STANDARD TENSILE WEDGE GRIPS.

There are two basic types of mechanical wedge grips.  Either the grip bodies move and the wedges remain stationary while being tightened on the specimen, or the wedges move as they tighten on the specimen and the bodies of the grips remain stationary.  In Wyoming Test Fixtures, Inc. terminology, the former are termed “standard grips” and the latter are termed “simple grips“.

The “standard” wedge grips, because the wedges do not move axially relative to the specimen during clamping, do not have the potential of putting the tensile specimen in compression, possibly damaging it as they are tightened.  This is obviously a more desirable condition in general. However, the “simple” wedge grips are easier to fabricate and thus are less expensive.

The following photograph of a pair of standard grips represents one of the many load capacity and specimen size tensile wedge grips that are available.

30,000 lb. Capacity Standard Wedge Grips
3” Wide Serrated Faces, 2.25” Grip Length