Some embodiments are directed to a machine tool holding device for clamping a piece to be clamped that includes a contact surface. The holding device includes at least one claw intended to come into contact with the contact surface of the piece to be clamped. The claw includes a plurality of clamping plates stacked on each other, and each including on their edge a clamping surface arranged to be in contact with a portion of the contact surface of the piece to be clamped.

A directional translating clamping device comprises a housing that includes a distal housing end and proximate housing end separated along a central axis, and a housing recess at the proximate housing end and extending along the central axis end. The device also includes a slide located in the housing recess, and the slide comprises a slide recess at a slide proximate end co-axial with the housing recess, and a detent in a radial sidewall of the slide prevents the slide from translating beyond a predetermined axial distance along the central axis. A spring is located in the housing recess and exerts an axial force on the distal end of the slide. A stub shaft extends from the distal end of the housing. A roller ball assembly includes a threaded sidewall that engages with the slide recess to removably and replaceably secure the roller ball assembly to the slide.

A workpiece clamping device able to perform a set-up changing operation for clamping members depending on the kind of a workpiece to be processed, at a low cost, by a simple method. The workpiece clamping device includes a bracket, a movable part which is movable with respect to the bracket, a clamping member to be attached to and detached from the bracket or the movable part, to clamp a workpiece, and a detachable device for detachably coupling the bracket or the movable part to the clamping member.

A gripper for gripping a tube for punching may include a first arm having a lower portion and an upper portion disposed outwardly from an upper surface of the lower portion. The upper portion extends to opposite first and second side surfaces and opposite third and fourth side surfaces, where opposite edges of the first and second side surfaces each meet an edge of one of the opposite third and fourth side surfaces. The second side surface includes a groove extending from the second side surface towards the first side surface and along a length of the second side surface. The groove is configured to receive at least a portion of a tube when a second arm like the first arm is disposed adjacent to and aligned with the first arm.

The present invention provides a clamp for holding a workpiece that is particularly suitable for use in CNC machining. The clamp is particularly useful for use in picture-frame machining techniques as it allows a workpiece to be held in a position wherein a machine can have substantially unencumbered access to both sides of the workpiece without the need to remove the workpiece from the clamp. The clamp comprises a frame comprising a base, a first arm, and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm each mounted to the base at an inner end such that they are parallel with one another.

A jig device includes an upper end configured to support an object, and a lower end comprising a hole for insertion and coupling of the upper end in an upper portion and an air inlet and an opening and closing portion configured to open and close the air inlet, in a lower portion. A position of the upper end is configured to be fixed at a point in time at which the air inlet is closed due to air pressure that occurs inside the lower end in response to closing the air inlet.

A vise includes a base and two opposed jaws. At least one of the jaws is movable with respect to the other so that an object can be gripped therebetween. At least one of the two opposed jaws includes a frame and an array of polygon-shaped pins stacked parallel to one another. The frame has a bottom side and two opposed sides tapering towards the bottom side. The pins are disposed on the bottom side. Each pin has a cross-sectional shape such that when stacked together, the pins fit flush with one another and an area defined by the frame is tiled by the pins without any substantial gaps therebetween. The pins are oriented such that the tapering opposed sides direct force vectors to increase a pin-to-pin clamping force and the frame selectively clamps down on the pins such that the pins are held in place.

The invention relates to a supporting device for a plurality of components (100, 200, 100*) with different geometries, in particular for a plurality of geometrically different motor-vehicle external attachments made of polymer material, having a support frame (30), a drive (40) arranged on the support frame (30) and at least two supporting groups (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) arranged on the support frame (30), wherein each supporting group (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) serves as a supporting surface for a particular component geometry, wherein each supporting group (1, 2, 3, 4, 5) has at least two spaced-apart, disc-shaped supporting elements (1, 1, 1; 2, 2, 2, etc.), the upwardly facing rim (10, 10, 10; 20, 20, 20, etc.) of each of which already has, in the unloaded state, a contour adapted to the geometry of the associated component (100, 200, 100*). By means of the drive (40), the supporting elements (1, 1, 1; 2, 2, 2, etc.) are movable such that only the supporting elements (1, 1, 1; 2, 2, 2, etc.) of a single supporting group (1, 2, etc.) protrude upwards such that the upwardly facing rims (10, 10, 10; 20, 20, 20, etc.) thereof form the supporting surface for the component geometry associated therewith.

A directional translating clamping device comprises a housing that includes a distal housing end and proximate housing end separated along a central axis, and a housing recess at the proximate housing end and extending along the central axis end. The device also includes a slide located in the housing recess, and the slide comprises a slide recess at a slide proximate end co-axial with the housing recess, and a detent in a radial sidewall of the slide prevents the slide from translating beyond a predetermined axial distance along the central axis. A spring is located in the housing recess and exerts an axial force on the distal end of the slide. A stub shaft extends from the distal end of the housing. A roller ball assembly includes a threaded sidewall that engages with the slide recess to removably and replaceably secure the roller ball assembly to the slide.

The present invention provides a clamp for holding a workpiece that is particularly suitable for use in CNC machining. The clamp is particularly useful for use in picture-frame machining techniques as it allows a workpiece to be held in a position wherein a machine can have substantially unencumbered access to both sides of the workpiece without the need to remove the workpiece from the clamp. The clamp comprises a frame comprising a base, a first arm, and a second arm, the first arm and the second arm each mounted to the base at an inner end such that they are parallel with one another.