Clamping and Holding Tools
Special Purpose Tools
Clamping and holding tools fix circuit boards, housing parts and small components in place so that both hands stay free for soldering, assembly and testing. The group covers ball-joint vices with plastic jaws, board holders with a dissipative pad, clamps, grabbers and spring hooks. Inside the EPA the handle is not the only concern: the surface the assembly rests on must be dissipative itself, otherwise the holder builds up exactly the charge that destroys the component. Dissipative versions sit in the 10⁶ to 10⁹ Ω range according to IEC 61340-5-1. The category holds 208 articles, with Bernstein, C.K, Bahco and Knipex most strongly represented.
| Design | Opening or length | Mounting | Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ball-joint vice, clamp-on | 70 mm jaw opening | Bench clamp, limited plate thickness | Changing workplaces, service bench |
| Ball-joint vice, screw-down | Base plate 150 x 106 mm | M12 x 1.5 threaded stud | Permanent assembly and soldering station |
| Board holder with conductive foam | Mounts on the universal plate | Ball joint, continuously adjustable | Populated assemblies inside the EPA |
| Universal mounting plate | Slots for standard screws up to M12 | Bolted to the bench top | Free arrangement of several holders |
| Claw grabber | 3 or 4 claws, length up to 600 mm | Hand tool, flexible shaft | Retrieving small parts from enclosures |
| Spring hooks and spring pullers | 175 to 205 mm | Hand tool, insulated handle | Tension and compression springs in precision mechanics |
Typical applications: Soldering and repair work on populated boards inside the EPA; rework and component replacement on assemblies; precision mechanics and instrument assembly with small parts; fitting and removing tension and compression springs during equipment repair; retrieving dropped screws and components from housings and control cabinets; test and measuring benches where contact clamps and earth bonding leads stay permanently connected.
