Need Help!- Automatic Workpiece Locking Mechanism

[StickyBits]

Well now, this would be my first post. So please smile kindly as I proceed to make a mess of my inquiry.

I am in need of adding a automatic workpiece locking mechanism to a table on a CNC knee mill. I run production of plastic parts on this machine, and I have worn out many locking nuts and screws and wrenches and my arms and now my will to live if I can't come up with something. I typically use a two or four post lockdown configuration and need to feed new stock at a rate of 1 to 3 pieces per minute. You can't move a wrench fast enough to keep up with the machine. I am wasting 80% of my time changing stock material. I am hoping to use the M10 and M11 codes to engage and dis-engage the mechanism. Or the mechanism doesn't have to be machine controlled at all. I basically need to know what type of mechanism typically works best to accomplish this. The torque needs to be fairly good to hold the workpiece solidly. Any ideas, direction, images, or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Stickybits

[P.Passuello]

How about a vacuum table? If you are making all your parts the same you can make a template board and simplyput your stock on the template. The code could turn on and off the vacuum as needed or you could do it manually.
They hold like hell if you have a good vacuum seal.
Check out http://www.cnczone.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17535 to see if it will suit your purpose.

Cheers
Peter

[Geof]

Photographs of your setup would be helpful. As already commented vacuum tables are a quick way to hold flat material. Another possible option is replace your clamping bolts with mini hydraulic cylinders, but without pictures it is impossible to make any specific suggestions.

[LeeWay]

I was going to suggest air clamps. Like toggle clamps, but air actuated. I have used some of these things before when I was setting up jigs and fixtures for a furniture factory.
There are many different styles and sizes and pneumatics are very powerful.

I use regular toggle clamps on my machines for some things. It's pretty quick too, but not as fast as a single solenoid operating several clamps at once.