Construction and principle of operation of the new small-part clamping system

• Base plate made of extruded aluminium section and equipped with so-called suction pins.
• The aluminium base plates are ready for installation and are mounted as required on, for example, one or more consoles. 
• Depending on the shape and properties of the workpiece, the appropriate number of suction pins is activated. These pins are arranged in a matrix on the base plate and form a "vacuum carpet". 
  It is thus possible to clamp workpieces of almost any size and shape without having to manufacture and set up a new clamping jig for each different workpiece.
• It is also possible to cut the base plate (standard dimensions 300 x 200 mm) to the desired size.
• The individual suction pins are activated with a mechanism rather like that of a ball-point pen. In the idle state, the pins are flush with the surface of the base plate and the vacuum is switched off. Pressing a pin down causes it to rise above the surface and this opens the vacuum circuit to the pin. 
  
• Activation and deactivation of the suction pins can also be executed automatically with the spindle of the woodworking centre!