A clamp for use with a cutting machine, the clamp comprising: a clamp frame; a low profile clamp head operatively connected to the clamp frame, wherein the clamp head has a clamping surface for pressing on a work surface of a work piece to hold said work piece; and a fixing element, operatively connectable to the clamp frame, for providing a clamping force to the clamp head by fixing the clamp to a support base for the work piece. In embodiments, the clamp head may have a low profile clamp head, made of plastic to prevent damage to a cutting bit.

A gripping system for securing a work piece includes a clamp device, a rotary actuator, and a control circuit. The clamp device includes a ball screw mechanism and a jaw portion that has multiple grip fingers. The ball screw mechanism includes a shaft and a holder assembly. The shaft extends through the holder assembly and is configured for displacement along a central axis of the jaw portion. A distal tip of the shaft engages the grip fingers. The control circuit controls the rotary actuator to drive rotation of the shaft relative to the holder assembly, causing displacement of the shaft along the central axis. The displacement of the shaft causes the distal tip of the shaft to force the grip fingers to move in a radial direction away from the central axis to provide a clamp force on the work piece.

A clamping assembly comprises a body defining a retaining area and a coupling element. The body further includes a first leg having an adjustable engagement member and a second leg positioned at an angle less than 90 relative to a horizontal axis. A rod having a first end coupled to the at least one coupling element of the body. The rod is configured to drive the body in a direction toward the first leg in response to a force directed toward a second end of the rod.

A precision clamping assembly has a body, two clamping arms, and a drive device. The body has a first direction, a second direction, a chamber formed in the body, and an opening formed through an outer side of the body along the second direction and communicating with the chamber. The clamping arms are pivotally and movably connected to the body, and each clamping arm is disposed in the chamber and has a pivot end and a clamping end extended out of the body via the opening. The clamping ends are selectively moved toward or away from each other along the second direction and selectively moved same or opposite from each other along a third direction. The drive device is connected to the body and the two clamping arms, and has two driving sets disposed in the body and respectively connected to the two clamping arms.

A pipe clamp has a base with a fixed jaw and a beam extending from the base. A movable jaw member is slidably mounted on the beam. The movable jaw member includes a movable jaw disposed opposite the fixed jaw. A pivotable handle is mounted to the movable jaw member and a clamping mechanism is connected to the pivotable handle and operated by the pivotable handle to move the movable jaw relative to the fixed jaw. A latch secures the pivotable handle in any of a plurality of positions. A tripod stand may be provided for supporting the pipe clamp, the tripod having a multi-compartment storage spreader.

A modular gripper has a body with a trident section and cylindrical section. A powering assembly is positioned in the cylindrical section. A pair of oppositing jaws is pivotally secured between a center wall and a pair of side wall, respectively, of the trident section. The piston rod moves a cam assembly on the center wall. The cam assembly passes through a body having a trident section and cylindrical section. The trident section comprises a trident structure that includes, at one end, a pair of side walls along with a center wall. The cylindrical section includes a fluid driven powering assembly. A pair of opposing jaw member are pivotally secured to the trident portion about separate pivot pins. A cam assembly is operatively connected to a piston rod of the fluid driven powering assembly. The cam assembly extends laterally outward with respect to a cylinder bore axis to receive a cam bush that engages with a through slot on each of the pair of opposing jaw members. The jaws rotate with respect to one another in response to fluid power in the cylindrical section. A pair of side plate members, each slide plate member has an elongated blind slot that receives an end of the cam assembly, the ends travel in the blind slot. Cam slots in the pair of opposing jaws, via a cam bushing.

A work-piece securing apparatus for metal or wood working equipment, for example a miter saw, involves a support element mounted on the equipment and an elongated work-piece securing element movably supported by the support element. The support element is configured to receive and support the securing element such that the securing element retains mobility while supported on the support element to permit manual manipulation of the securing element to position the work-piece on the equipment and/or to position a work-piece engaging portion of the securing element at a desired contact point on a work-piece when the work-piece is positioned to be worked by a tool of the equipment.

A multifunction clamp and jack system having a generally C-shaped main body with an elongate threaded rod with a top end configured to receive an open end wrench, a socket of a socket or ratchet wrench, a male square drive member of a ratchet wrench or a non-ratcheting breaker bar, the drive member of an electric or air impact wrench or a removable handle member, the bottom end of the threaded rod configured to receive selected workpiece engaging rotary attachments, the male square drive member of a ratchet wrench or electric or air impact wrench. The main body may be supported in an upright vertical position by front and rear base support members allowing it to be free standing. A plurality of interchangeable workpiece engaging attachments are provided for clamping, holding, or lifting variously shaped workpieces or objects.

A clamp adapter for use with a lever operated quick connect clamp having spaced apart clamping arms. The clamp adapter includes a one piece body having an upper section which is slidably positioned between the clamping arms and a base which abuts against the bottom the clamping arms. Threaded fasteners secure the body to the clamping arms. An elongated rod is slidably positioned in a through bore in the body and locked in place by a bolt.

The present invention relates to a clamping mechanism that is configured to securely hold a workpiece in a machine tool, such as, but not limited to a vertical machining center, or a horizontal machining center, etc. More specifically, the clamping mechanism is configured as a modular soft jaw. A multiplicity of clamping mechanisms can be used to cooperatively secure large workpieces. Furthermore, a multiplicity of clamping mechanisms can be incorporated into a job set-up so a multiplicity of workpieces can be processed concurrently. The present invention's clamping mechanism can be secured in orientations such as, but not limited to a machine tool table bed, a fixture plate, a tombstone, etc. The present invention's modular, soft jaw clamping mechanism can be used in conjunction with other work holding equipment, such as, but not limited to jigs, fixtures, tools, vises, clamps, etc.