Workholding for CNC Manufacturing
– From pre-stamping to second operation

Modern CNC manufacturing places high demands on workholding: a wide range of workpieces, complex 5-axis machining, and growing pressure to increase efficiency. LANG Technik offers comprehensive workholding solutions — from pre-stamping to 5-axis machining and second operation. All components are precisely coordinated to ensure stable processes, short setup times, and consistently reproducible results — whether manual or automated.

The end-to-end workholding process chain in CNC manufacturing

Pre-stamping

1

5-axis machining

2

Second operation machining

3

Pre-stamping the raw material

The foundation of form-fit clamping

During pre-stamping, the raw material is prepared outside the CNC machine for the actual clamping process. The part is pre-stamped on a LANG stamping unit using forces of up to 20 tons. The process takes less than 5 seconds per part. This creates small, defined indentations in a three-dimensional pattern — the so-called stamping contour. The serration of the clamping jaws engages precisely with this contour, creating a form-fit connection.

Advantages of the Makro•Grip® stamping technology

High process reliability and reproducibility

No distortion when clamping is released

Maximum holding force with minimal clamping force

No wear on the clamping device / clamping jaws

Reliable even in high-strength materials – enabling stable, form-fit clamping

Consistently high clamping quality

Advantages of stamping technology over conventional clamping technologies

Other clamping methods (e.g., smooth clamping jaws or gripping jaws) generally require high clamping forces. They typically do not offer good repeatability and/or are subject to high wear. With LANG’s stamping technology, this disadvantage is completely eliminated—and repeatability is significantly improved. Furthermore, unlike dovetailing, no machine capacity is required for preparation.

Solutions for Optimal pre-stamping

Not every blank has the same pre-stamping requirements. Depending on the geometry, material, and machining strategy, different stamping units and jaws are used. Makro•Grip® stamping technology offers the right solution for this—flexibly tailored to every application.

Stamping units
Stamping jaws
Component shapes
Material Properties

mobile

stationary

Pre-stamping – exactly where you need it

Whether used flexibly at different work places or permanently integrated into a workbench: You decide where the process takes place—we provide the right solution. Pre-stamping your raw parts can be done either on a mobile or stationary basis—tailored to your process requirements. This allows you to design your workflow freely and efficiently.

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Stamping jaws are available with regular serration.

Makro•Grip®

Stamping jaws are available with full serration.

Makro•Grip® FS

The right stamping jaws for every material

The choice of stamping jaws depends on the tensile strength and toughness of the material. Two types of serration profiles (Makro•Grip® and Makro•Grip® FS) are available for different material hardnesses up to 35 HRC and up to 45 HRC, respectively. All versions feature quadruple serration and can be easily flipped when worn—ensuring a long service life and high cost-effectiveness.

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around

rectangular

Designed for various blank geometries

Whether cylindrical or rectangular with parallel surfaces, the stamping technology covers a wide range of parts. The stamping units are intentionally supplied without stamping jaws and can be configured precisely to your requirements—for maximum flexibility in the process.

Scale layer

Saw cut

Versatile – suitable for a wide range of applications

The stamping technology is suitable for all non-brittle materials. It cannot be used, for example, on graphite, fiber-reinforced composites such as carbon, or, in some cases, castings. The pre-stamping is applied directly to the saw cut or the scale layer—additional pre-machining, such as that required for dovetail clamping, is generally not necessary.

5-axis machining

Secure workholding with maximum holding force

The vise is optimized for form-fit clamping of pre-stamped workpieces in 5-axis machining. The workpiece is held in the jaws with a clamping depth of just 3 mm—ensuring maximum accessibility during milling operations.

The clamping solution for 5-axis machining

The Makro•Grip® 5-axis vise provides maximum access to the workpiece and creates ideal conditions for 5-axis machining. The combination of the pre-stamped contour and the serrated clamping jaws creates a form-fit connection, generating high holding forces with low clamping pressure. This ensures stable, precise, and reliable machining.

High-end workholding technology: Makro•Grip® 5-axis vises deliver maximum holding force with reduced clamping pressure—for maximum process reliability.

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Form-fit clamping – the key benefits at a glance

High process reliability with minimal clamping force Holding force is generated through a form-fit connection rather than surface pressure.
Uniform clamping quality across a wide range of materials Reliable performance even in high-strength materials.
Wear-free clamping for long-term process stability Delivers repeatable results without compromising quality.
Compact clamping for improved accessibility during machining Lower clamping forces enable more compact setups.
Accurate clamping without re-adjustment or re-alignment Ensures precise positioning even after re-clamping.

The compact Makro•Grip® 5-axis vise with a significantly larger workpiece.

Large components. Compact clamping.

Despite the compact clamping devices, workpieces that are significantly larger than the vise itself can be clamped. The form-fit clamping ensures a secure holding force even with large components. For components that protrude further, the use of two or more vises is recommended.

Workpiece width: Up to 3 x jaw width
Workpiece height: Up to 2 × jaw width

Advantages of the Makro•Grip® 5-Axis Vise

Ideal accessibility for 5-axis machining

Maximum holding force with low clamping pressure

Distortion-free and wear-free clamping

Significant material savings thanks to low clamping edge requirements

Process reliability through consistent clamping quality

Ergonomic handling thanks to low weight

Second operation machining

Flexibility through modular workholding systems

The modular LANG system offers maximum flexibility for second operation machining: a single base body can be combined with a wide range of jaw options—quickly and easily adapted to the specific machining task. This allows components to be efficiently finished without requiring fundamental changes to the workholding setup.

Clamping solutions for second operation machining

For second operation machining, LANG Technik focuses on maximum flexibility: Different jaw versions are fully compatible with a single base body and can be quickly exchanged. This ensures that the right clamping solution is always available—efficient, precise, and reliable.

Advantages of LANG Technik's second operation solutions

Full compatibility with all jaw types

Wide range of clamping solutions for various workpiece geometries

Significant reduction in setup times

Simple and intuitive operation

Your entire workholding process chain—from a single source. From pre-stamping to 5-axis machining and second operation machining: We help you design your entire process chain for efficiency and reliability.

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Pre-stamping the blank
5-axis machining
Second operation machining

Pre-stamping gives the blank a defined contour into which the serrated jaws of the 5-axis vise engage precisely. This creates a form-fit connection that generates high holding forces and securely holds the workpiece in place. Despite the shallow clamping depth, the workpiece is held securely without requiring high clamping forces in the vise. This reduces deformation and wear, saves material, and significantly increases process reliability.

In pre-stamping, the required force is not applied by the vise, but is introduced beforehand via the stamping unit. As a result, the vise itself no longer needs to generate high clamping forces, but serves primarily to hold the workpiece securely in place. This protects both the part and the clamping system. As a result, the vise can be designed to be significantly more compact, which improves accessibility and makes machining more efficient.

The pre-stamping process takes only about 5 seconds per workpiece and is performed outside the machine. This means that no machine capacity is required. Compared to processes that require time-consuming pre-machining of the workpiece before clamping, the time required is minimal. At the same time, the entire clamping and machining process becomes more stable and efficient.

Pre-stamping keeps the workpiece stable and minimizes vibration. This enables higher cutting speeds, better surface finish, and more reliable machining overall. These are just a few of the key advantages of form-fit clamping, which have a direct impact on quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in manufacturing.

Yes – stamping technology shows its strengths especially when working with high-strength materials. While conventional vises without pre-stamping must apply high forces to bite into the workpiece—leading to wear on the clamping system—the required force is introduced during the pre-stamping stage using a LANG stamping unit. Significantly higher forces can be applied at this stage than would be possible with a vise. This results in a secure hold even with high-strength materials, while the vise itself remains virtually wear-free and clamping quality remains unaffected by the material.

Above all, accessibility to the workpiece is crucial. This is largely determined by the size of the clamping device: A compact vise minimizes obstructing contours and enables multiple sides to be machined in a single setup. A shallow clamping depth further improves accessibility and allows the workpiece to be machined almost entirely, leaving as little material as possible for second operation machining. At the same time, the workpiece must be held securely despite this shallow clamping depth to ensure stable machining conditions and high cutting performance. The Makro•Grip® 5-axis vise meets precisely these requirements and is therefore considered the benchmark in 5-axis machining of raw parts.

A 5-axis vise allows workpieces to be fully machined with as few setups as possible. This eliminates many re-clamping operations, saving time and making the process significantly more efficient. At the same time, every additional setup affects component accuracy, as the workpiece must be repositioned repeatedly. If as many machining steps as possible are performed in a single setup, the position of the workpiece remains constant—this improves dimensional accuracy and reduces tolerance deviations. In practice, this also means shorter cycle times, higher accuracy, and overall more stable production.

Complete machining in a single setup is always possible when the workpiece is freely accessible from as many sides as possible. A compact clamping solution with minimal interference contours is crucial here, as it allows the component to be machined almost entirely. Particularly for components that are clamped on their narrow clamping edge, a high holding force is also required. This ensures that the workpiece is held securely despite the shallow clamping depth and high cutting forces. If these conditions are met, many components can be fully machined in a single setup—right down to the final contour.

The Night King is a dedicated blank clamping solution specifically designed to securely hold the workpiece via its serrated form-fit engagement. It is particularly suitable for the first machining operation, during which the blank is initially clamped. While its centering accuracy is slightly lower, this is generally not critical in blank machining. Thanks to its simple and robust design, the Night King is also particularly cost-effective and is ideal for use in automation, especially for high-volume production. The Makro•Grip® 5-axis clamping device is based on this principle and offers additional capabilities. In addition to form-fit clamping, it features machined surfaces for precise, smooth clamping and can also be converted for multiple clamping applications.

Yes, clamping multiple workpieces is easy with the Makro•Grip® 5-axis vise. The standard version with a spindle and center piece can be easily converted to a configuration with a spindle and center jaw. This allows multiple workpieces to be clamped in one vise at the same time. The goal is to machine multiple components in a single machining cycle, thereby making better use of machine uptime and increasing output per clamping operation.

Second operation machining is particularly challenging because the workpiece must be re-clamped after 5-axis machining—but now under significantly higher demands for accuracy and process stability. Machined surfaces are often only available to a limited extent as clamping surfaces and must not be damaged. At the same time, accessibility, collision risks, and the trade-off between clamping force and component protection complicate the clamping process. Since the final dimensions are established during this phase, even the smallest deviations directly affect component quality.

Repeatable positioning is only possible if the workpiece is guided by defined support and stop points. Without clear reference points, misalignment occurs during the clamping process, which directly affects dimensional accuracy and quality. The component must therefore not be aligned “freely,” but requires a clearly defined clamping position. Clamping solutions with reproducible support ensure that the workpiece is automatically positioned correctly during loading.

Complex or previously machined components often lack defined or parallel clamping surfaces. This results in unstable contact points, localized clamping forces, and an increased risk of distortion. Contour clamping systems adapt to the component’s geometry and enable secure, stable clamping. Systems such as Avanti or Profilo are specifically designed for such applications.

Special clamping jaws are necessary when there are no longer any suitable clamping surfaces available or when the workpiece cannot be held securely in a standard vise. This is often the case with parts that have already been pre-machined, are irregularly shaped, or are delicate, where conventional clamping solutions reach their limits.

The choice of the right clamping solution depends on the part geometry and the specific clamping requirement. Avanti is suitable for frequently changing parts and offers a fast, flexible solution. Profilo is ideal for complex clamping tasks with custom-made clamping jaws. Vario•Tec is used for components with parallel surfaces when a defined contact surface and high repeatability are required. Magnetic contour jaws offer a practical solution for automated second operation machining, e.g., in combination with RoboTrex.