Introduction: CNC Clamps 2mm (0.08 Inch) to 18mm (0.7 Inch)
Clamps for holding down your workpiece on a cnc router. The
clamps are designed for holding down materials with a thickness of 2mm to 18 mm.
I designed the clamp using Fusion 360.
There are 4 different sizes for the bolt that goes through, M5, M6 or 1/4 inch and for a special request M8 (The M8 version is not tested but should work though the sliding distance is a lot shorter).
Best is to use a washer on top.
The actual foot to hold your workpiece can rotate to adjust to the thickness of your material.
This clamp can be used on a wasteboard like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yhVW6Q9o-34 or on v-slots with an added drop in t-nut.
Supplies
1 bolt per clamp M5, M6 or 1/4 inch also the lenght is depending on your wasteboard.
1 washer per clamp
In case of v-slots 1 drop in t-nut per clamp
Step 1: Printing the Clamp
Print the clamp on its side. Do not use support !!
Print with PETG
Use 0.15mm resolution.
Use 4 Perimeters for strenght.
Make sure your printer is setup well. The foot of the clamp can rotate and there is not much clearence between the parts.
Step 2: You Are Ready to Clamp Down Some Materials.
Have fun making !!

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23 Comments
Tip 3 years ago on Step 2
Make a small modification like this and you could reduce the different sizes of clamps.
It would keep the bolt vertical when clamping the thinner items.
Reply 3 years ago
Thank you for your suggestion, looks good. I will give it a try.
Reply 3 years ago
I drew it in FreeCAD if you would like the files, I can put them in google box?
Reply 3 years ago
Nice work, can you share it here please, thank you
Reply 3 years ago
It's Drawn in FreeCAD
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1YvjCD4QuxPsorNUw...
3 years ago
I can only use PLA, but will give it a try, thanks for your post.
Reply 3 years ago
I think they will work fine.
Reply 3 years ago
I printed PLA ones and when I went to move the end to swivel it they snapped the hinge section. If printed with a hole a pin can be installed for a better pivot point, guess I will drill a hole!
Thanks for the files and effort.
Reply 3 years ago
Mines broke at the hinge also. Drilling a hole and adding screw would help.
Reply 3 years ago
I printed some in PLA, and they're perfectly functional. I wouldn't tweak down on them too much (which shouldn't be necessary if you use four at a time), and I would print a couple extra, expecting some to break as they will become more fragile over time/with use/under stress (all of the above).
I'm still waiting for my ABS prints to finish, at which time I'm retiring my PLA prototypes. :-)
Thanks again for the model! This is the clamp I was trying to find. Very handy.
3 years ago
Thank you for sharing your clamps. Do you have some other shapes and sizes by a chance? I'll try to print them next week, when I have more time.
Reply 3 years ago
Thank you for your compliment. And i have no more shaps and sizes at this time. Only one for an 8 mm bolt. This was a request of aage1. I put the file the reply of his post.
Reply 3 years ago
Thank you!
Question 3 years ago on Step 2
it looks great
can you make one for the M8
Answer 3 years ago
Here is a stl for an M8 Bolt. I don't have an M8 bolt lying around at the moment so i can not test if it has a good fit.
Reply 3 years ago
thank you very much
I'll print one right away
many greetings
Aage
3 years ago
This is a great design! Any chance you would make the Fusion 360 file available so that people can make small variations? I want a version that can hold down a 20mm thick board, which I could make myself with the original file. :-) Thank you!
Reply 3 years ago
Hello, thank you for the compliment. I will not share the fusion 360 files. But if you print one you can try to cut a little bit away at the back of the foot under the hinge. This will give it a little more space so it can rotate further. Then maybe you can use it on 20mm.
Reply 3 years ago
Cool. I can also monkey with it in Tinkecad. Thanks!
3 years ago on Step 2
Those are much better than my design. Great Job!