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
14
16
17
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
20
21
22
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
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.
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26
SWINGING LATCH
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
29
30
31
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:
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
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
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.
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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
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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
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.
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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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