Clamping

[Steve]

I have a Shark Pro and have made a few signs so far with good success. I need a more versitile and repaetable clamping technology for my Shark to speed up the setup process for making multiples of an item. I read the WoodShred article on clamping and I'm wondering if anyone has done this or had come up with a better solution.

[artiesag]

I made a vacuum clamping system and I create different jigs to hold down projects. It has been very versatile for me.
http://www.ajsjr.com/Post/2.jpg

[spinningwood]

The vacuum systems looks nice, but I hate to give up any "Z". I think fixed index points with jigs are the way to go. I replaced the bed on my shark and added t-slots when I got it. After working with it I've made a list of changes I want and I'm going to be completely redoing the bed in the next couple weeks.

Ed

[dggt6]

I have used 2 "Progrip" clamps.
The Shark I use is not mine, so I used another sheet of chipboard and machined the trenches into it so the progrips would sit flat, this also made the top surface of the clamps parallel with the Sharks Z axis.
As the clamping action of the progrip is to move the "bottom" jaw, the "top" jaw remains in the same position. I aligned the "top" jaws with the Y zero. What ever size object I place in the clamps has its bottom at Y zero.
I have only used these several times but it worked perfectly each time.

Thanks for starting this forum

Cheers
Doug

[dggt6]

Just another shot of the clamps in use.

[Bob]

I have a Shark Pro and have made a few signs so far with good success. I need a more versitile and repaetable clamping technology for my Shark to speed up the setup process for making multiples of an item. I read the WoodShred article on clamping and I'm wondering if anyone has done this or had come up with a better solution.

Follow this link and then scroll down to the article about cam clamps:
http://www.shopbotblog.com/index.php/20 ... riend-cam/
David Buchsbaum wrote a neat description of a clamping system he developed. I modified parts I liked and used it to make a clamping table. I will post a picture if anyone is interested.
It works very well for repetitive items.
Bob

[spinningwood]

Hi Bob - I would like to see what you came up with.

Ed McDonnell

[Bob]

Hi Bob - I would like to see what you came up with.

Ed McDonnell

If only I could figure out how to attach pictures...
I'll check with Kim.
Bob

[spinningwood]

Bob - Down below the white box for typing your reply is a tab (on the left) that says "upload attachments". If you click on that you should be able to get a picture in the post.

Ed

[Bob]

That was too easy.

Clamped

Table mount

Unclamped