Mechanical hands are used for transferring a sample where linear, angular and rotary movement is required. The pistol grip which actuates the movement and the use of edge welded bellows, gives the user a true 'feeling' of position inside the vacuum chamber to give a controlled transfer. These can be supplied with or without the pincer grip. If supplied with a pincer, these can be inline or perpendicular, with plain jaws or jaws to accept the flag style sample plate.