Fang Clamps

What are Fang Clamps?

Fang Clamps are stainless steel side-bite hold-downs for CNC router workholding. Instead of clamping from the top, they drive teeth into the edge of your material, securing it from the side. They are designed for wood, sheet goods, and similar materials. They are not intended for metal stock.

Common setups

• Screwed directly into a spoilboard with 1/4-20 or M6 screws
• Clamping stock on sheet goods as a carrier, either vacuum held to a spoilboard or screwed to the spoilboard
• Custom fixtures with M6 or 1/4-20 threaded inserts, where the clamps are bolted in and out quickly for repeatable production setups

Setup

• Mount clamps to your spoilboard or fixture using 1/4-20 or M6 screws
• Position the clamp so the teeth contact the edge of your material squarely
• For a more repeatable setup, place a screw or stop against the dimple at the back of the clamp. This prevents the clamp from shifting and gives you a consistent registration point
• Tighten until the teeth bite in firmly. Do not overtighten (see below)

Common Problems & Fixes

Part moving during cut

• Clamp is not fully seated against the material edge. Re-seat and re-tighten
• Material edge is rounded or dirty. Clean the edge and ensure it is square
• Not enough clamps for part size or cutting forces. Add more clamps

Clamp bending or distorting

• Over-tightening the mounting screw is the most common cause. Snug is enough
• The included Hardware Kit helps distribute force properly and prevents this

Inconsistent placement / part-to-part repeatability issues

• Use the back-dimple stop method (a screw or pin against the dimple) to index the clamp position consistently
• Consider a fixture plate with defined hole patterns so clamp positions repeat exactly

Clamp in the tool path

• Fang Clamps are low-profile but not zero-profile. Verify clamp height clearance in your CAM before running
• If a clamp is in the way, re-sequence your operations or use a two-sided approach: clamp one side, machine the other, then flip

Clamp not holding on thin or soft material

• The teeth need a real edge to bite. Very thin sheet goods or extremely soft material may not provide enough resistance
• For thin material, combine with a top-down hold or use more clamps