Product Description
About the 1/4″ Step Block Hold-Down Set
This 1/4″ Hold-Down Set was designed to be used with our Laser Engraving Tooling Plate (P/N 3560-LAZ) and our Rotary Table “3D Scanning Plate” (P/N’s 3726-LAZ, 3727-LAZ, & 3728-LAZ). Each of these accessories have 1/4-20 threaded holes for clamping and locating parts.
When laser engraving or scanning parts, there is no force being exerted on the part. In the laser engraving application, the clamping system is there to ensure that the fixture being used to engrave the parts does not move. In the laser scanning application, the clamp is being used to hold the part stationary while it is being scanned and/or rotated.
When using the clamps for laser engraving, you can either clamp the fixture directly to the tooling plate, or you can use the clamps to wedge the fixture against the locating pins.
Use of the step block hold-down set
Look in any machine shop supply catalog and you will find hold-down sets that consist of step blocks with corresponding clamps that use T-nuts and studs. This is a very practical way to solve one of the more difficult problems that come up in the machine trades; that is, clamping a part to the table.
Not much is required in the way of instructions in order to use these clamps. A few illustrations are included to give you some tips. The biggest problem you can create for yourself is overtightening the nut and damaging the T-slots on your mill table. You have to realize that you are stronger than your machine when you have both the lever (wrench) and the screw working to your advantage (or disadvantage).
In addition to the threaded studs we provide, 1/4-20 threaded stock can be purchased from most industrial suppliers and cut to length if you need a longer piece.
A nice feature of this set that you won’t find even in more expensive, full-size sets is the radiused nut and washer. They allow the nut to pull the washer down flat on the clamp even when it is slightly tilted. We appreciate this kind of detail and felt our customers would too.
