Done by

R MUKHIL
(14M439)

Work Holding Devices

Work Holding Device

Work holding refers to any device that is used to a secure a workpiece and hold it in place
against the forces of machining.
The most basic work holding device is a simple clamp that is screwed into place on a
machining centers table, but work holding can also involve complex fixtures that are
custom-built for particular parts.
Other common work holding devices include vises and chucks, as well as indexers or
rotary tables that are able to change the parts position while it is held, so the machine can
reach various features of the part without the setup having to be changed.
In most machining applications, work holding also locates the part. In turning, for
example, a chuck not only holds the part securely but also holds it precisely on the
centreline of the spindle.
On a machining center, the vise or fixture that holds the part may also hold it in the
precise position and orientation where the machining program expects to find it. For this
reason, components such as locating pins and workstops that make it easy to place piece
after piece in the same location are also common work holding components.

Work Holding Devices

Work Holding Devices

Dedicated workholding devices
Jigs
Fixtures

Modular
Universal
Vises
Chucks

Dedicated Work holding Devices

Jig: A specially designed w/h device that determines location dimensions that is

produced by machining or fastening operations.

Fixture: A specially designed w/h device that holds the work during machining or

assembly operations and establishes size dimensions.

Chucks and vises are often used for constructing fixtures.

Conventional Fixture Designs

Work holding devices provide to fundamental functions, locating and clamping.

Locating refers to orienting and positioning the part relative to the cutting tool.

Clamping refers to holding the part in its proper orientation with enough force to resist
the force of cutting but not deform the part.

Example of a work holder

FIGURE 27-2 A CNC turning

center with two chucks, turrets
for
cutting tools, and C-axis control
for
the main spindle. The C-axis
control, on the spindle, can stop
it
in any orientation so the
powered
tools can operate on the

Design Criteria for Work Holders

Positive location

The workpiece is located by 3-2-1

principal.

Design Criteria for Work Holders

Repeatability
Fool proofing

Adequate clamping forces

Gravity, cutting, inertial, centrifugal

Reliability
Ruggedness
Loading and unloading operations more abuse than machining
Replacement of parts that wear

Design Criteria for Work Holders

Constructability

Use standard elements

Low Profile

Workpiece Accommodation

Ergonomics, Safety

Pinch points

30-40 lbs force to operate clamp

Tool path and operators paths should not cross

Design Criteria for Work Holders

Part distortion

Flexibility

Accommodate a family of parts

Design Considerations for Work Holders

Clamping
Spread clamping forces over large area
Direct clamping toward work support and locating points
Cutting forces toward fixed area of w/h device
Perform as many machining operations as possible with each setup.

Design Considerations for Work Holders

Chip Disposal
Decrease tool life
Interfere with part loading

Loading/Unloading Time
Minimize

Work Holding Devices of Milling Machines

Tool Maker Universal Vise
Plain Vise
Swivel Base Vise
V Block
Dividing Head
Rotary Table
Tilting Table
Angle Plate
Bolts & Clamps

Work Holding Devices

13

Tool Maker
Universal Vise

Tool Maker Universal Vise

The universal vise can be

swivelled in a horizontal
plane similar to a swivel
vise.

It can also be tilted in any

vertical position for angular
cuts.

The rise not being rigid in

construction is used mainly
in tool room work.

Work Holding Devices

14

Plain Vise

Plain Vise

Either a plain or swivel-type

vise is furnished with each
milling machine.

The plain vise, similar to

the machine table vise is
used for milling straight
workplaces and is bolted to
the milling machine table
either at right angles or
parallel to the machine
arbor.

Work Holding Devices

15

Swivel Base
Vise

The Work holding device

Swivel Base Vise

used for holding small and

regular workpieces that can
be swivelled(rotate) about
its base.

Work Holding Devices

16

V-Block

V-Blocks are precision metal working jigs

typically used to hold round metal rods or pipes

V-Block

for performing drilling or milling operations.

They consist of a rectangular steel or cast iron

block with a 90-degree channel rotated 45degrees from the sides, forming a V-shaped
channel in the top. A small groove is cut in the
bottom of the "V".

They often come with screw clamps to hold the

work.

There are also versions with internal magnets

for magnetic work holding.

V-blocks are usually sold in pairs.

Work Holding Devices

17

Dividing Head

An indexing head, also known as a dividing

head or spiral head, is a specialised tool that

Dividing Head

allows a workpiece to be circularly indexed ;

that is, easily and precisely rotated to preset
angles or circular divisions.

Indexing heads are usually used on the

tables of milling machines, but may be used
on many other machine tools including drill
presses, grinders, and boring machines.

Common jobs for a dividing head include

machining the flutes of a milling cutter,
cutting the teeth of a gear, milling curved
slots, or drilling a bolt hole circle around the
circumference of a part.

Work Holding Devices

18

Rotary Table

A rotary table is a precision work

Rotary Table

positioning device used in metalworking.

It enables the operator to drill or cut work

at exact intervals around a fixed (usually
horizontal or vertical) axis.

Some rotary tables allow the use of index

plates for indexing operations, and some
can also be fitted with dividing plates that
enable regular work positioning at
divisions for which indexing plates are not
available.

A rotary fixture used in this fashion is

more appropriately called a dividing head
(indexing head).

Work Holding Devices

19

Tilting Table

Tilting Table

The workpiece held in the

tilting table is used to tilt
the workpiece in desired
angle.

Work Holding Devices

20

Angle Plate

Angle Plate

When working surfaces are

to be milled at right angles
to another face, angle
plates are used for
supporting the work.

The angle plate bolted on

the table and the work
piece is supported on its
face by bolts and clamps.

Work Holding Devices

21

T-Bolts &
Clamps

T-Bolts & Clamps

Bulky work pieces of irregular

shapes are clapped directly on the
milling machine table by using TBolts and Clamps.

Work Holding Devices

22

Work Holding Devices of Shaping Machine

Shaper Vise
T Bolts & Clamps
Stop Pins & Toe Dogs
Strip and Stop Pins
Angle Plate
V Block
Shaper Centres

Work Holding Devices

23

Shaper Vise

Vise is a quick method of holding and

Shaper Vise

locating relatively small and regular

shaped work pieces.

Parallels

When the height of the job is less than

the height of the jaws of the vise,
parallels are used to rise and seat the
workpiece above the vise jaws and
parallel with the vise.

Hold Downs

Hold downs are grippers are used for

holding thin pieces of work in a shaper
vise.
Work Holding Devices

24

Clamping work on the Table

The different methods employed to clamp

Stop Pins

different types of work on a shaper table

are:

Stop Pins
A stop pin is a one-leg screw clamp.
Stop pins are used to prevent the work
from coming out of the position.

Work Holding Devices

25

Stop Pins & Toe Dogs

While holding thin work on the

Stop Pins & Toe Dogs

table, stop pins in conjunction

with toe dogs are used.

Work Holding Devices

26

Strip and Stop Pins

Work having sufficient thickness is

Strip and Stop Pins

held on the table by strip and stop

pins.

Work Holding Devices

27

Shaper
Centres
This is a special attachment used

Shaper Centres

for cutting equally spaced grooves

or splines on the periphery of a
round work.

Work Holding Devices

28

Work Holding Devices of a Planing Machine

The work may be held on a planing machine table by the following methods:
1. By Standard Clamping
2. By Special Fixtures
Standard Clamping Devices: The standard clamping devices are used for holding most
of the work on a planner table. The devices are as follows:
1. Heavy Duty Vises
2. T-Bolts and Clamps
3. Stepblocks, Clamps and T-Bolts
4. Poppets or Stop pins and Toe dogs
5. Angle plates
6. Planer jacks
7. Planer centres
8. Stops
9. V-Blocks
Work Holding Devices

29

Planar Table

Planar Table

The figure shows the

arrangement for holding a
large workpiece.

Strap Clamp hold the

workpiece on all sides.

Work Holding Devices

30

Planer Jack

Planer Jack

A Jack is used to level up

the work to be machined on
a Planer Jack

Work Holding Devices

31

Special
Fixtures

Special fixtures are used for

Special Fixtures

holding a large identical

pieces of work on a planer
table.

Fixtures are specially

designed for holding a
particular type of a work.
By using a fixture the
setting time may be
reduced considerably.

Work Holding Devices

32

Work Holding Devices of a Slotting

Machine
The work is held on a slotter table by a vise, T-bolts and clamps or by special fixtures.
T-bolts and clamps are used for holding most of the work on the table.
Fixtures are used for holding repetitive work.

Work Holding Devices

33

Types of Jigs

There are several basic forms for jigs, some of the basic types are:
Plate Jig
Channel Jig
Ring Jig
Leaf Jig
Box Jig
Universal Jigs

Common Jigs

FIGURE: Examples of some

common types of
workholdersjigs.

Universal Jigs

FIGURE: Two types of universal jigs are manual

(bottom) and power-actuated (center). A
completed jig (on the top) made from unit right
below.

Conventional Fixtures

Conventional Fixtures
A Vise are general purpose fixtures mounted on subplates and can have their jaws
interchanged base on part geometry.
Lathe Chucks are general purpose fixtures for rotational parts

Conventional
Vises

FIGURE: The conventional or

standard vise (top left and right)
can be modified with removable
jaw plates to adapt to different
part geometries. These vices can
be integrated into milling
fixtures (right middle and
bottom).

Conventional Chucks

FIGURE: Quick-changing of the top jaws on a three-jaw chuck.

Modular Fixturing

Modular Fixtures are similar to conventional fixture, except they are more versatile.
Modular systems use dowel pins and T-slots to provide a rigid, adjustable fixture.
Standard elements are positioned to fit the part needs, such as

Riser blocks

Vee blocks

Angle plates

Cubes

Box parallels

Supports

Locator pins

Clamps

Modular Fixtures

FIGURE: Modular
fixturing begins with a subplate
(grid base) and adds locators
and clamps.

Modular Fixture

FIGURE: Dedicated fixture on the left versus modular fixture on the right.

Setup and Changeover

To speed up changeover, master jigs or intermediate jigs can be used.

A Master Jig, is a jig that can be used to make a number of similar parts.
An Intermediate jig is a jig that is designed hold another jig that can be quickly
changed out for each part.

Master Jig

FIGURE: Master jig

designed for a family of similar
components. (a) Part family of
rounds plates (six parts, AF);
(b) group jig for drilling,
showing adapter and part A.

Intermediate Jig

FIGURE: Example of the intermediate jig concept applied to lathe chucks.

The actuator is mounted on the lathe and can quickly adapt to three
different chuck types. (Courtesy of ITW Workholding)

Clamps

FIGURE: Examples of basic types

of clamps used for workholding. The clamp
elements come in a wide variety of sizes.

Power Actuated Clamps

FIGURE: Examples of
power-clamping devices:
(a) extending clamp;
(b) edge clamp.

Other Workholding Devices

Other workholding devices include

Assembly jigs

Used to keep ensure the final assembly meets the location and fit

Magnetic workholders

Limited in holding force, but ensures that there is no distortion of a steel

workpiece

Electrostatic workholders

Similar to magnetic chucks, but used on electrically coductive non-ferromagnetic

materials, limited clamping force

Vacuum Chucks

Works with any material, initial set up more time consuming.

Assembly Jig

FIGURE: Example of large assembly jig for an airplane wing. The

body of the wing and flap are held in the correct location with
each other and then the flap is mechanically attached.

Electrostatic Chuck

FIGURE: Principle of
electrostatic chuck.

Vacuum Chuck

FIGURE: Cutaway view

of a vacuum chuck. (Courtesy of
Dunham Tool Company, Inc.)