Vices are called universal devices designed to hold workpieces during manual (in this case, the vice is installed on a bench) or mechanical (special machine vice is used) processing.
Manufacturers of machine tools offer a wide selection of vices of various types. Each of the species has certain characteristics and has a number of features. Thus, based on the features of the process and the available equipment, we can conclude that the selection of a vice is a rather difficult task. How to make the right and optimal choice, taking into account the existing fleet of metalworking machines? The article gives an answer to this, as well as to other questions that may arise during the organization and purchase of equipment for your own workshop.
What materials are vices made of?
The vice is made of steel or gray cast iron. Most often found are cast-iron cases. This is due to the fact that cast iron has very good casting qualities (the melt freezes for a long time and manages to fill the entire casting mold) and is much cheaper than steel. At the same time, the mechanical properties of the alloy with high contents fully satisfy the requirements for materials used for the manufacture of both manual and machine vice.
The market is flooded with equipment from China, Europe and America. These countries have developed and are using their own standards. As for the Russian Federation, on its territory the production of such equipment is strictly regulated by GOST 16518-96.
Key vise specifications
When choosing a specific device, you must carefully familiarize yourself with its technical parameters and capabilities. First of all, in order not to throw money away, it is necessary to find out which machine equipment they are intended to be installed on (milling, surface grinding, planing, broaching, drilling or other machines).
Then you need to check whether the width of the working jaws is sufficient, or whether they are too narrow and will press with great effort on the surface of the workpiece, leaving dents in it. The clamping force is also important. The stroke length allows you to determine the maximum possible linear dimensions of the workpiece installed in a vice.
In the event that a vice is purchased for a small hobby machine installed in a garage or in the basement of an apartment building, or even on a balcony (there is such a thing!), Then their mass is a critical parameter, of course. The limit on the weight of the product installed on a small hobby machine cannot be exceeded, since the mechanical components of such a machine will quickly fail.
Types and varieties of metalworking vice
- In accordance with this standard, industry produces a vise of normal accuracy, increased accuracy and high precision, equipped with a manual or automatic (hydraulic, pneumatic, electric) drive.
- Depending on the purpose, the vice is divided into manual, locksmith, machine, special (with an automated drive).
- According to the type of drive, a machine vice with a manual clamp, with a hydraulic actuator, with an arrester (or eccentric clamp), with a spring clamp is distinguished.
- Depending on the material being processed and its mechanical properties, jaws of different hardness and with different notches can be mounted on a vice.
Key elements of a vise
Modern machine vise structurally significantly different from the classic vise. However, the principle of operation and action remained unchanged, and the following main components of the product can be distinguished: body, movable and fixed jaws, handle, power screw with trapezoidal persistent thread, handle.
Features of the vice mounted on the table of the milling machine
Perhaps machine milling vise is available, perhaps, at every workplace. And if in conditions of mass production they strive to make special devices for mounting workpieces on the work table, then in the conditions of single production, as well as repair production, not to mention the garage workshop, such a vice is simply an irreplaceable thing.
For a vise mounted on machine tools, rigidity is a critical and most important parameter. If the design does not provide rigidity, then during processing there will be an unpleasant and irritating human hearing a loud screech of metal. In this case, the cutter will rattle. As a result, premature failure of a very expensive tool and unsatisfactory surface roughness. Sometimes a part can even go into marriage, which means additional financial losses.
If on a universal bench vise, the sponges have a characteristic corrugated surface, then on a vice for machines they should always be smooth. Moreover, a rough rough rough surface after casting is not allowed. Such sponges are processed with a cutting tool (milling cutter or dolbyak), and then polished on a surface grinding machine to achieve the desired roughness and geometric shape.
Swivel Machine Vise
Such a vice is mounted on a special swivel mechanism. It has no restrictions and can be rotated to any arbitrary angle. To rotate, loosen the two nuts at the base. After the desired angle is set, the nuts are clamped with a certain open-end wrench with as much force as possible.
The disadvantage of such a vice is the lack of rigidity. But the swivel base can be removed, and then it will be an ordinary clamping device.
Machine vice for drilling machines
The vice installed on the bed of vertical drilling machines should provide the ability to move the workpiece in two directions in the horizontal plane. This statement is not valid for radial drilling machines, since the spindle itself with a drill installed in it moves on them. In general, a machine vice for drilling units has much less rigidity compared to milling ones, since they have many degrees of freedom.