What Is a Side Clamp?
A side clamp, also known as a side push clamp, is a jig for cutting and is a clamping component that presses down on an object from the side.
It is used as a clamp when machining the top surface of an object.
The side clamp must be used in accordance with the shape of the object and the machining process to securely and firmly clamp the object while avoiding any interference between the object and the tool.
Uses of Side Clamps
The objects to be processed with a side clamp include a wide variety of shapes, such as small, thin, and irregularly shaped objects.
Side clamps are also required in many machining processes, such as roughing and finishing.
For example, when machining small objects, using other clamping parts may take up too much space, making it impossible to place more than planned.
In addition, when fixing thin objects, interference by tools can be a problem, but this can be prevented by using side clamps suitable for thin objects.
Principle of Side Clamps
Side clamps are based on the principle of leverage.
When a force is applied to the force point of side clamps, it is designed to transmit the force to the point of action so that it can be secured.
However, if too much force is applied to the fulcrum of the side clamps, the body of the clamp may be deformed, resulting in inadequate clamping force.
Also, if the object is clamped strongly from the side, it may be lifted and the target fixation accuracy may not be reached.
Some side clamps, however, prevent lifting by clamping the object diagonally downward.
This side clamp prevents the object from lifting during clamping, enabling high-precision machining.
Also, it is difficult to clamp odd-shaped objects, and it is time-consuming to make jigs for them.
Furthermore, side clamps are also available for soft materials such as aluminum and brass, which are easily damaged when clamped.