A universal clamping assembly for a key duplicating machine is described. The clamping assembly comprises a housing having a pair of opposed flat guide rail support surfaces and a sliding tip clamp is guidingly displaceable along each of the guide rail support surfaces and are urged against the tip of the key and key blank blades which are positioned on the guide rails. A pivoting clamp is displaceably engageable on a forward top edge of the respective key blades to apply a downward force on the key blades to ensure that the lower edge of the key blades is firmly resting against the guide rail support surfaces. A pair of cam operated side clamps is actuable to further clamp the blade on their sides at two distinct areas. The universal clamping assembly is capable of accommodating different key and key blank lengths, widths and thicknesses. The method of clamping the key and key blank is also described.

An apparatus and method for a through cutting machining steady rest comprising a base plate fixed to a vertical support plate where an adjustable workpiece cradle may be adjusted to support a desired workpiece to be machined. A pair of opposing articulating side arms pivotally mounted upon the vertical plate wherein articulation of a fastening means will clampingly engage the side arms upon the desired workpiece. The side arms are engaged at points leaving a gap between the side arms for machining of the workpiece between the side arms. Rollers are implemented upon the ends of the side arms and along the came of the workpiece cradle to allow for a fixed axial hold of the workpiece while allowing the workpiece to be rotated around its longitudinal axis for further machining without the need of unclamping and repositioning the workpiece on the steady rest.

The invention relates to a machine comprising a first machining module (1) configured to simultaneously machine at least two crankshafts, a second machining module (2) configured to simultaneously machine at least two crankshafts, and a support structure (3) with at least four crankshaft fixing positions (31, 32, 33, 34) for the machining of such crankshafts. The support structure (3) is located between the machining modules. The fixing positions (31, 32, 33, 34) are arranged in two columns (35, 36) of fixing positions, each of which comprises at least two of the fixing positions (31, 32; 33, 34) located at a different height, and the support structure (3) is rotatably arranged, such that it can perform a rotation of at least 180 degrees.

A milling adaptor for affixing an abutment blank for the manufacture of a dental abutment in a housing of a milling unit. The milling adapter includes a holding device extending from a first end to a second end. The holding device includes a flange positioned at the first end and a securing shaft extending from the flange to the second end. The securing shaft includes at least one securing surface for securing the holding device to the housing.