A Unilock clamping system, for setups of workholding fixtures for machining and grinding operations, can be used for multiple machines in a work cell. Palletized workpieces can be transferred from one workstation to another with little resetting. The system consists of stationary modules installed individually or in multiples directly on a machine's worktable or tombstone. Existing workholding devices, such as vises, chucks, or special fixtures, are mounted on the clamping plates and mated to the modules. Clamping modules are mounted on horizontal, angled, or vertical clamping plates. Fixturing for operations on horizontal or vertical milling machines can be done. The clamping plates lock into the zero-point clamp modules through a 0.2 sec air-actuated mechanism. Once the modules are in place, workholding devices are positioned with 0.005 mm repeatability. They are held to the worktable or pallets with clamping forces of 50,000 N.
Schunk Inc., 211 Kitty Hawk Dr., Morrisville, NC 27560, (919) 572-2705.