Workpiece clamps are used to secure a workpiece to a fixture plate during machining, measurement, inspection, etc.
One particular type of workpiece clamp is designed to secure a workpiece to a fixture plate during manufacturing quality inspections, i.e., where the workpiece must be held stationary while it is measured and/or otherwise inspected. With this type of workpiece clamp, the clamp must generate sufficient force (“light-duty”) to hold a workpiece securely in place on the fixture plate while the workpiece is inspected (e.g., with a coordinate measuring machine, optical comparator, etc.), but the workpiece clamp does not need to generate the high level of force (“heavy-duty”) that would be required during a metal stock removal operation (e.g., machining, drilling, etc.). In this respect it will be appreciated that reliably securing the workpiece to the fixture plate during inspection is generally quite important since, if the workpiece moves during inspection, the inspection points will be skewed and the quality of the inspection compromised.
Of course, these light-duty workpiece clamps may also be used for other, non-inspection applications (e.g., light metal manufacturing processes and/or woodworking processes) where only light holding forces are required. By way of example but not limitation, these light-duty workpiece clamps may also be used during laser etching, parts marking, soldering, routing, etc., and/or for applying a light force to a wood part so as to ensure straightness during cutting, etc.
Unfortunately, existing light-duty workpiece clamps are not entirely satisfactory. More particularly, existing light-duty workpiece clamps all tend to suffer from one or more disadvantages, including but not limited to: (i) time-consuming set-up and take-down; (ii) restricted access to the workpiece; (iii) the need to use hand tools to assist in the removal or insertion of a workpiece; (iv) cost; (v) restricted methods of use; (vi) an inability to scale to different sizes; (vii) an inability to be used with standard fixture plates; and/or (viii) a need to manufacture the workpiece clamps out of specific materials.
USPTO Backgrounds
USPTO Backgrounds