A mounting system having a dual plunger arrangement wherein the side of each plunger has a pull down cam to provide a desired pull down action in relation to at least two studs, the cams moving relative to one another and axially aligning relative to one another relative to the two axially spaced pull down studs to allow the plungers to provide a maximum hold down force for the two pull down studs, balance the hold down forces thereby maximizing performance and reducing unlocking forces.

A workholding apparatus for components having complex geometries or surfaces, which components are difficult constrain for the purpose of inspection, addresses the problem of adequately constraining such components in a convenient and cost-effective manner so that they do not move during inspection, while also making all or most critical features accessible to the inspection instruments being used. A method teaches how to eliminate setup changes between different components through the use of inexpensive modular attachments. These attachments are in the form of a single piece thermoplastic part which is affixed to each component having also reference features that can be interlocked into a common base fixture for more efficient inspection operations.

An interchangeable carrier system, in particular for workstations for producing components for exhaust systems of internal combustion engines, includes a base unit and a carrier unit, which is to be releasably fixed to the base unit in a working position, wherein a coupling/fixing arrangement is provided on the base unit and a counterpart coupling/fixing arrangement, which can be brought into positive coupling engagement with the coupling/fixing arrangement during a sliding movement of the carrier unit in a sliding movement direction into the working position, is provided on the carrier unit, and wherein, when the carrier unit is positioned in the working position, the carrier unit can be fixed with respect to the base unit by the coupling/fixing arrangement.

A method for adjusting a workpiece-supporting module includes: setting initial support position information of a workpiece, the initial support position information including positions of support devices and a spacing value for separating the support devices; according to the initial support position information, applying a finite element method to analyze a CAD file of the workpiece to obtain workpiece deformation information; according to the workpiece deformation information and target workpiece deformation information, realizing support position information corresponding to each support device, the support position information including X-axis coordinates and Y-axis coordinates; according to the support position information and a conversion program, obtaining a Z-axis coordinate and a normal vector of each support devices; and, according to the support position information, the Z-axis coordinate and the normal vector, adjusting the position and the angle of each support device. In addition, a variable system for adjusting the same workpiece-supporting module is also proposed.

Clamping device (1) comprising a first connection body (3) and a second connection body (5), which are mechanically engaged to translate relative to each other on a reference plane (X) between multiple adjustment positions. A first locking mechanism (6) is switchable between a constraint condition, in which the first and second connection bodies (3, 5) are locked in one adjustment position, and a release condition, in which they are free to translate. The device comprises an actuation piston (7), slidably inserted in a guide chamber (8) of the first connection body (3) to move along a direction (Z) transverse to the reference plane (X), between positions that maintain the first locking mechanism (6) in the constraint condition or in the release condition. An elastic member (9) pushes the piston (7) toward one position, while an actuator mechanism (10) moves it toward the other, elastically deforming the elastic member (9).

A clamping arrangement has a clamping device is fastened fastenable on a clamping base, and a clamping element able to be tightened thereon. The clamping device has a clamping module with clamping members that can be fixed by a fixing element on the clamping base, wherein the fixing element is configured such that the clamping module is fixed in the X-Y plane in a floating manner. The clamping module is displaceable in the fixed state of the fixing element with respect to the fixing element in the X-Y plane, but is non-displaceable in the Z-direction. The fixing element is provided with Z-support surfaces for the clamping element. The clamping arrangement is particularly suitable for a large clamping system, so that thermally caused dimension changes of the workpiece carrier with respect to the clamping base can be equalized with repeatable accuracy, without the clamping system being over-constrained geometrically/mechanically in the X-Y plane.