Do you regularly work with industrial equipment? If so, you should be using clamping mechanisms like hydraulic clamps. They’re a vital piece of industrial equipment that will make things in your workplace safer and more secure.
Not sure what hydraulic clamps are or why you would need them for your work? In this article, we’re covering everything you need to know about these clamping mechanisms and how they can improve your work processes.
What is a Hydraulic Clamp?
In basic terms, a hydraulic clamp is a piece of industrial equipment that applies clamping force to secure any workpiece. What separates a hydraulic clamp from a primary clamping mechanism is that these devices use hydraulic fluids as part of the clamping process.
These fluids allow for greater operating pressure, which in turn results in higher clamping even when using smaller clamping cylinders.
What Does a Hydraulic Clamp Do?
If properly designed and used, a hydraulic clamp will prevent any piece of machinery from moving. This means the piece won’t slide or twist in use. A hydraulic clamp also clamps a piece of machinery without distorting the piece of machinery, which may occur when using a more standard type of clamping mechanism.
During the clamping process, a workpiece is positioned inside of the clamping device and held in position. The method of identifying and holding a workpiece is often referred to as “limiting the degrees of freedom” as this relates to the angles the device is constrained to.
Identifying the workpiece is essential for operating a hydraulic clamp correctly. If you do it incorrectly, you run the risk of bending the machine or causing machining error.
How to Operate a Hydraulic Clamp Correctly
As mentioned above, it’s essential to clamp your workpiece correctly. The main thing to do is make sure you’re attaching the clamp to a thick section of the workpiece. For correct clamping, you need to be applying the force to a strong, supported part of the workpiece.
If you attach the clamp to a thinner section of the workpiece, you’ll more than likely bend the piece, which will affect the overall accuracy of machine use. You should also make sure that you attach the clamp in a way that does not obstruct the loading or unloading of the workpiece or the paths of the cutting tools.
If you are clamping to a thinner, more delicate piece of machinery, you should distribute equal clamping force across the machine, and use clamps with pads or softer materials to prevent damage.
Why You Need a Hydraulic Clamp
Hydraulic clamping devices are essential for speeding up processes for industrial work more safely and securely. They reduce non-productive work time, save the operator from the risk of screwing clamps incorrectly, and allow for adjustments that are suited to the specific requirements of the workpiece.
They also reduce operation fatigue and increase machine-tool capacity, which are two vital things you need to improve the scope and efficiency of your work.
Final Thoughts on Hydraulic Clamping Mechanisms
Are you looking to improve your work processes? Want to scale your operations in safer (and more efficient) ways? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you need hydraulic clamping mechanisms.
Ready to purchase some hydraulic clamps? Have any additional questions about clamps or how they work? Contact us to learn more about clamp options!