Workers Of Wood

So I'm considering the idea of some pneumatic hold-downs at some point in the future.

I know that I can easily obtain pneumatic cylinders of various configurations.

I now that I can easily obtain toggle clamps of various configurations...

BUT!

Where can I get toggle clamps that don't have a handle suitable for using in a pneumatic setup?

I'm trying to avoid paying the premium prices of a ready-made setup...

I don't understand the question Mike. What are you trying to achieve?

All the toggle clamps I can find have handles.

The pre-made pneumatic toggles do not.

I am trying to source just the toggle portion without a handle so that I can attach my own pneumatic cylinder to it.

Can you cut off the handles on the manual ones and attach the plunger either vertical or horizontal?
Here are some pretty simple examples if you already have the cylinders?
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/pneumatic-clamps/

How about vacuum clamps?
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/cylinder-clamps/

Or Electromagnetic clamps
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/magnetic-clamps/

Is this for your CNC operations?
Herb

Just attach a pad to the end of the cylinder rod?

Herb Stoops wrote: ↑Sat Apr 29, 2023 10:36 pm Can you cut off the handles on the manual ones and attach the plunger either vertical or horizontal?
Here are some pretty simple examples if you already have the cylinders?
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/pneumatic-clamps/

How about vacuum clamps?
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/cylinder-clamps/

Or Electromagnetic clamps
https://www.mcmaster.com/products/magnetic-clamps/

Is this for your CNC operations?
Herb

Holy crap, Herb! Did you notice the prices on those pneumatic ones?! (McMaster Carr)

No, but it is just money!
Herb

Might make your own cylinders. This guy's are crude. A better job with a lathe. Use some plastic counter top material and make a good fitting piston and cut oring grooves for the seal.

The cylinders are cheap... The clamps are cheap... Together, they're not cheap.

I was just looking for a course of the clamps suitable for matching with the cylinders.

I'm thinking drill out the pins out of a regular toggle clamp, remove the handle and attach the cylinder ram to the leverage pin position...

Here are some suggestions:
https://duckduckgo.com/?t=ffab&q=air+po ... SL700_.jpg

HErb

Another issue to consider is how much clamping force you need. Some designs have clamp arms much longer than the linkages so not much force is applied to achieve the needed length. Others sacrifice clamp length for more clamping force.

Nickp wrote: ↑Mon May 01, 2023 9:03 pm I'm thinking drill out the pins out of a regular toggle clamp, remove the handle and attach the cylinder ram to the leverage pin position...

you have my vote...

Here is what they have on Ebay:

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R ... er&_sop=12

Herb