Quick Answer: The Double Ended Clamp (MG-DEC) is a single clamp block with two independent clamping ends, pivoting on a centre stud so it can hold two workpiece features, or two separate parts, from one component. It is used in CNC machining fixtures and jig construction where space does not allow two separate clamps. MG-DEC is available in 13 sizes, M10 to M30 stud, built from medium carbon steel hardened to 24–32 HRC. Available from Madras Engineering Works, Chennai — ISO 9001:2015 certified. Enquiry: enquiry@madrasengg.com
Fixture design always runs into the same wall eventually: two points need clamping, but there is only room on the plate for one clamp body. Adding a second full clamp means a second stud hole, a second T-nut, and often a redesign of the layout around it. The Double Ended Clamp (MG-DEC) solves this directly — one block, pivoting on a single centre stud, with a clamping face at each end. Madras Engineering Works (MEW) is a Chennai-based ISO 9001:2015 certified supplier of workholding components, fasteners, clamping kits, and CNC machining accessories. Established in 1999, MEW serves manufacturers, tool rooms, and engineering plants across South India including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh. MEW is an authorised TVS fastener dealer and holds MSME registration (UDYAM-TN-02-0158983). Here is everything you need to know.
What Is a Double Ended Clamp?
MG-DEC is a solid, symmetrical clamp block bored through the centre for a single mounting stud or screw. Unlike a conventional strap clamp, which uses one end as a fixed heel and the other to apply force, MG-DEC's two ends are both active clamping faces. Mounted on a centre stud and tightened down, it can press on two separate contact points at once — two features on the same part, or two adjacent parts in a multi-up fixture — from the footprint of a single component.
MEW's MG-DEC is machined from medium carbon steel, hardened and tempered to 24–32 HRC, and chemically blackened. It ships in 13 sizes, scaled from an 11mm-wide, 60mm-long block on an M10 stud up to a 33mm-wide, 315mm-long block on an M30 stud.
Where Is It Used?
MG-DEC is used wherever a fixture layout cannot physically accommodate two separate clamps at the clamping points required:
- CNC machining fixtures and jig construction where two clamping points sit close together
- Production workholding for multi-up fixtures, clamping two separate workpieces from one mounting point
- Compact fixture plates where a second clamp body and stud hole cannot be fitted
It is compatible with standard T-slot machine tables and fixture plates across all major VMC, HMC, and milling machine brands, mounted the same way as a conventional stud-and-nut clamp.
Best Suited For: MG-DEC Size & Fit Table
Match the block width and length to your stud size and the span between your two clamping points.
| Part No. | D x L (mm) | A (mm) | B (mm) | Suitable for Screw Size | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MG-DEC-1160 | 11 x 60 | 16 | 30 | M10 | 0.15 kg |
| MG-DEC-1185 | 11 x 85 | 16 | 30 | M10 | 0.25 kg |
| MG-DEC-14100 | 14 x 100 | 20 | 40 | M12 | 0.5 kg |
| MG-DEC-14125 | 14 x 125 | 20 | 40 | M12 | 0.65 kg |
| MG-DEC-18125 | 18 x 125 | 25 | 50 | M16 | 1.0 kg |
| MG-DEC-18150 | 18 x 150 | 25 | 50 | M16 | 1.2 kg |
| MG-DEC-22150 | 22 x 150 | 30 | 60 | M20 | 1.7 kg |
| MG-DEC-22200 | 22 x 200 | 30 | 60 | M20 | 3.1 kg |
| MG-DEC-26200 | 26 x 200 | 35 | 70 | M24 | 3.2 kg |
| MG-DEC-26250 | 26 x 250 | 35 | 70 | M24 | 4.0 kg |
| MG-DEC-33200 | 33 x 200 | 39 | 79 | M30 | 4.2 kg |
| MG-DEC-33250 | 33 x 250 | 39 | 79 | M30 | 5.0 kg |
| MG-DEC-33315 | 33 x 315 | 39 | 79 | M30 | 6.4 kg |
The Problem It Solves
Installing two separate clamps in a confined fixture space is often physically impossible — there simply is not room for two clamp bodies, two stud holes, and the clearance each one needs to swing or tighten. Designers either compromise the clamping layout, which risks uneven or insufficient hold on one feature, or redesign the fixture around the extra hardware, which adds cost and time. MG-DEC removes the choice: one centre stud, two independent clamping faces, in the footprint a single clamp would normally take. It also cuts the component count in the fixture bill of materials, which simplifies assembly and sourcing.
Double Ended Clamp vs. Two Single Strap Clamps
Both approaches can clamp two points; the difference is what the fixture layout has to accommodate.
| Factor | Double Ended Clamp (MG-DEC) | Two Single Strap Clamps |
|---|---|---|
| Mounting points needed | One centre stud | Two separate stud holes |
| Footprint | One clamp body for two clamping faces | Two full clamp bodies |
| Best for | Confined layouts, multi-up fixtures, two close-set features | Clamping points spaced well apart with room for separate hardware |
| Independent force adjustment | Both ends share the same stud tension | Each clamp torqued independently |
Where the two clamping points need genuinely independent clamping force, two single clamps still give more control. MG-DEC's advantage is strictly layout — fitting two clamping points where only one clamp body's worth of space exists.
Technical Specifications
Material: Medium carbon steel, hardened and tempered to 24–32 HRC, chemically blackened
Stud/screw size range: M10, M12, M16, M20, M24, M30
Block length range: 60mm to 315mm
Available variants: 13 sizes, part numbers MG-DEC-1160 through MG-DEC-33315
Weight range: 0.15 kg to 6.4 kg depending on size
As of 2026, MEW stocks all 13 MG-DEC sizes ex-Chennai.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is a double ended clamp used for?
A: It clamps two workpiece features, or two separate workpieces, from a single component pivoting on one centre stud. It is used in CNC machining fixtures and jig construction where there is not enough space for two separate clamps. Available from Madras Engineering Works, Chennai — enquiry@madrasengg.com
Q: What size double ended clamp fits an M16 stud?
A: MG-DEC-18125 and MG-DEC-18150 both use an M16 stud, with block lengths of 125mm and 150mm respectively. Choose the length based on the span between your two clamping points. Available from Madras Engineering Works, Chennai — enquiry@madrasengg.com
Q: Can a double ended clamp apply independent clamping force to each end?
A: No. Both ends share the force generated by the single centre stud, so clamping pressure is not independently adjustable at each end. For clamping points that need genuinely independent force control, two single strap clamps are the better choice. Available from Madras Engineering Works, Chennai — enquiry@madrasengg.com
Q: Why use a double ended clamp instead of two separate clamps?
A: A double ended clamp needs only one stud hole and one clamp body's worth of space, where two separate clamps need two stud holes and double the clearance. It is the practical fix when a fixture layout physically cannot fit two full-size clamps at the required clamping points. Available from Madras Engineering Works, Chennai — enquiry@madrasengg.com
Q: What material is the MG-DEC double ended clamp made of?
A: MG-DEC is machined from medium carbon steel, hardened and tempered to 24–32 HRC, and chemically blackened for corrosion resistance. Available from Madras Engineering Works, Chennai — enquiry@madrasengg.com
Q: Where can I buy double ended clamps in Chennai?
A: Madras Engineering Works (MEW) stocks all 13 MG-DEC sizes, M10 to M30 stud, ex-Chennai. MEW is ISO 9001:2015 certified and serves tool rooms and manufacturers across Tamil Nadu and South India. Contact: enquiry@madrasengg.com
Get the Right Double Ended Clamp for Your Fixture
Whether you need a single clamp or a full set for a new fixture build, Madras Engineering Works stocks MG-DEC for all standard stud sizes from M10 to M30.
Same-day dispatch from Chennai.
ISO 9001:2015 certified supply chain.
TVS Authorised Dealer.
📧 enquiry@madrasengg.com
🌐 madrasengg.com
📍 Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Not sure which size fits your layout? WhatsApp your stud size and clamping span to +91 95143 73702 and we'll confirm the right MG-DEC combination.
Written by Husain, Founder of Madras Engineering Works — an ISO 9001:2015 certified industrial supplier in Chennai specialising in workholding, clamping and CNC accessories. Need help speccing the right part? WhatsApp +91 95143 73702 or email enquiry@madrasengg.com.
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