MHC Pull Clamp Cylinders

MHC hollow pull clamp cylinders raise efficiency on presses by reducing setup time. They adapt to irregular mold surfaces and offer high capacity in small dimensions. With a clamping force between 40 and 250 kN and an 8 mm stroke they suit a great many applications. It is a single-acting hydraulic QDC clamp system positioned manually on T-slotted tables.

Adapting to an irregular surface

This is the fundamental point where the MHC series differs from the ECA: it can also adapt to non-flat mold back faces. In a plant whose mold park has been collected over the years from different makers the backplates are rarely identical to one another; the MHC tolerates that variety.

Force range and stroke

It offers a clamping force of 40 – 250 kN and an 8 mm stroke. The short stroke keeps the cylinder compact; because it works close to the clamping surface the force is transmitted directly. Heavy-duty options are available for use on high-tonnage presses.

How many clamps are needed

The number of clamps required is calculated from the mold weight, its geometry and the press tonnage. The clamps must be distributed so as to hold the mold in balance; clamping from one side only can cause the mold to shift slightly during the cycle and produce flash at the parting line.

The effect on downtime

With bolted clamping a mold change can take hours, while a hydraulic clamp cuts that time to minutes. To see the cost of a lost production hour with your own figures you can look at the machine hourly rate calculation; in plants that change molds frequently the payback period is short.

For magnetic alternatives see the quick mold clamping page.