Adjustable locking levers LS55 stem black

Adjustable Clamping Levers LS55 with a stud combine the steel toothed ring of the series with an external threaded stud, for joints where the lever is to be screwed into a threaded hole in the material. The principle of the clamping lever is simple and proven: lift the handle, turn it where you want it, let it down. The toothed ring takes a fresh grip and the lever sits at the chosen angle; the torque in the joint is not affected at all by the change.

The body is in glass fiber reinforced thermoplastic with a matte black surface and the stud is in blackened steel. The steel toothed ring is the mark of the series and makes LS55 the choice for equipment that is reset often; where a plastic toothed ring eventually wears from thousands of cycles the steel ring keeps its engagement. The sister series LS514 with a toothed ring in plastic is plenty for fixtures that are reset now and then, but in daily operation with many changes per shift steel is the right level.

The series covers ten versions with the lever lengths 45, 65, 80 and 95 mm, threads from M3 to M12 and stud lengths between 6 and 25 mm. The small 45 mm lever with M3 and a 6 mm stud belongs in instrument and precision builds, while the 95 mm lever with M12 and a 25 mm stud clamps heavy joints in welding fixtures and machine frames. You pick the combination as a variant on the product page.

The stud length is sized against the material: count the thread depth plus any washer and pick a length that gives full engagement without bottoming out. In a through hole with a nut on the back the choice is easier, since it is enough that the stud sticks out a couple of thread turns. Also check that the lever can swing freely; a handle that hits an edge after three tooth steps loses most of its point.

The blackening gives the stud a dark surface with a certain corrosion protection in a dry indoor environment. It is not a stainless solution; in wash bays, food environments or outdoors the surface treatment and material have to be checked against the manufacturer's data sheet before you decide. In an ordinary workshop it stays neat and functional for a long time.

Typical mounting points in Swedish industry are clamped joints on welding tables, quick adjustments on cut off saws and miter saws, clamping devices in measuring fixtures, angle settings on sensor brackets and locks on adjustable machine guards. Designers who draw equipment for subcontract manufacturing tend to appreciate that the same lever series covers everything from M3 to M12, since it means fewer items to keep track of in the store.

The ergonomics are worth a thought when choosing size. The lever length decides what torque the operator can apply without straining the wrist, and a well chosen lever means nobody has to fetch a tool to reach it. Pick a size larger if you are in doubt. The levers are supplied in packs of 25 to 100 pieces depending on size, and full dimensions for each version are in the data sheet.

One detail that separates thorough design from a rush job is that the levers sit the same way when the equipment stands in its base position. With the free adjustment of the toothed ring it costs nothing to line all the levers up alike; the machine looks thought through, and the operator sees straight away if a joint has been left loose since that lever breaks the pattern. Small means, clear effect. That is the kind of finish that tends to be noticed at delivery inspections and customer visits.

Not sure whether to choose the stud or the bushing, or which lever length suits? Get in touch with us.