Universal modular sleeve-clamp systems

A universal sleeve-clamp for clamping a thin-walled workpiece, the universal sleeve-clamp comprising:

• (a) a sleeve having a plurality of radially moveable elements;
• (b) a plurality of jaw pieces for attaching to said radially moveable elements, each of said jaw pieces having an elongated clamping surface extending along and beyond said radially moveable elements;
• and
• (c) an actuator for actuating radial movement of said radially moveable elements, and hence of said plurality of jaw pieces so that said elongated clamping surfaces of said plurality of jaw pieces clamp the workpiece over a large area, thereby avoiding clamping deformation.

A universal sleeve-clamp system for clamping a workpiece, the universal sleeve-clamp system comprising:

• (a) a sleeve-clamp having a central axis;
• (b) a locator cooperating with a part of the workpiece so as to define the rotational position of the workpiece about said central axis relative to said locator;
• and
• (c) an alignment mechanism for aligning said locator in a known rotational position about the central axis relative to said sleeve-clamp said alignment mechanism including an intermediate plate securable in a plurality of positions along said sleeve-clamp.

A universal sleeve-clamp for clamping a workpiece, the universal sleeve-clamp comprising:

• (a) a sleeve having a plurality of radially moveable elements, each of said radially moveable elements having a surface lying on a first virtual cylinder which has a first axis;
• (b) a plurality of jaw pieces for attaching to said surface of said radially moveable elements;
• and
• (c) an actuator for actuating radial movement of said radially moveable elements, and hence of said plurality of jaw pieces so that said plurality of jaw pieces clamp the workpiece,
• wherein each of said plurality of jaw pieces, when attached to said radially moveable element, has a clamping surface lying substantially on a second virtual cylinder, said virtual cylinder having a second axis, said second axis being parallel to and displaced from said first axis so that the universal sleeve-clamp clamps the workpiece eccentrically.