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View Full Version : CNC Pressure Foot™ Clamping Attachment from WidgetWorks Unlimited



widgetworks_unlimited
11-19-2010, 05:05 PM
Expand the capability of your CNC machine to cut "impossible" to clamp parts without using tabs or double-sided tape. Our CNC Pressure Foot™ attaches to the Z-axis of your CNC router or CNC milling machine and provides clamping force directly around the cutter - right where it’s needed the most. This targeted clamping approach is particularly effective for machining small parts and thin/flexible materials that cannot be held by traditional clamping methods (without using tabs or adhesives) including vacuum clamping, edge clamping, and screws or brad nails.

Finding a simple, fast, and reliable hold down method is often the most difficult part of developing a cost effective machining strategy. The parts shown in the photos below were cut with our CNC Pressure Foot™ attachment and came off our CNC machine ready for sale. They were cut without the use of tabs or double-sided tape and without the cost of special clamping fixtures or custom vacuum jigs - no time or energy wasted on prepping materials and no post processing required.

Patent Pending

For more pictures, information, and answers to frequently asked questions, please visit our website: www.WidgetWorksUnlimited.com
(http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/category_s/70.htm)

You can purchase our CNC Pressure Foot™ attachment directly from ShopBot by clicking on this link. (http://www.shopbottools.com/mProducts/accessories.htm)



http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CNC-PRESSURE-2.jpg


http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CNC-PRESSURE-6.jpg
Tiny letters - foot print < 1/2 square inch each
NO double sided tape/glue and NO tabs/post processing required. Ready to go straight off the machine.


http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CNC-PRESSURE-7.jpg
"Swiss Cheese" tiger - delicate whiskers are < .125 wide
NO double sided tape/glue and NO tabs/post processing required. Ready to go straight off the machine.


http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CNC-PRESSURE-8.jpg

0.010" Aluminum Sheet - Very delicate, material flexes/curls - can't be cut with vacuum alone
NO double sided tape/glue and NO tabs/post processing required. Ready to go straight off the machine.

ATX Poly Products
12-17-2010, 03:36 PM
I just ordered this foot from SB and I'm looking forward to giving it a try!

I've been cutting .040 polycarbonate circles about 2" around and this should make my life a little easier...

Thank you Widgetworks!

knight_toolworks
12-17-2010, 03:43 PM
it should. I have not cut any polycarb yet with it. I did some small parts in acrylic yesterday and it sure helped.

widgetworks_unlimited
02-01-2011, 07:44 PM
We've had a lot of requests from ShopBot PRT owners who want to use our CNC Pressure Foot attachment on their older machines. I suspect that these beloved workhorses will be getting the job done for many years to come.

My thanks to all the folks who frequent this forum that have emailed and called with ideas - and especially to those who let me "barrow" their machines while testing PRT prototypes.

The new PRT mounting brackets / PRT Pressure Foot attachments are now available. Please use the links posted in my first message (above) for more information or to place an order.

Russ
www.WidgetWorksUnlimited.com (http://www.WidgetWorksUnlimited.com)

http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CNC-PRESSURE-SB_PRT-2.jpg


http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CNC-PRESSURE-SB_PRT-7.jpg


http://www.widgetworksunlimited.com/v/vspfiles/photos/CNC-PRESSURE-SB_PRT-8.jpg

knight_toolworks
02-02-2011, 12:58 AM
I have been using the foot a lot. it has it's learning curve but it sure works well and i have not had to glue anything down so far. though I find sometimes you may have to cut things in two passes to keep them in place.

cabindoors
02-02-2011, 10:49 AM
I would love to see a video of the pressure clamp in action before I purchase one.

knight_toolworks
02-02-2011, 04:23 PM
here are a couple of them
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/th_IMG_0343.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/?action=view&current=IMG_0343.mp4)
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/th_IMG_0349.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/?action=view&current=IMG_0349.mp4)
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/th_IMG_0532.jpg (http://s154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/knighttoolworks/cnc%20jigs%20and%20parts/?action=view&current=IMG_0532.mp4)

chiloquinruss
02-02-2011, 09:40 PM
Thanks Steve, those videos help to see how it works. Russ

knight_toolworks
02-02-2011, 11:58 PM
it's nice to cut the sintra with a upcut bit no edge cleaning. but I found I have to sometimes do two passes depending on the parts. I was cutting some .19 acrylic with a 1/8" bit one pass and the parts were coming loose so I had to do two and then it was fine.

oddcoach
02-03-2011, 12:03 AM
I have been using mine to cut 1/16 inch abs at 6ips with just a strip of tape around the edge with no problems

knight_toolworks
02-03-2011, 01:45 AM
I never usually cut that fast. but I did cut some .19 with it even the large pieces lift up so it really helped out. I am working on some dc when I am cutting larger pieces.