Yes Suction was only used on the unflown joint Irish Polish arm of course..
chuckle.

Brian

--
From the Sofa of Brian Gaff Reply address is active
"Alan Erskine" wrote in message
ond.com...
On 28/05/2012 2:46 PM, wrote:
I guess that's what it's called. The manipulator arm that was on the
shuttle,
and the one that's now on the ISS. I was wondering how it grabbed onto
whatever
it was supposed to? Did anything that it was supposed to manipulate have
some
sort of a standardized attachment for it to grip? often see it with a
cylindrical end. It didn'tuse suction did it? Can you even use suction in
what's
already a vacuum?

Also, given all the articulating joints on the arm, I have to believe
there's a
lot of lubrication? If so, how does it not freeze up or melt down in the
space
environment? Thanks.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...or_picture.jpg

Shows two of the three wires that are tightened around the grapple pin
(whatever it's called).