Wimborne-based RPH Manufacturing produces more than 45,000 components annually across 98 part varieties, with owner Richard Haim operating 14 machine tools single-handedly. Helping him maximise productivity are Chick QwikLOK twin-station clamps, supplied by UK distributor 1st Machine Tool Accessories. 

Typically, eight to 10 components are secured simultaneously using aluminium jaws machined to match their profiles. A single handle moves two jaws towards a central fixed jaw, balancing opposing forces and providing a consistent reference point. The jaws also generate a pull-down action for rigid work holding. 

“The best thing about these clamps is their repeatability of positioning to within 10 to 15 microns, better than the 20 microns that the US work-holding equipment manufacturer specifies in its literature,” says Haim. “So every part we machine comes off perfect.” 

By machining multiple components in one cycle, Haim reduces tool-change overheads and can leave machines running while undertaking other production tasks. Combined with the Patterns feature in Hurco’s MAX conversational control, the system makes programming repetitive operations straightforward. 

“For example, at the control I can program a slot mill to machine one part and then tell it to step and repeat the same operation across all of the components, simply by creating a Pattern block to define the X,Y location of each of them on a grid,” he explains. 

The clamps also accommodate larger individual components requiring high clamping forces, including a tapered cylindrical manifold held on just 3 mm of material. 

RPH uses Chick work holding to manufacture 14 of the metal and plastic components in its own 74-piece Parallel Lock kit, developed to keep parallels in position when closing a machine vice. 

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