New microsite for self-adjusting toggle clamps

German clamping tool specialist BESSEY is providing an extensive range of information on self-adjusting toggle clamps on its new microsite http://toggleclamp.bessey.de in 11 languages. Designers, craftsmen and buyers can find technical details and interesting facts about the unique range of accessories as well as exciting excerpts from the history of the range.

BESSEY has launched the microsite http://toggleclamp.bessey.de to mark the 5th anniversary of its STC self-adjusting toggle clamp range. The microsite informs visitors about the benefits of these special-purpose toggle clamps, which can adapt automatically and in a continuously self-adjusting manner to workpieces of varying thicknesses. What’s more, the microsite provides detailed descriptions of the horizontal, push/pull and vertical toggle clamps, which are equipped with self-adjusting mechanisms, covering all relevant information. These include, for example, images of the toggle clamps in practical use, brief descriptions with references to the base plate versions as well as technical data sheets and downloadable 3D CAD data. The variants that feature a horizontal base plate also include links that take the user straight to matching accessories. In this way, the range of advanced application possibilities involving BESSEY toggle clamps and welding or multifunction tables is clear to everyone.

The new microsite also provides exciting insight into the evolution of BESSEY self-adjusting toggle clamps. After all, as is the case with all product developments, the aim was to do justice to the motto “Innovate, don’t imitate” - and so, the objective of BESSEY’s developers was clear. The aim of the refinement process was to eradicate the most significant disadvantages of traditional toggle clamps – time-consuming adjustment of the clamping range and lack of options to vary the clamping force. The developers succeeded by applying the principle of the screw clamp. This led to the invention of toggle clamps, which can adapt automatically to various workpiece dimensions while keeping the clamping force more or less the same. The clamping screw is no longer manually adjusted, allowing the user to work up to 5 times faster. The clamping force can also be increased to 2,500 N by way of an adjusting screw in the joint. After all, not all workpieces require or can handle the same amount of pressure. Due to its extensive clamping range, one size of the BESSEY self-adjusting toggle clamp can replace several sizes of conventional models. In 2014, BESSEY was granted a patent for the mechanism the company developed in-house. BESSEY has gone on to incorporate the mechanism in its horizontal, push/pull and vertical toggle clamps. Yet more proof of BESSEY’s innovative strength.

In addition to the extensive product information and the history of self-adjusting toggle clamps, the microsite also includes additional links to a distributor search and the full range of BESSEY products.

Aligned exactly - clamping angles and mitres

BESSEY has developed the WSM welding angle clamp especially for use in steel construction, welding and metalworking. Its wide range of applications includes holding, fixing and aligning workpieces at an exact right angle. The clear working area means that you can access the workpiece unhindered during welding and assembly work, and when fixing T-joints.

The BESSEY WSM welding angle clamp is a high quality tool for welding exact corner joints. It can be attached to machining and welding tables via two slot holes. Unhindered access to the workpiece makes welding and assembly work easier.

BESSEY has two sizes of welding angle clamps. The clamping width on both sides is 90 mm for the WSM9 and 120 mm for the WSM12. T-joints can also be fixed thanks to the maximum open passage of 60 mm for the WSM9 and 100 mm for the WSM12.

Even workpieces with different thicknesses can be aligned at an exact right angle. This is because the spindle nut with an articulated bearing allows automatic adjustment for different work piece thicknesses.

The spindles with Acme threads are copper-plated on the WSM welding angle clamp. The copper plating prevents welding spatter adhesion. The welding angle clamp's base and clamping jaws are made of high-quality cast iron and are galvanised. These treatments protect them against corrosion and allow powerful clamping.

Pliers that can do more than just open the jaws

BESSEY grip pliers are an ideal aid for all-round or full-surface clamping, or for fixing workpieces which are next to one another. This is because the jaws on the pliers are infinitely adjustable and parallel to each other in every position, or at the desired angle to one another, thus avoiding cumbersome adjustments to the workpiece size. And the best thing is: The clamping force that is set using an adjusting screw remains constant over the entire clamping range.

BESSEY grip pliers have special technical refinements. Using them makes day to day working life much easier for many users in the metalworking industry - they work quicker and more safely.

In the Parallel grip GRZ, the clamping jaws remain parallel to each other in the entire clamping range. The slotted screw on the handle can be used to adjust this by 9° in both directions. Both clamping surfaces have a toothed profile and the bottom surface also has a groove to clamp small round parts. Protective caps to gently clamp delicate surfaces are also supplied as standard. The GRZ is available in two sizes: with a clamping width of 100 or 200 mm, each with a throat depth of 65 mm.

If pin-point and full-surface clamping on both sides is required, the C-grip GRZC is absolutely ideal. This is because the clamping arms are bent, which enables a clamping depth of 40 mm per clamping arm. The clamping width is 110 mm and the throat depth is 80 mm.

If you want to clamp workpieces with different thicknesses or offset workpieces, the assistance of the Variogrip GRZV is indispensable. Its sliding arm is not just bent for clamping depths of up to 43 mm, but is also split into two parts. Both parts can be infinitely adjusted independently of each other, by an opening width of up to 100 mm and a throat depth of 50 to 80 mm.

The Pipe grip GRZRO is an ideal solution for welding pipes of the same size to each other. Round components with diameters of up to 110 mm can be fixed neatly thanks to the infinitely adjustable, forked clamping arms with prism supports and a throat depth of 65 mm. The gap between the forks provides unhindered access to the welding point. A protective cap set is supplied as standard to machine stainless steel pipes, e.g. in railing construction. The two straight protective caps are pushed onto the pressure plates on the sliding arm; the two v-shaped protective caps are placed onto the fixed arm's prism from above and latched in. The protective caps are made of fibreglass-reinforced polyamide and temperature resistant up to 200 °C, which is completely sufficient for joining pipes. The grip pliers are then normally released and the pipes welded all around. The protective cap's wide contact surface on the v-groove is also very helpful when clamping smaller parts.

Turbocharged clamps - safe and strong

The BESSEY GH lever clamps are lightweight, easy to handle, dimensionally stable, and torsion resistant. And the best thing is: They clamp up to 5 times faster than standard clamps. This is because they use the natural force of the lever, meaning that they can quickly produce large clamping forces with just a small amount of effort.

BESSEY lever clamps are thought through down to the last detail, proving once more why professionals say “BESSEY. Simply better.”

Thanks to the patented rail profile, the new lever clamps have greater reserves of force. They develop the clamping force of up to 8,500 N particularly evenly, which pays off most of all when using the full clamping width. Lever clamps are especially helpful if you need to set and release a lot of clamps in as short a time as possible. This is because: BESSEY lever clamps build up clamping force in stages and up to five times faster. The lever arm makes it possible to achieve sufficiently high clamping forces quickly, safely and in a way that protects the material, with little effort required.

The sliding arm is toothed with extreme precision and forged from tempered, drop-forged steel for a long service life. The stepped ratchet mechanism also means that the GH lever clamps are not sensitive to vibrations, thus making them a extremely secure clamping tool for all sawing, sanding or milling work. The plastic-sheathed release handle with anti-slide device is an additional plus point with regard to safety.

The GH lever clamp is available with clamping widths of between 120 mm and 1,000 mm and throat depths of 60 mm to 140 mm.

In addition to the standard design, there is also the SGHS, which is a particularly heavy duty lever clamp. It achieves a clamping force of up to 9,500 N and is available with clamping widths of 300 mm and 500 mm, each with a throat depth of 140 mm.

New flexibility with large clamping widths

A modular concept for the widest range of applications – this offers BESSEY with its variable high-performance clamp range.

Alongside complete assembled high-performance clamp sets SLV and GSV with tommy bars, BESSEY also offers a comprehensive range of accessories. Amongst these are two different rail models: One with a 27 x 13 mm profile (SLV) for clamping forces up to 6,500 N, in three different lengths, and another with a 30 x 15 mm profile (GSV) for work with clamping forces up to 9,000 N and clamping widths up to three metres. Sliding arms with wooden handle, lever handle or tommy bar are available suitable for the SLV rail model. For the rail model GSV sliding arms with tommy bar in three throat depths are offered. A central positioning of the high-performance clamp can be achieved thanks to the sliding characteristics of the arms. This effectively prevents tipping.

Replaceable sliding arms and end fastenings that can be loosened without tools
All rails have end fastenings on both sides that can be loosened without tools. Thus, sliding arms that are already fitted can be changed over from clamping to spreading or, replaced by different sliding arms or even supplemented with others. A further advantage of the removable sliding arm is that the clamp can also be slid through an opening in the work piece or component. Thus, the variable high-performance clamp sets from BESSEY enable individual solutions with great flexibility. Versatile and challenging clamping and spreading tasks are solved simply and securely.

Movable special pressure plates with longer service life
Both the the high-performance clamp sets SLV and GSV have a special pressure plate. This is heat-resistant and can be tilted up to 35°. Furthermore, the special pressure plates used with the GSV have a hardened and oil-soaked sintered steel insert. This guarantees outstanding sliding and emergency running properties, thereby ensuring an extremely long service life. These smooth faced pressure plates can also be quickly replaced if required. For work pieces that require a higher level of grip, BESSEY can supply a version with a rough surface. For round, oval or angular work pieces, special pressure plates with a V-groove are available. This results in a great many versatile applications without any extension pieces.

Tempered spindle
Furthermore, the tempered spindle is particularly sturdy and wear-resistant. This considerably increases its durability.

Ingeniously simple, simply ingenious:
The machine table clamps BAS from BESSEY

The BAS machine table clamps from BESSEY are perfectly suited for professional use on a work piece. Because the high clamping forces and exceptionally compact design make these special clamping tools indispensable helpers - whether for assembly, drilling, rubbing, milling, grinding, honing, eroding or testing.

As a result of their compactness and the high clamping force, the models BAS-C and BAS-CB prove their great suitability again and again, day for day. The housings and clamping arms are made from tempered stainless steel they are characterised by an extremely robust design and an above average lifetime. And that in the most restricted spaces. The advantage: BAS clamps from BESSEY are approx. 30 percent smaller than comparable tools made by competitors and still provide the same high clamping forces. In fact, the self-locking worm gear unit exerts up to 16,000 N perpendiculars to the jaw face.
Both BAS models are available in three clamping arm variants. The short and long clamping arm, equipped with a swivelling aluminium pressure shoe, allows gentle clamping. If clamping is required on narrow ledges or where limited space is available, the BESSEY machine table clamps feature a pointed clamping arm perfectly suited for this. A special polyamide seal protects the interior against dirt and shavings. If the clamping height of up to 97 mm is not sufficient, it can be increased progressively in 80 mm steps with the BESSEY BASO base unit.
To clamp and unclamp more quickly, the BAS-C compact model is equipped with an open fastening hole. The screw, slot nut, and clamp are connected as a unit for the BAS-CB compact with closed fastening hole. Both BAS models from BESSEY enable the clamp to be quickly fastened and released thanks to the BASKN T-bar wrench with integrated hexagon ball head.

Rapid and flexible clamping with a high clamping force.

As a specialist for manual clamping tools, BESSEY of course offers solutions for securing workpieces on workbenches powerfully and safely on tables and fixtures. With the help of the BS and BSG machine table clamps and the GRS claw machine clamp, drilling and light milling work is easily mastered.

The BS hold down table clamp refers to a lever mechanism. This enables quick clamping and loosening of the clamp and ensures that the work is safe, even in case of vibrations. It is available with clamping heights from 200 to 500 mm and throat depth from 100 to 140 mm and produces up to 10,000 N clamping forces.
Up to 12,000 N clamping force is able to be achieved with the BSG hold down table clamp. It features a heat-resistant special pressure plate with tempered and oil-soaked sintered steel insert. This ensures outstanding sliding and emergency operation functions, which results in the especially long life of the clamp. Furthermore, the pressure plate is mobile and enables clamping of sloping parts up to 35 degrees. The BSG enables clamping work with a maximum clamping height of 210 mm and 140 mm throat depth.
When unobstructed access to the work area is required or when clamping is necessary in confined spaces, the GRS claw machine clamp provides the necessary function thanks to the external spindle. Plus, it enables pointed clamping on the smallest ledges and safe clamping of round parts thanks to the star-shaped prisms in the pressure piece. The GRS features a variable throat depth of 123 to 140 mm and a clamping height of 200 mm. It can achieve a clamping force of up to 7,500 N.
All three models of the BESSEY machine table clamps feature a bored hole on the base for a fastening screw. A slot nut enables the clamps to be flexibly brought into position exactly where they are required. They may be swivelled and adjusted without stages in terms of height. The bored hole also enables the use of BESSEY machine table clamps on welding tables with 28 pattern holes. The attachement TW28HO only needs to be screwed onto the machine table clamp.

Futuristic design meets pioneering technology

With the Erdi D39ASS, BESSEY is bringing an entirely new generation of compound leverage shape and straight cutting snips to the market for the sheet metalworking industry. These sheet metal snips enable faster and more precise work with easier operation. Also innovative in the snips segment is the sintered steel insert developed in-house. It greatly reduces friction in the joint area, which makes the snips extremely smooth running and wear-resistant. It is therefore possible with the D39ASS to work longer and with less fatigue.

The innovative design of the Erdi Ideal snips is setting benchmarks in design and construction engineering. BESSEY has reduced the handle opening angle, so that the user can utilise the entire cutting length with every cut. Double compound leverage additionally reduces the force required.

The new shape and straight cutting snips from BESSEY offer the user significant product advantages when it comes to quality. The snips have an extremely robust joint area which is complemented by a newly developed insert produced from sintered steel. This feature is entirely unique in the snips segment and, reduces friction in the joint area. As a result, the D39ASS is both smooth running and extremely wear-resistant. Furthermore, the joint area is securely bolted with a stable stud bolt. A stainless steel cover plate, fitted over the joint, lends the sheet metal snips their futuristic appearance and also protects the spring located beneath it, which is installed in the housing and is maintenance-free.

With a total length of 230 mm and a cutting length of 30 mm, the new Erdi shape and straight cutting snips are extremely compact and convenient to use. The extremely compact cutter head with partially countersunk head screw connection is a key design feature of the D39ASS. The compact shape permits high-precision cutting of curves and the tightest of radii, while also being very effective at straight cuts – whether it is at the edge of the sheet or in the centre of the panel. Because the stainless steel cutter has a special hardness rating 61 HRC, the Erdi D39ASS can cut effortlessly and precisely through sheets up to 1.2 mm thick. A latch positioned centrally on the top handle guarantees that right and left-handed users can use the snips with ease, without a change in grip.

The new Erdi Ideal snips from BESSEY are used in heating, air-conditioning and dry construction works, and by numerous other trades. They are designed for straight and curved cuts, and are available as right and left-cutting models from specialist dealers.