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Learn More TuffCam Inch Hydraulic Swing Clamps

Overview | Cutaways | Flow Rate | Clocking | Restrictors | Cam Ball Follower | FAQs

Overview

Why Choose the TuffCam Swing Clamp?

When building CNC fixtures, the choice of swing clamp is critical. The TuffCam Swing Clamps raises the performance bar by combining rapid actuation, heavy-arm capability and modular fixture integration. By choosing this robust clamping device, fixture builders gain a competitive edge in reducing cycle time, improving machine uptime and simplifying fixture architecture. If your applications demand a high-speed, heavy-arm capable clamping solution, the TuffCam Swing Clamps delivers.

TuffCam Swing Clamps

Vektek’s TuffCam Swing Clamps meet your demand for a product that can handle the stress and positioning requirements of high-speed or heavy arm applications. These tri-cam design clamps, with their patented Cam Follower Seat, can position and clamp in one second or less, handle large arms with ease and include the Clocking feature that dramatically reduces the time it takes to change arms for maintenance, replacement or fixture setup.

Position sensing clamps are double acting only.

Single and double acting devices available. The Low Profile Single Acting models have increased spring forces for positive return in higher backpressure applications.
Three cams for more accurate arm positioning, smoother rotation and lower per cam surface contact pressure.
Vektek again changes the “state of the art” in ball and cam swing clamps making them work better at reasonable prices.
Patented ball seat for improved rotary function, cam follower contact, and reduced dynamic and static friction.
Standard fluorocarbon wipers improve coolant compatibility.
Same mounting envelope as standard VektorFlo® swing clamps.
BHC™ (Black Hard Coating) on the cylinder bodies helps prevent scoring and scratching.
Arm clocking feature uses standard Vektek arms.

TuffCam Low Profile Swing Clamps

Vektek’s TuffCam™ Low Profile Swing Clamps meet your demand for speed, precise positioning, heavy arm applications and/or clamping capacity up to 7,500 lbs. These Low Profile tri-cam design clamps, with their exclusive Cam Follower Seat, can position and clamp in one second or less and handle large arms with ease. Each clamp includes the Clocking feature that dramatically reduces the time it takes to change arms for maintenance, replacement or fixture setup.

One of the keys to this TuffCam™ innovation is the Cam Follower Ball Seat that was developed to improve strength and wear. Using the Vektek patented V-Groove technology, tungsten carbide ball material for strength and wear and a stainless steel spring, these clamps have reduced static friction for improved clamp breakaway and extended life.
Position sensing clamps are double acting only.

Available in these body styles: Top Flange, Top Flange Long Stroke (Double Acting Only), Bottom Flange, Rod Position Sensing and Magnetic Position Sensing.
Single and Double Acting models available. The single acting models have increased spring forces for positive return in higher backpressure applications.
BHC™ (Black Hard Coating) on the cylinder bodies helps prevent scoring and scratching
Standard fluorocarbon wipers improve coolant compatibility.
Arm clocking feature uses standard Vektek arms.

Inch Work Supports

Cutaways

ils150100

Threaded Body

Cutaway

TuffCam™ Top Flange Swing Clamps

Top Flange

Cutaway

TuffCam™ Swing Clamps Top Flange Long Stroke

Top Flange Long Stroke

Cutaway

TuffCam™ Bottom Flange Swing Clamp

Bottom Flange

Cutaway

TuffCam™ Bottom Flange Swing Clamp Long Stroke

Bottom Flange Long Stroke

Cutaway

TuffCam™ Cartridge Mount Swing Clamps

Cartridge Mount

Cutaway

Low Profile Top Flange

Cutaway

Low Profile Bottom Flange

Cutaway

Cam Follower Ball Seat

Cam Follower Ball Seat

Cutaway

Low Profile Cam Follower

Cutaway

Swing Clamp Flow Rate and Clamping Time

The flows in the table are maximum recommendations and clamp times are minimum recommendations.
For upreach and double arms, use extended arm flows and times.
When using custom arms the extended arm flows and times are to be considered the limiting factor.
The actual time to position the clamp will vary by custom arm configuration and may require customer testing in specific application to establish limits.

Swing Clamp Flow Rate and Timing

Clocking

TuffCam® Swing Clamp Clocking

Six drill points exist on each clamp. One point standardizes arm location at a particular position. An additional 5 (five) orientation drill points reside 60° out from that position and each other. Access to the positioning feature is through the back or side of the arm, making modification a snap for users. Each arm position can have its own specification.

ils140005

ils140024

Restrictors

Swing Restrictors add just one more element of flexibility when using Vektek Swing Clamps. Normally shipped with the swing angle set to 90º, you can have swing restrictors added to your clamps to limit the arm swing to 30º, 45º or 60º of rotation. Restrictors that are factory installed on new product will be specially marked to avoid intermingling clamps with varying swing angles in your shop. Contact your Vektek Customer Service specialist should you need swing angles greater than 90º.

VersaCam Swing Clamp Restrictors

TuffCam™ Cam Follower Design – Patented

Used with Vektek patented V-Groove Cam.
Reduced static friction for improved clamp breakaway.
Reduced dynamic friction for improved Cam life.
Keeps Cam Follower centered in Cam track for improved contact.

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TuffCam™ Cam Follower Design

FAQs

Browse our most Frequently asked questions and if you have an issue that isn’t covered here, reach out to our product support team below.

Customer Support

When do you recommend the use of TuffCam™ swing clamps over the standard product?

Applications where speed is essential, massive arms are required, or position sensing is necessary, use the TuffCam™ design most effectively.

When speed is essential, VersaCam™ Clamps (which last millions of cycles in ordinary applications) may not live up to life cycle expectations. If a VersaCam™ Swing Clamp is damaged early in its life due to speed abuse, replacement with a TuffCam™ Swing Clamp may be a way to maintain speed requirements and lengthen device life.

Where arm mass damages the swing mechanism of VersaCam™ Swing Clamps, the tri-cam design of TuffCam™ strengthens the ball and cam link. The beefier design, capacity and reinforced rotation mechanism of the TuffCam™ could be your best solution.

Can I run the TuffCam™ swing clamp at any speed I want?

No, there are restrictions. High-speed swing clamps are capable of approximately 2X the speed of standard swing clamps in prolonged use without damage. In the event that you need faster speeds or larger arms, please understand that the life of even the TuffCam™ swing clamp is reduced. Consult the Clamp Time and Flow Rate Chart to determine the speed for your application.

What makes the cam follower ball seat so special in these units?

The three uni-directional cams and three cam balls guide the rotation of the plunger and provide greater guide, support and directional stability. The patented cam follower design is unique in the industry and uses solid carbide balls and composite ball seats. The ball seat design assures that the ball rolls in the cam rather than jamming and scraping resulting in wear on both the cam track and ball.

The demands on my fixture have changed and I am considering your TuffCam™ swing clamps. Can I switch out TuffCam™ for your standard product?

Yes, the TuffCam™ Swing Clamps have the same mounting envelope as their VersaCam™ swing clamp counterparts.

I want to use work supports with TuffCam™ swing clamps. Will the work supports cycle fast enough to keep up with the part change outs?

There will be some lag between the unclamp of swing clamps and the full release of pressure in any work support circuit. This is critical with fluid advance supports, as the circuit must have time to evacuate under low pressure to allow the plungers to retract for reloading the fixture. If speed is the issue in support retraction to coordinate with TuffCam™ swing clamps, an air advance support must be used with the air circuit released prior to hydraulic circuit release. When the hydraulic circuit is released, the support will begin to immediately retract pushing only the air from the line rather than the higher viscosity hydraulic fluid.

I'm using a high volume pump and it is "blowing out" my swing clamps. Will TuffCam™ swing clamps take care of this problem?

High volume pumps often incorporate high volume accumulators. An accumulator will yield excessive flow, approaching instantaneous infinite flow, and is intended for dynamic loads. Hydraulic clamps are used to hold static loads, and are static circuits for which dynamic formulae are less applicable. Excessive flow may continue to damage clamps, we recommend a pump designed for clamping applications or appropriate flow restriction.

My applications requires clamps to hit my part in the exact place every time. Should I use your TuffCam™ Swing Clamps?

TuffCam™ Swing Clamps will be more precise in their point of contact. Keep in mind that any draft angle or side forces will ultimately damage the cam tracks of any Swing Clamp and result in loss of precision. In the case of precision positioning, guide pins are recommended and may be implemented with a single-ended or double-ended arm.

What defines a TuffCam™ Swing Clamp?

The single direction, tri-cam design of TuffCam™produces the strength and reliability to support faster speeds and larger arms. This design also delivers noticeably better accuracy and repeatability over other brands. The clocking feature, included on all styles, dramatically reduces the time it takes to change arms for maintenance, replacement or design setup.

How can I measure the clamp speed?

The maximum speed of a swing clamp ia applicable to both the clamp and unclamp function; as the momentum on the cam track and the cam follower apply to both movements. To approximate the speed of your application:

Look down the centerline of the swing clamp, perpendicular to the arm.
Actuate your clamping system while watching the arm “swing” into position.
The eye can track speed of movement at roughly 1/16 second. If while looking directly into the end of the swing clamp you can observe the arm move through it’s swing the positioning time should be somewhere around 1/2 second or longer. (See flow rates and clamping time tables.)
If, while looking directly into the end of the swing clamp, you cannot observe the arm move, or it is unclamped and the next thing you can see is the device in the clamped position, the positioning time is something substantially less than 1/2 second. Your standard model clamp is at risk of premature failure. However, the TuffCam™ Swing Clamps can actuate at a faster speed. (See flow rates and clamping time tables.)
It is possible to approximate the clamp time by adding the total active volume of devices in the specific control branch of your system, and dividing that volume (cubic inches) by your pump’s output volume (cubic inches per minute) and then multiplying that number by 60 (60 seconds per minute). This will give you the theoretical calculated time to move a device through its stroke, but does not account for flow loss due to flow restrictions in the system.
The single direction tri-cam design of TuffCam™ produces the strength and reliability to support faster speeds and larger arms. This design also delivers noteably better accuracy and repeatability over other brands. The clocking feature, included on all styles, dramatically reduces the time it takes to change arms for maintenance, replacement or design set up.

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