Fixtureworks®, a leading North American manufacturer and supplier of clamps, fixturing accessories, machine tool components, and rollers and bumpers, now offers a complete line of quick-release quarter turn “retractable” fasteners/clamps to complement its existing line of quarter turn clamps.
The retractable feature allows the shank to retract and slide on the base without interference from the fastener. The fasteners are mounted to the fixture and the receptacle is mounted to the base. They are available in standard and heavy-duty sizes and come in various styles. As the fastener is inserted into the receptacle, the pins on the fastener align with the grooves in the receptacle. Turning the knob, which is available in either stainless steel or plastic, one quarter turn aligns and locks the fastener into place.
Retractable fasteners provide positive locking in quick-change applications where there is frequent disassembly of a fixture and allow for consistent fastening force eliminating the chance for under or over tightening by the operator. They are designed to be used with cam receptacles — either embedded mount or thin-plate mount. Retractable fasteners provide changeover solutions to packaging, food processing, printing machines, or assembly and checking fixtures just to name a few. The fasteners are marked with “on” and “off” indicators to show the position of the fastening pins. The bodies and shanks are made from 1045 carbon steel with an electroless nickel plated finish, or 303 stainless steel. The pins are made from 304 stainless steel.
Retractable fasteners are for use with plate thickness of 6-14 mm with up to M3 x 0.40 – Depth 3 thread or for heavy-duty plate thickness of 6-20 mm with M3 x 0.50 – Depth 6. A spacer is available to accommodate plate thickness down to 3 mm. The heavy-duty version comes in a regular-sized body, and also comes in a narrow-body style. Clamping force is 60N and 90N on the standard clamp, and 250N and 400N for the heavy-duty version.
Quick-release fasteners/clamps help increase productivity by reducing set-up times, eliminating errors in assembly and installation, and simplifying procedures. They are ideal for frequent setups regularly or to reconfigure production equipment. These fasteners may be used in automation to attach conveyors, star wheels, guide plates, pushers, handling machine chucks, rotary blades, and maintenance covers on machines, to name just a few applications.
In addition to retractable fasteners, Fixtureworks also offers adjustable torque handles and knobs, myriad workholding components and fixturing accessories including workholding supports, pneumatic flex actuator clamps, nutrunner clamps, quick-change pneumatic clamping fasteners, quick-action sliding locks, spring plunger clamps, as well as handles and levers, knobs and grips, equipment handles, hand wheels and cranks, hinges and latches, leveling supports, industrial rubber bumpers, stops and wheels, fixture clamps, clamping locating systems, work positioning elements, vises, grippers, and mechanical linear actuators.
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