A clamping system includes a housing, a clamping lever pivotally coupled relative to the housing, a clamping arm pivotally coupled relative to the housing and the clamping lever, and an expandable link coupled to the clamping arm. The clamping lever and the clamping arm are rotatable from an open position to a closed position. A method of mounting a device on a substrate using the clamping system is also provided.

An apparatus is provided for lightening of thin, flexible and shaped workpieces by removal machining of material from surfaces thereof, on a machining unit having a worktable and a counterthrust member which rests against a part of the surface of the workpiece opposed to the one on which said tool must work from time to time. The worktable includes a support member of the workpiece to be machined, and gripping mechanism which supports the workpiece during its machining independently of the support mechanism. The counterthrust mechanism includes a board movable according to several axes and carrying a plurality of supporting elements. The supporting elements can be individually translated or in groups between a draw-in position and an extended position to define a supporting plane depending on the shape of the surface of the workpiece against which the counterthrust mechanism rests. A method is also provided for mapping the workpiece surface.

An apparatus is provided for lightening of thin, flexible and shaped workpieces by removal machining of material from surfaces thereof, on a machining unit having a worktable and a counterthrust member which rests against a part of the surface of the workpiece opposed to the one on which said tool must work from time to time. The worktable includes a support member of the workpiece to be machined, and gripping mechanism which supports the workpiece during its machining independently of the support mechanism. The counterthrust mechanism includes a board movable according to several axes and carrying a plurality of supporting elements. The supporting elements can be individually translated or in groups between a draw-in position and an extended position to define a supporting plane depending on the shape of the surface of the workpiece against which the counterthrust mechanism rests. A method is also provided for mapping the workpiece surface.

A system for assembling a clamp includes a first magazine, a plurality of first clamp sections, a second magazine, and a plurality of second clamp sections. The first magazine includes a first magazine channel while each first clamp section includes a first protrusion. The first clamp sections are arranged within the first magazine with each first protrusion positioned within the first magazine channel. The second magazine includes a second magazine channel while each second clamp section includes a second protrusion. The second clamp sections are arranged within the second magazine with each second protrusion positioned within the second magazine channel.

A flexible and precise fixture for micromachining includes a base and a support shaft extending vertically from the base. The support shaft includes a proximal end attached to the base and an enlarged distal end inserted inside a cavity of a clamp support block. One or more clamp jaws are provided on a top surface of the clamp support block. One or more angular pointers are included having a proximal end mounted pivotally on the base and a distal end pivotally mounted to the clamp support block, each pointer mounted to an individual side wall of the clamp support block. A washer and nut are mounted on the support shaft, the washer positioned between the nut and the clamp support block. The nut is threadedly mounted on the support shaft and may be tightened or loosened to place the clamp support block into a respective fixed or released position.

A retrievable shaft locking mechanism for axial and rotational locking on smooth round shafts with a lever providing tensioning of the clamping ring and vectorially supporting a clamping action through a horizontal dowel pin.

Provided is a support device that supports an object to be supported, in a manner that allows the object to rotate, without rotation of the support device itself. The support device is provided with: a base part; pair of support members that are slidably provided with respect to the base part, and have arc-shaped cut-out portions which sandwich and hold a circumferential surface of an object to be supported, from both sides of the object; a plurality of first biasing members that bias the pair of support members in a direction toward each other; a plurality of bearing parts that are provided along the cut-out portions, and are for sandwiching and holding the object to be supported, in a manner that allows the object to rotate; and a plurality of second biasing members that bias the plurality of bearing parts in a direction toward the object to be supported. The plurality of first biasing members bias the pair of support members.

In a general aspect, a system for selectively positioning a work piece includes multiple bodies. A first body includes a first exterior surface and a boss extending from the first exterior surface along a boss axis. The boss includes a boss end surface that terminates the boss. Boss perimeter surfaces define a perimeter of the boss and extend between the first exterior surface and the boss end surface. A second body includes a second exterior surface and a pocket extending from the second exterior surface into the second body along a pocket axis. The pocket is shaped to receive the boss in a discrete number of positions when the boss axis and the pocket axis are aligned. Pocket perimeter surfaces define a perimeter of the pocket and extend into the second body from the second exterior surface.

A support for a mitre joint uses two wedging mechanisms disposed at a characteristic angle. Each wedging mechanism is arranged to locate inside a hollow rail, such as within an extruded hollow beam. The wedging mechanism can be operated from outside the joint in order to clamp the mechanism in position. The mechanism has a self centering capability to assist in accurately locating the rails relative to each other.

A device for securing a ladder to a ladder rack comprises a first pole segment, a second pole segment substantially parallel to and shorter than the first pole segment, a connecting segment therebetween, and a clamping bar slidably engaged with the first pole segment and selectively slidably engaged with the second pole segment. The clamping bar comprises a trigger handle. The device may be placed around a portion of a ladder and a ladder rack. Repeatedly pivoting and releasing the trigger handle moves the clamping bar proximally-to-distally along the first pole segment such that the clamping bar slidably engages a proximal end of the second pole segment and then tightens against the ladder rack, thereby securing the ladder to the ladder rack.