Clamping Elements

[RickyL]

Hello,

I received a MFT sys today and have tried a few clamps. I think they're called clamping elements after a quick google.

I've used them 3 times. Then I noticed they started to stick while trying to back them off.

On closer inspection when I have clamped them they have dents on the rod.

Is this normal? It looks like they will fail very quickly. I didn't use excessive force, just 1-2 fingers, and they look like they should go the full motions travel anyway. Anybody else had the same problem?

 

[copcarcollector]

These are indeed the Clamping elements and this has happened in the past. You might do a search to see if there are any remedies, I think some people filed the rods a bit, others just lived with it.....

[attachimg=1]

 

[Bohdan]

They stick and develop dints but they keep on working and don't get any worst. You can sand or file them but then I think that they would rust.

It would be nice if they had a release button because sometimes you need to give them a wack to adjust them.

 

[RickyL]

Excellent, as long as they keep working I can live with that. I wondered if they would start to slip.

I suppose they might "wear/bed in" a little.

 

[dltflt]

There is an adjustment to tighten them if they get loose.

 

[RickyL]

There is an adjustment to tighten them if they get loose.

Ah the little screw. I did see that covered with red paint/loctite.

 

[awshucks]

They do get marked pretty quick, and they are sticky sometimes but they keep on working, I have lightly filed some of the deeper dents with no adverse effects. FWIW The adjustment screws adjust the travel or throw of the clamp, not for tightening anything.

Cheers

 

[Brandon]

I wish they weren't so expensive but they do a job that nothing else does with the MFT. I've have mine for at least 4 years and they still work fine. They've seen a ton of use, I'd say there about a 1/2" thick now from the amount of times they've been accidentally sanded. Only thing I've done was clean and lightly lubricate them to get them sliding well again.
I would say I find the locking nuts for underneath are pretty much useless, I think I used them the first couple times and haven't seen them since.