a device, usually of some rigid material, for strengthening or supporting objects or fastening them together.

an appliance with opposite sides or parts that may be adjusted or brought closer together to hold or compress something.

Pneumatic clamps, manual clamps, toggle clamps, swing clamps.
If you are going to be a good designer of weld fixtures and part-holding jigs you must become familiar with clamps and how to use them and modify them.Often times, when you start to work for a company you will be told which clamps they prefer. But as you delve into designing more fixtures you will soon learn that not all clamps fit all applications. Sometimes, you have to be creative.Remember that machine design is science, but it is also art. It takes creativity to come up with solutions to tight spaces or welding metals that expand as they get hot.[IMAGE: https://steemitimages.com/DQmbirivLp2qmGBT9QbgseSyHEjCfdj6ftkCRzDEQMXE3uD/clamp%20montajjpg.JPG] This manually operated Toggle Clamp has a plate welded below the arm. This changes the swing clearance and also allows more room for a weld gun to come down from the top.