The Kurt MiniLock is a small, screw-down clamp that operates similarly to a precision vise. Designed to hold small parts, the device rigidly clamps components on machine tables, pallets and trunion fixtures.
According to the company, the clamp is similar to its original Anglock vise design. Applying a quarter-turn to the screw forces the split clamp jaw laterally and downward, both clamping the part and preventing it from lifting.
The versatile clamp can be used in single, double or multiples of both single- and double-holding applications. By using stationary blocks or pins, two parts can be held with a single clamp. Its low profile enables machining a part’s complete top surface without having to re-clamp. Also, steps can be machined into the jaw for machining operations that require parts to be raised above the pallet or the machine table.
According to the company, the clamps are ideal for use in dedicated fixture setups and for palletizing small parts to be loaded into receivers on machine tables. Through the use of a variety of locating blocks, workstops and clamps, several similar components or a part family can be located and clamped on a single pallet.
The clamping jaw is machined from Ampco 18 aluminum bronze. The actuating screw is made of alloy steel. The clamp is available in four inch and metric hex sizes: 0.688", 0.875", 0.938" and 1.125" (17.476, 22.250, 23.826 and 28.575 mm). Hex thickness ranges from 0.188" to 0.375" (4.776 to 9.525 mm).
Workholding solutions can take on infinite forms and all would be correct to some degree. Follow these tips to help optimize custom workholding solutions.
Moving to five-axis machining enabled this shop to dramatically reduce setup time and increase lights-out capacity, but success relied on the right combination of workholding and automation.
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