Low profile clamps.

Low profile clamps are very useful for clamping slabs of metal to the mill table. The main benefit is that by clamping at the edge the entire surface of the slab is available for machining.

The basic clamp shown here is very easy to make. It is made from a piece of 10 mm thick steel and drilled out as shown. the slots are then cut and the screw holes tapped M5.

This clamp can only be used at right angles to the tee slots on the mill table.

A small refinement is to counterbore the hole for the securing screw so that the screw head does not protrude above the clamp.

This shows a slightly different clamp. This one is only 6 mm thick. The two clamping screws have been replaced by M4 grub screws that push the clamp pads via two push rods.

The clamp is wider and the hole for the securing screw has been elongated to slot. This allows more freedom for positioning.

This shows the clamp above fixed at right angles to the tee slots.

The elongated slot allows the clamp to be used parallel to the tee slot.

These clamps are very simple and straightforward to make and use.