disposed between the right hand terminations of linkages 20 and 30 as will be described in detail below by virtue of joining the movement of the jaws together and constraining their movement to be one dimensional it is possible to create an arrangement where each jaw moves the same distance upon the application of force to either jaw or both jaws forming a self centered system that is the application of a force along the x axis of self centering clamping device 10 causes linkages 20 and 30 to rotate in a manner where jaws 12 1 and 12 2 will simultaneously move either toward each other inward or away from each other outward in either case jaws 12 1 and 12 2 will translate the same distance d along their respective slots 14 1 and 14 2 so as to maintain the centrality of the opening therebetween fig3 is a front view of self centering clamping device 10 that illustrates the rotation of linkages 20 and 30 when an u201c inward u201d force f in is applied to a pair of side uprights 22 and 32 joining linkages 20 and 30 upright 22 is connected to jaw 12 1 and upright 32 is connected to jaw 12 2 the application of this force is translated through rocker arms 24 26 of linkage 20 and rocker arms 34 36 of linkage 30 providing a rotating motion to shafts 28 and 38 e g 180 u00b0 bell cranks in this configuration shafts 28 and 38 are rotating counterclockwise by virtue of the connection between linkages 20 and 30 via uprights 22 and.