Minia University

Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Jigs and Fixtures

Chapter 3:
Design of Clamps

4th year, production Engineering and Machine Design Department,

Faculty of Engineering, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

Dr. Khaled Hamdy Mohamed Ibrahim

Minia
2022
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Principle of Clamping
 The workpiece must be held firmly even when the tools/cutters are
in operations
 The clamping device should be quick acting as the loading and
unloading time should be as quick possible;
 When subjected to excessive vibration or chatter, the clamps
should be firm and should loosen up;
 The clamp should not damage the workpiece.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Principle of Clamping
 To design or select a clamping device, the general guideline to be
followed are as follows:
1. Simple clamping mechanisms should be adopted over
complex ones, to save the cost of manufacturing and for easy
maintenance.
2. Clamping parts which, are subjected to wear and tear, should
be heat-treated so as to withstand cyclic operations.
3. Some frequently wearable parts of the clamps should be so
designed as to be easily replaceable.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Principle of Clamping
 To design or select a clamping device, the general guideline to be
followed are as follows:
5. Clamping force should be applied to a heavy part of the
workpiece.
6. Thrust of the cutting tool should be away from the clamp.
7. Pressure pads should be employed wherever soft objects or
hollow objects are to be clamped to avoid damage or distortion
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Principle of Clamping
 Clamps should not obstruct the path of the cutting tool. They should
neat get drilled, milled or welded during operation.
 The purpose of clamping is to exert a pressure to press a
workpiece against the locating surfaces and hold it there opposition
to the cutting forces i.e to secure a reliable (positive) contact of
work with locating elements and prevent the work from
displacement and vibration in machining.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Position
 Clamping should be positioned to direct the clamping force on a strong, supported part of
the workpiece. Clamping on unsupported part bends slender workpieces.
 This affects the accuracy of the operation. A vertical hole drilled in the bent workpiece
would become angular when the unclamped workpiece springs back to its original shape as
is shown by the dash lines.

 The clamping system should not obstruct the path

of loading and unloading of the workpiece. The
clamps in the path of loading should be retractable or
swinging type, so that the clamps can be withdraw or
swing clear of the path of loading and unloading of
the workpiece.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Strength
 The clamping system should be capable of holding the workpiece security against
the forces developed during operation. The clamping force should not dent or
damage the workpiece with excessive pressure. For clamping weak or fragile
workpieces, the clamping force should be distributed over a 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 and denting of the workpiece.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Principle of Clamping
 Clamp shall be directly in line with
the support

 Clamping force shall be directed

towards support/locators.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Productivity
 Clamping time should be minimized by using hand knobs, tommy bars, knurled
screws, hand-wheels and handles, so that the clamp can be tightened or loosened
manually without using spanners, as a spanner further adds motions of picking,
aligning, and laying it drawn.

Spanner

Fig.2 Hand operated clamping devices

Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Quick action nut :

Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Operator Fatigue:
 Operator fatigue should be taken into account.
 Clamping should be operator friendly.
 Clamping and releasing should be easy and less time consuming.
 Maintenance should be easy.
 If considerable number of clamps are to be tightened or loosened repeatedly, it is
better to use pneumatic or hydraulic clamping which reduces operator fatigue and
saves clamping time.
 Hand nuts are more convenient for the operator than hexagonal nuts because a
spanner is not required to tighten them
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Workpiece variation
 Spherical washers:
 Although these are not clamping
system, they form an integral and
important component in the heel-type
clamps, where the height of the
workpiece varies widely. This enables
the screw to be vertical even when the
clamps become inclined such that Fig.3 Spherical Washers
buckling loads do not come into picture.
 Heel pin pressure surface should also be
made spherical to permit some tilting of
the clamp
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Workpiece variation
 Spherical washers:
 The clamping points should be
provided with ample radius to
make the clamp operable even if
there is variation in the workpiece.
 Misalignment between the
clamp surface and the clamping
nut due to tilting of the clamp can
be countered by use of spherical
washers between the clamp and
Fig.4 Universal clamp with cylindrical washer
the nut.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Workpiece variation
 Spherical washers:
 As washers are used in pairs, the two washers have matching male and female
spherical seats. The spherical bearing allows the washers to tilt with respect to
each other. The lower female washer tilts with the clamp while the upper male
washer below the nut remains square to the nut. The spherical seat transmits the
clamping pressure from the nut to the clamp.

Fig.5 Spherical Washers

Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Clamping Devices
1. Screw clamps
 Screw clamps are threaded devices with knurled collar, hand knob, tommy bar, or
spanner flats for rotating and tightening the screw
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Clamping Devices
2. Hook bolt clamp
 This is very simple clamping device and is only suitable for light work and where
the usual type of clamp is inconvenient.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Strap or Plate Clamps

1. Retractable Strap Clamps
 When clamps fall in the path of loading and unloading, they are made slotted to
permit linear withdrawal. The clamp is retracted to the position shown by the
chairdotted line during loading and unloading of the workpiece.
 U clamp can be removed altogether.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Strap or Plate Clamps

2. Lever type clamps
2-1. Bridge clamp:
 The clamping force is applied by the spring
loaded nut. Slotted strap: To avoid the
complete removal of the nut every time a
workpiece is changed the clamp may be slotted
to draw it back.
2-2. Heel clamps:
 These consist of a robust plate or strap, center
stud and a heel. The strap is strengthened at the
point where the hole for the stud is cut out, by
increasing thickness around the hole.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Strap or Plate Clamps

2. Lever type clamps
2-3. Solid Heel & Loose guide clamps
 A heel is provided at the outer end of the clamp to guide its sliding motion for
loading and unloading the workpiece.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Strap or Plate Clamps

2. Lever type clamps
2-3. Solid Heel & Loose guide clamps
 The workpiece is loaded into the jig or fixture or removed from these, by rotating
the clamp.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Strap or Plate Clamps

2. Lever type clamps
2-4. Swinging strap (latch) clamp
 This is a special type of clamp which provides a means of entry for loading and
unloading the workpiece. For this, the strap (latch or lid) can be swung out or in.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Quick acting clamps

1. C-clamps
2-4. Swinging strap (latch) clamp
 The two types of C-clamps, free and
captive are shown in Fig. To unload
the workpiece, the locking nut is
unscrewed by giving it about one
turn and this releases the C-clamp.
When the clamp is removed or
swing away, the workpiece can
freely pass over the nut. The reverse
procedure is adopted for loading the
workpiece.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Quick acting clamps

1. C-clamps
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Quick acting clamps

2. Quick acting nuts
 The threads of the nut are not continuous but are interrupted.
 The length of the nut is about 2 to 3 times the thread
diameter.
 The diameter of the clearance ‘D‘ is slightly bigger than the
outside diameter of the thread and the axis of the hole is
inclined at angle (3° to 7°) to the axis of nut
 When the nut is assembled over the male thread. It is
inclined to the axis of the clearance hole.
 When the nut engages the male thread, it is dropped on to
the screw threads and is then tightly locked by giving it
about half a tum.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Quick acting clamps

2. Quick acting nuts
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Quick acting clamps

3. Cam operated clamp
 These clamps find broad application and are fast and positive in action. These
should not be used where vibrations are present or whore the dimensions of the
workpiece vary. e.g.. sand castings.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Quick acting clamps

3. Cam operated clamp
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
1. Clamps with heel pin:
 The clamping force is applied at the
middle through the screw and nut.
The next is the point of contact with
the workpiece, with hold the wp.
1-1. Clamp with heel pin:
 This has a stem like a heel and
restricts rotation of clamps during
clamping

Fig.6 Heel-Type Clamps

Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
1. Clamps with heel pin:
1-2. Slotted clamps with a heel pin:
 This is used when the rotation of the clamp is not needed as the clamp
can be loosened and slid for the removal of components

Fig.7 Solid Clamps with Heel Pin and Slot for Quick Removal
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
1. Clamps with heel pin:
1-3. Slotted clamps with an adjustable heel pin:
 This is used when the component height is likely to vary and the adjustment of
the height of the clamp imperative

Fig.8 Clamp with Adjustable Heel Pin

Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
2. Two-point clamps:
 These are used in clamping two component together like in gang drilling
operation

Fig.9 Two-point Clamps for Distribution of Clamping Force

Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
3. Three-point clamps:
 These are used for clamping hollow cylinders, for turning outside or slot
milling inside keyways, and drilling oil-holes perpendicular to the axis

Fig.10 Three-point Clamp for Holding Circular Objects

Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
4. Latch-type clamps
 4-1.One-way clamps:
 These are quick-acting, and are used for loading and removal of components.
They are used in drilling jigs
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
4. Latch-type clamps
 4-2. Two-way clamps:
 They are similar to the one-way clamps, expect that the clamping forces are
applied in two coordinates. They can be used in milling fixtures
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
5. Button clamps:
 This are fixed in one point and removable in another point. They are designed as
horizontally swinging types
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
6. Pressure pads:
 These again form part of the clamping systems and are used while clamping soft
material like aluminum its alloy, and for clamping thin-welded components that
may get damage due to clamping. The pressure pad, usually rubbers are fitted to
the screw by means of cotter pin, which transmits the force of longitudinal
motion.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
7. Wedge-type edge clamp:
 This are used in the cases like surface grinding, end milling, and surface facing
of components. This will facilitate the exposure of the surface to be machined
without interference with the tools.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
7. Wedge-type edge clamp:
 The tightening of the hexagonal nut wedges the clamp between the workpiece
and the angular heel surface. This clamps the workpiece

Strap wedge Edge jaw clamp

Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
8. Equalising clamps:
 These are used for clamping two components simultaneously, particularly for
rough like cutting
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
9. Swing washers
 This are productivity tools in a
whole clamping system

10. ‘C’ Washers

 These are also productivity
tools in a whole clamping
system
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
11. Swinging bolts and removable-type clamps:
 The bolts are designed to swing about a hinge and the clamp can be removed,
allowing unloading and loading of components. They can be used for slotting,
grinding and shaping fixtures.
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
12. Clamps for two components:
 They are generally used in milling of keyways in shafts or drilling radial holes
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
13. Cam clamps:
 They utilize the profile of the cam for effectively applying clamping force.
Different types of can clamping as shown in Figs

Fig.21 Cam-operated Latch. Type Clamp Fig.22 Cam-operated Heel Type Clamp
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
13. Cam clamps:
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
14. ‘V’ clamps:
 This concept has been explained in an earlier chapter on locators. These are used
to clamp cylindrical components, both in the case jigs and fixtures
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
15. Toggle clamps:
 They are used in drilling and milling operations for quick clamping and releasing
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
15. Toggle clamps:
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
16. Pneumatic clamps:
 These are quick-acting, and are used for large-scale production
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
17. Electromechanical clamps: :
 These are also used for large scale production
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
18. Bench vise
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
19. Power Clamping
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Classification of clamps
Minia University
Faculty of Engineering
Production Engineering and Machine Design Dept. (PEMD)

Thanks for Attentions