How to Install a Swing Clamp Cylinder

How to Install a Swing Clamp Cylinder

swing clamp cylinder

Swing clamp cylinders are hydraulic workholding devices that combine linear and swivel motion to provide both fast movement and precise positioning of the clamping arm swing clamp cylinder This combination of motion allows for quick movement and clamping of small workpieces in a narrow working envelope, which increases your workspace efficiency. They can also be used to position or move large workpieces that require heavy forces. They are available in a wide range of bore sizes and mounting styles.

Like all beam type elements, swing clamp arms tend to flex when loaded swing clamp cylinder This flexing is caused by the moment of inertia resulting from the arm’s length and mass. This flexing can have a significant effect on the amount of force the arm can generate. The problem can be compounded with the fact that the rod to which the arm is attached also flexes. It may even bend a bit, especially at the end of the clamp stroke where the arm is in contact with the workpiece.

These problems can be corrected by using the appropriate mounting and installation methods swing clamp cylinder The first step is to make sure that your plumbing connections are tight and complete. Once the plumbing has been checked, your hydraulic system should be tested with the fixture empty and then again with a workpiece in place. This test should confirm that the cylinder is operating correctly in both situations. If it is not, the cylinder should be repositioned by threading the body further into your fixture. Each clockwise turn of the cylinder body will reduce the height of the actuating rod by a small fraction of an inch.

The second step is to verify that the cylinder’s safety clutch is engaged swing clamp cylinder The safety clutch disengages when the cylinder plunger is driven into an unexpected object such as a tool or a fixture component. This helps prevent damage to the cylinder and its helical cam mechanism.

Once you have verified that the cylinder is functioning properly, it’s time to start adjusting the clamping force. This can be done by measuring the actuating force with the fixture empty and then with the workpiece in place. This should allow you to determine if the cylinder is operating in its best condition. If the cylinder is not, you can reduce the force by increasing your hydraulic system pressure.

Pneumatic swing-and-clamp cylinders are ideal for secondary manufacturing operations in metalworking applications and can be used with both metallic and nonmetallic workpieces. These double-acting, fast-action pneumatic clamps are available in a variety of bore sizes and mounting options. They can be a cost effective alternative to hydraulic workholding systems that use two cylinders to power both the swing and force cycles.

swing clamp cylinder