Clamp design for cylindrical objects

PhantomMenace

Hi all!

I am working on a project looking to created a housing and clamping device that has to hold various cylindrically (some elipse shaped) about half a metre in the air and has to held on either end (minimising contact area on object surface is a priority here!). The first object is a cylindrical shaped medical phantom (CIRS phantom - check link below) which needs to be held on either axial end. Would someone provide some thoughts on a clamping design to hold this object? I was thinking of clamps with 4 contact points but I don't know how to design the clamp in terms of adjusting/tightening and clamp design.

Please help...much appreciated!


http://www.google.com.au/imgres?q=CI...87&tx=66&ty=41