A sliding clamp (100, 400, 500), comprising: a first arm (102A, 402A, 502A); a first jaw (104A, 404A, 504A) attached to the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A), the first jaw (104A, 404A, 504A) including at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) freely rotatable relative to the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A); a second arm (102B, 402B, 502B) mechanically connected to the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A); and a second jaw (104B, 404B, 504B) attached to the second arm (102B, 402B, 502B), the second jaw (104B, 404B, 504B) including at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B) freely rotatable relative to the second arm (102B, 402B, 502B); wherein the second arm (102B, 402B, 502B) is configured to move relative to the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A) to adjust a jaw opening (108, 408, 508) between the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B) of the second jaw (104B, 404B, 504B) and the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) of the first jaw (104A, 404A, 504A); and characterized in that a first set of ball bearings is positioned between the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A) and the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A); a second set of ball bearings is positioned between the second arm (102B, 402B, 502B) and the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B); and when the sliding clamp (100, 400, 500) is in a clamped orientation, the sliding clamp (100, 400, 500) is configured to: constrain translation of a workpiece in one translational direction by clamping pressure applied to the workpiece by the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) and the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B); and permit translation of the workpiece in two translational directions by rotation of the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) and the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B). a first arm (102A, 402A, 502A); a first jaw (104A, 404A, 504A) attached to the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A), the first jaw (104A, 404A, 504A) including at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) freely rotatable relative to the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A); a second arm (102B, 402B, 502B) mechanically connected to the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A); and a second jaw (104B, 404B, 504B) attached to the second arm (102B, 402B, 502B), the second jaw (104B, 404B, 504B) including at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B) freely rotatable relative to the second arm (102B, 402B, 502B); wherein the second arm (102B, 402B, 502B) is configured to move relative to the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A) to adjust a jaw opening (108, 408, 508) between the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B) of the second jaw (104B, 404B, 504B) and the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) of the first jaw (104A, 404A, 504A); and characterized in that a first set of ball bearings is positioned between the first arm (102A, 402A, 502A) and the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A); a second set of ball bearings is positioned between the second arm (102B, 402B, 502B) and the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B); and when the sliding clamp (100, 400, 500) is in a clamped orientation, the sliding clamp (100, 400, 500) is configured to: constrain translation of a workpiece in one translational direction by clamping pressure applied to the workpiece by the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) and the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B); and permit translation of the workpiece in two translational directions by rotation of the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) and the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B). constrain translation of a workpiece in one translational direction by clamping pressure applied to the workpiece by the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) and the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B); and permit translation of the workpiece in two translational directions by rotation of the at least one first clamping ball (106A, 406A, 506A) and the at least one second clamping ball (106B, 406B, 506B).