Pin)
Configurable to the application: fit a distance sensor, a receptacle, commons, or whatever the cell calls for.
Vacuum Sensor
Onboard vacuum monitoring confirms part presence and grip quality on every cycle.
Blow Off
Active blow off releases the part fast and clean for accurate placement at speed.
M12 Electrical I/O (4 Pin)
A four pole, A-coded M12 connection carries the valve signals and control at 24 VDC, tying the module into the cell.
Air In
A single compressed air inlet feeds the entire ejector stack, keeping hose runs short and simple.
Cleaning Port
A dedicated cleaning port lets you purge and maintain the vacuum circuit without tearing the tool down.
MODULAR EXPANSION
Available Expansion Parts
Because the platform is modular, these parts install onto the VAC STAC as the application evolves, with no redesign and no replacement of the base unit.
Spring Plunger
Available as a modular add on that installs directly onto the VAC STAC stack. Ask our team about the right fit for your configuration.
Sub Ejector
Adds vacuum flow to the stack when the gripping area grows, scaling capacity instead of replacing hardware.
Vacuum Nozzle
Swappable nozzles tune flow and vacuum level to the workpiece, from porous cartons to sealed surfaces.
BUILD THE FULL SYSTEM
VAC STAC Pairs With
Spider Gripper (SPI)
Multi zone vacuum gripping for irregular parts
Area Surface Gripper (ASG)
Foam or suction cup gripping across large surfaces
Custom Tools
Purpose built EOAT designed around your part
COMMON QUESTIONS
Compact Vacuum Ejector Questions
What is a compact vacuum ejector?
A compact vacuum ejector is a small Venturi based vacuum generator that mounts directly at the tool, converting compressed air into vacuum with no moving parts and no maintenance schedule.
Why is the VAC STAC stackable?
Stacking lets the vacuum supply scale with the gripping area: add modules when the application grows instead of replacing the whole vacuum system with a larger pump.
Where does the VAC STAC mount?
Directly at the end of arm tool. Generating vacuum at the tool instead of at the end of a long hose shortens evacuation time and cuts the compressed air wasted in dead volume.
What connects to the 3 pin M8 input?
The 3 pin M8 input is configurable to the application. Common options include a distance sensor, a receptacle, or commons, working alongside the onboard vacuum sensor and blow off function.
Which grippers does the VAC STAC work with?
The VAC STAC is built for the Anubis 3D EOAT ecosystem. It pairs with the Spider Gripper (SPI), the Area Surface Gripper (ASG), and custom tools engineered around your part.
What expansion parts are available?
Spring plungers, sub ejectors, and vacuum nozzles install as modular expansion parts, so the system adapts to the application without a redesign.
What is the VAC STAC made of?
The VAC STAC is 3D printed in PA12 nylon using Selective Laser Sintering, which keeps the unit lightweight and allows internal air channel geometries that machined housings cannot match.