Review and classification of workpiece toggle clamping devices

Abstract

Clamping devices are the elements that hold the workpiece during the machine operation. Since the workpiece can have any shape, there are many types of clampings. The toggle clamps present at least two equilibrium positions and they are the focus of this study. An extensive survey in academic, patent and commercial areas was made to analyze the clamping device state of technology. The objective of this article is to propose a new classification using the results of patent and commercial survey and to develop a innovation map of these mechanisms. This new classification, together with an innovation map, can be used to aid designers when creating a new clamping device.