Servo-clamping device

In a workbench having a table top adapted to support a workpiece thereon, the table top being formed as an integral vise and including a pair of cooperating elongated vise jaws, a first of which is movable, and means for moving said first vise jaws towards and away from a second vise jaw, the improvement thereupon comprising, in combination, one of said vise jaws having a pair of spaced-apart openings formed therein longitudinally thereof, and the other said vise jaw having at least one opening formed therein longitudinally thereof, each of said openings each having a substantially straight edge portion running substantially parallel to said respective vise jaw, each of the openings further having a plurality of longitudinally-spaced cut-outs formed therein opposite to the straight edge portion thereof, the cut-outs being substantially semi-circular and being disposed substantially perpendicualrly to the straight edge portion of the opening, and a clamping element associated with each respective opening in each vise jaw, such that at least three clamping elements are provided, each of the clamping elements having a top portion resting on its respective vise jaw, and each of the clamping elements further having a shank portion extending through its respective opening and adapted to be received within one of the cut-outs therein, each shank having an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the table top, and each clamping element including at least one arcuate convex clamping face formed thereon and at least one straight edge clamping surface formed thereon, each clamping surface adapted to be selectively clamped against the workpiece;

• whereby each of the respective clamping elements may be independently moved out of the respective cut-out, slidably moved along the straight edge portion of its respective opening, and inserted into a different cut-out therein providing longitudinal adjustability of the clamping elements independent of the vise jaws, and whereby the clamping element may rotate about the respective axes of their shanks providing individual angular adjustability of each respective clamping surface independently of one another and of the vise jaws, and further whereby either the convex or the straight edge clamping surface of each clamping element may be selectively oriented towards the workpiece, such that either the convex clamping surface or the straight edge clamping surface of each clamping element contacts a respective portion of the workpiece, thereby clamping the workpiece therebetween;
• and wherein the means for moving the one vise jaw towards and away from the other vise jaw includes a threaded rod disposed traversely of the vise jaws and intermediately of each pair of openings.