| | Mar 31, 2010 — As one of North America’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of workholding technologies and machine tool components, Fixtureworks’ wedge clamp offerings are a universal workholding solution capable of working with all levels of soft and hard materials, including mild steels and tough alloys, with brass and aluminum, and plastic/composite materials. The clamps are constructed to expand jaws evenly and simultaneously in lateral and vertical planes and to apply balanced holding pressure in both directions, thus preventing movement, vibration and chatter under the toughest working loads.
The low profile of these wedge clamps means that for most fixturing applications, the clamps sit below the top surface of workpieces, allowing for complete machining of the top in single setups. Their footprint on the fixture base is small, too, permitting more parts (and clamps) to be mounted to bases for greater productivity. Each clamp is tightened down to the base and jaws are thrust against the workpiece side with the fastening of one bolt—a single bolt that, as tightened downward, forces the ‘wedge’ element downward which in turn expands the jaws outward against the part. To release clamp pressure, untightening of the same bolt (typically, a socket head cap screw with hex Allen wrench) allows the wedge and jaws to return to original unlocked positions. This return action is aided by the inclusion of dual springs that draw the jaws back from the clamping point. The one-fastener actuation and release makes for ergonomic, fast operation of these clamps in high volume, repetitive holding tasks.
The selection of Ok-Vise® wedge clamps includes six different styles including; single wedge units with serrated jaws; with smooth jaws for non-marring retention of soft materials; with machinable jaws to tailor holding points to part shapes; as well as self adjusting jaws having swivel pads with 9o of movement to compensate for part contours. A single wedge type clamp with drilled and tapped jaw face is also available that allows fast attachment and alteration of custom jaw surfaces.
A double-wedge type clamp with serrated jaws offers secure holding forces by generating pull down pressure towards the fixture base as well as the sideward pressure. The jaws of the clamps are made from tool steel and hardened to Rc 48-52, except for the machinable and tapped jaws (Rc 30-34). Jaw forces generated range from a lightest load of 2,248 pounds for the smallest single wedge—smooth jaw unit and all the way up to 19,000 pounds for the largest size of the double wedge—serrated jaw type clamp.
In all, Fixtureworks has 25 varieties and sizes of wedge clamps, an assortment of specifications and dimensions to fulfill custom fixturing needs with economical clamps.
In addition to Ok-Vise wedge clamps, Fixtureworks also offers Fairlane® Products’ grippers, rest pads, Swivots® swivel/pivoting positioning components, Quick Release ball-lock pins, rollers and bumpers; Imao® clamps, supports and stops, T-nuts, sliding mounts, springs, grid plates and blocks; Kipp® spring plungers, rest and riser pads, levers handles, knobs, and handwheels; and Modern Industries mPower™ product line which includes quick change precision locating and mounting systems and modular tooling, plates and columns. | |
