CLAMPING DEVICES

CLAMPING DEVICES
Functions of a clamp:
Holding the workpiece
Withstand forces
(Clamping force should not cause any dent/damage)

PRINCIPLES OF CLAMPING
Position
Strength
Operator fatigue
Productivity
y
Workpiece variation

Position:
Direct the
Di
h clamping
l
i
f
force
on strong, supported
d part
of the workpiece. (Affects accuracy)
Sh ld nott obstruct
Should
b t
t the
th path
th off the
th loading
l di g and
d
unloading of workpiece.
Should not obstruct the path of the cutting tool.
tool
Clamps Should
not get machined (i.e. drilled,
milled or welded in operation)
Distortion of
unsupported
workpiece

Strength:
Secure clamping.
clamping
Clamping force should be distributed over wider
area of the workpiece.
While clamping soft workpieces, clamps should be
fitted with pads of softer materials, such as nylon
or fibre to prevent damage/denting of the
workpiece.

Operator fatigue:
Physical
ys ca effort
e o t involved
vo ved in clamping
c a p g and
a d dede
clamping is considered.

Productivity:
y
Clamping time should be minimized by using hand knobs,
tommy bars, knurled Screws, hand wheels, handles etc.

E
Equalizer
li
ffor ttwo workpieces
k i

Hand
H
d operated
t d clamping
l
i
devices

Workpiece variation:
Spherical washers are used (in pairs) having
matching male and female parts between clamp
and
d nut.
Equalizer for 2 workpieces (or even number of
workpieces)
k i
) simultaneously
i
lt
l

Clamping
variable
workpieces

TYPES OF CLAMPS
The type off clamp
Th
l
the
h tooll designer
d i
chooses
h
i
is
determined by the shape and size of the part, the
type of jig or fixture being used and the work to be
done.
The clamp used should be the simplest, easiest to
use and most efficient.

Strap
p clamps
p
spherical nuts and washers
Screw clamps
Cam-Action clamps
Swing clamps
Flat eccentric cams
Hook clamps
Flat spiral cams
Quick action knobs
Cylindrical cams
9

TYPES OF CLAMPS
Wedge clamps
Flat wedges
edges or flat cams
Conical wedges or mandrels
Toggle-Action
T
l A ti
clamps
l
Power Clamping
Non-conventional
N
i
l clamping
l
i

10

SCREW CLAMP

Screw
clamps
are
threaded devices with
knurled collar, Hand
knob or Tommy bar for
rotating and tightening
the screw.
The clamping pressure
largely depends on the
workpiece,
k i
i varies
it
i from
f
one workpiece to other.
It
is
more
time
consuming and more
efforts are required.
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EQUALISERS

It is recommended to
apply
l
equall pressure
on the faces of the
work
work.
The pressure
applied can be varied
by
y
tightening
g
g
or
loosening the screw
provided
for
the
purpose.

12

SPHERICAL WASHER
Two-piece washer that
compensates whenever
hene er
a stud and clamping
surface are not exactly
perpendicular. The top
washer has a convex
spherical radius, while
the bottom washer has a
matching
concave
spherical radius.

13

SLOTTED (RETRACTABLE) STRAP CLAMP

When clamps fall in

the path of loading or
unloading they are
made slotted to permit
li
linear
withdrawal.
ithd
l

14

SWINGING STRAP CLAMP

In this design, the clamp

i rotated
is
t t d by
b 90 to
t clear
l
the
passage
of
loading/unloading
the
workpiece.
workpiece
In some cases such as
box jig, the clamp may
be rotated
otated by
b
45 to
match with the diagonal
of the box to facilitate
removal
of
the
workpiece.
It is used in cases where
heavy
clamping
pressure is not required.
15

EDGE STRAP CLAMP

A side clamp is also

ow as edge c
clamp.
a p.
known
In
this
case
the
surface
to
be
machined is always
clamped above the
clamping device.
device This
clamping device is
recommended
for
fixed
length
workpiece.

16

EDGE JAW CLAMP

Used
for
clamping
p g
workpiece on the edges
during
facing
operations.
Heel slides down as the
h
hexagonal
l
nutt
i
is
tightened.

17

SPECIAL STRAP (SPIDER) CLAMP

The clamp shape
can be changed to
suit the workpiece
and the operation.
Circular and
symmetrical
workpieces can be
held very well.
well

18

EQUALISER

Equaliser principle
can be extended to
facilitate clamping of
many
y even number of
workpieces
simultaneously by a
single
i l clamp.
l

19

PIVOTED STRAP CLAMP

Clamps are pivoted
at the centre to
simplify their
operation.
It is tightened and
loosened by
knurled head
screw.

20

PIVOTED EDGE CLAMPS

Screw shifts from

the centre to the
end opposite the
clamping point.
This p
places the
clamp screw well
below the path of
cutter ffor ffacing
i
workpiece top.

21

PIVOTED TWO WAY CLAMP

Tightening of the
knurled screw
pushes the
workpiece till it
t
touches
h the
th
locator.
Further tightening
of the screw pivots
the clamp anticlockwise
l k i and
d
applies force in
two directions
simultaneously.

22

HINGED TWO WAY CLAMP

Workpiece
is
pushed
against the location pins
by pivoted edge clamp.
Tightening
the knurled
nut against the hinged
clamp
pushes
the
workpiece against the
location pins.

F
Further
h
tightening
i h
i
pushes
h
the
h clamping
l
i
pad
d
towards the workpiece which is clamped
simultaneously in 2 directions.
directions
23

SWINGING STRAP CLAMP

Workpiece is held by

knurled head screw as

shown on full line.
For loading and
unloading the clamp is
swung aside as shown
by dotted lines.

24

HINGED CLAMP
Hinged clamps provide
rapid clearance of the
l di g and
loading
d unloading
l di g
passage.
It is generally clamped
with swinging eye bolt.
For
loading
and
unloading
the
workpiece,
the
hexagonal
nut
is
loosened half-a-turn.

25

SWINGING HOOK CLAMP

Turning fixtures uses
compact swinging hook
bolt clamps.
The clamp is shaped
like a short cantilever
with turned outside
diameter which slides
in a housing.

26

SWINGING LATCH

For loading and

unloading
u
oad g of
o
workpiece the
clamping screw is
loosened slightly and
latch is swung aside to
the position as shown
by chain-dotted lines.

27

C WASHER
It is a strap clamp with
open slot
ope
so a
and ssimple
pe
and quick in operation.
Slot p
permits removal of
c washer after a slight
loosening of the
h
hexagonal
l nut.
t

28

HAND OPERATED CLAMPING DEVICES

These are manually
operated clamping
devices.
These are very simple
in structure and
quick in operation.

29

REPLACING NUT BY CAM

These are quick in
action.
i
Though there is a risk
off clamp
l
getting
tti
loose
l
due to the vibrations.

30

ECCENTRIC CAM CLAMPING

Eccentric cam can

replace hexagonal nut
in a strap clamp or a
heel pin in a strap
clamp.

31

REPLACING HEEL BY CAM

For loading and

unloading of workpiece
the clamping screw is
loosened slightly

Bayonet clamp is another type of clamp which

uses a cylindrical cam. The motion of the
b
bayonet
i guided
is
id d by
b the
h spherical-ended
h i l
d d screw
mating in the groove of the bayonet.
Toggle clamps are another kind of quick-action
clamps which can be withdrawn by a considerable
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dista ce for
distance
fo loading/
loadi g/ unloading
loadi g of the workpiece.
o k iece

POWER CLAMPING
Power-activated clamps are an alternative to the
manually
ll operated
t d clamping
l
i
d i
devices.
Advantages of power clamps:

Better control of clamping pressures.

Less wear on moving parts.

parts

Faster operating cycles.

The main disadvantage is cost, which can easily
be offset by
y the increased p
production speeds
p
and
higher efficiency.
33

POWER CLAMPING
Fluid power
Pneumatic clamping
Hydraulic clamping
Vacuum clamping
Magnetic clamping
Electro-static
Electro static clamping:
By changing the workpiece and chuck face with
opposite polarities,
polarities we get the clamping force.
force
Workpiece and chuck face are separated by
putting insulating dielectric fluid in between.
By discharging they can be unclamped.
34

FLUID POWER CLAMPING

These are actuated by
cylinders.
cylinders
The feeding of
pressurized fluid
through the port
pressurizes the clamp
against the workpiece.

For unclamping, the port is connected to an

unpressurised discharge line. The force of the
spring
i
under
d the
h clamp
l
pushes
h the
h clamp
l
and
d the
h
ram upwards.
35

MULTIPLE CLAMPING
Figure shows a fixture
with four clamps and a
cylinder which can be
actuated by a single
valve.
l
The clamping pressure
of all the clamps would
be equal.

36

RACK AND PINION ACTUATED FLUID POWER

CLAMPING
The fluid power
cylinder is used to
move the clamp into
the position.
The clamp
p would stay
y
in the position even if
the cylinder is
d
depressurized.
i d

37

VACUUM CLAMPING
This is convenient to clamp thin flat sheets
which are vulnerable to distortion under
clamping loads.
It provides light clamping.
The holding face is provided with 0.025 mm
deep grooves which serve as vacuum ducts.

38

MAGNETIC CLAMPING
Magnetic clamping force can be developed by
permanentt magnets
g t or electro-magnets.
l t
g t

Permanent magnets
These are mounted on a sliding member which
can be moved under a non-magnetic material on
a table to block magnetic flux. This releases the
workpiece.
For clamping workpiece permanent magnets are
moved under the magnetic part of the table.

39

40

ELECTROMAGNETIC CLAMPING
Electromagnetic tables use solenoid coil as
temporary magnets.
magnets
DC current is used to create magnetic field.
The magnetic clamping force is controlled by
varying the current passing through the
solenoid coil.
Magnetic clamping leaves some residual
magnetism in the workpieces. This can be
removed by
y demagnetizing
g
g the workpiece.
p

41

ELECTROSTATIC
C
OS
CC
CLAMPING
G
In this method, the workpiece
p
is charged
g
with
static electricity with polarity opposite to the
polarity
p
y on the chuck face.
The
workpiece
and
the
chuck
separated/insulated by dielectric fluid.
fluid

are

Even non-conducting materials can be coated

with
ith a thin
thi
metallic
t lli layer
l
and
d secured
d by
b
electrostatic clamping.

42

NON-CONVENTIONAL CLAMPING
Adhesive clamping:
Used for flat surfaced workpieces subjected to
light loads.
It requires
i
more time
ti
curing
i
d i
during
clamping
l
i
and cleaning of the adhesive to
de-clamp. It is used only when no proper
alternative is available.

43

Fusion clamping:
In this method, the workpiece is jacketed with
molten bismuth alloy (low melting point).On cooling
and solidification, the alloy secures the workpiece
firmly.
Useful for complicated shapes. Sometimes this is the
only method of clamping possible in odd
odd-shaped
shaped
difficult workpieces.

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THANK YOU

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