making vise clamps on the milling machine

This is a build log of making a simple clamp for holding a milling vise on a milling table. I'm a novice machinist, so there might be some mistakes or errors here and there.

The mill is an X2 "mini mill", manufactured by Sieg and imported and sold in the US by Harbor Freight, Grizzly, etc.

The milling vise is a small screwless toolmaker's vise with clamping slots, sold by Little Machine Shop, Shars.com, etc.

Step 1: The design

The bottom surface of the vise's clamping slot is about 0.595 inch above the table, and the top surface of the clamping slot is about 0.300 inch above the bottom surface.

I'm making the clamps from some scrap angle iron. The stock is 0.25 inch thick. Each side is about 2 inches long (from the outside corner of the angle to the end of the "leg").

Additional stuff that's needed that I'm not making is a T-nut, a flange nut, and about 2 inches of 3/8-16 threaded rod.

Comments

[bongodrummer]

Oh nice! and clearly superior to your old ones. I demand you write up some more milling projects and details ;)
Good work.

[pfred2]

All of my vises either have bolt down slots or ears but when I have to clamp stuff to my table that doesn't I just use a setup clamp set.

http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/2781/setupclamps.jpg

A vise on my mill:

http://img545.imageshack.us/img545/8026/millpic.jpg

I never know what sorts of crazy setups I'll do:

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/89/p7150008.jpg

http://img26.imageshack.us/img26/1415/anvilspark.jpg

So I like to stay versatile.

[alfredhenriksen]

Nice! I loved it, a very clever (and easy to make) idea. Thanks. May I ask if you have experienced some sliding or loosening while machining? The biggest disadvance with it is that the clamping force has 2 directions: down and sideways. The optimal design of such device is to only have a downward force.


I would try to make grooves on it (increase friction) , and with a D-shaped bushing, the mounting screw can have all of the force directed down to the T-nut. I have also seen an another one with two screws, one is adujsting the height, while the other one is going to the T-nut. (Can flex more than your design) Thanks, I love things who make me thinking! :D

[autophile]

I like it! I'm definitely going to make a set. Much better than that way more complicated clamp design at littlemachineshop (sorry guys, your site is otherwise awesome).

One thing that puzzles me, though. I'm no machinist, so call me dumb, but please answer: how do the clamps ensure that the vise is correctly aligned at 90 degrees to the table?

[Doc Workingday]

Thanks, and yeah it's a pretty simple design :-)

It's so simple that it does not square your vise for you.  But then, neither do the LMS ones (littlemachineshop.com/Projects/ViseClamps.php).

Squaring the vise is separate from holding down the vise.  Squaring is done by you, by sweeping the fixed jaw with a dial test indicator and gently tapping the vise until the DTI measures no deflection from one end of the jaw to the other.  Each time you get the vise a little more square, tighten the clamps slightly and remeasure (since tightening the clamps can move the vise).

[autophile]

Thank you, now I understand what's going on!

[BoiseTyler]

Any chance you could convert the drawing to a PDF? I'm trying to post your project to my site (projectsinmetal.com) and I'd like to include a PDF copy of the drawing for viewers that don't have CAD software.

Thanks in advance,

Tyler

[Doc Workingday]

I added a pdf version of the drawing to step 1, "the design".

[BoiseTyler]

Excellent, thank you. I've uploaded it to the site. Thanks again for letting me share your project with my readers!

Tyler

[BoiseTyler]

Hey, would you mind if I added your project to my site - ProjectsInMetal.com?

I'm always looking for fun projects to add to the site and I think my readers would get a kick out of yours. I'm especially short on simple milling projects for the beginner, so this one would be perfect. You can let me know by clicking on my name here and sending me a private message, or by visiting my site and filling out the contact form.

Thanks in advance!

[Doc Workingday]

Of course, I'd be happy to have this on ProjectsInMetal. I've been checking it out, you've got some cool stuff on there :-)

[Koa is A OK]

Daddy like! ima make some tomorrow, i HATE the ones on my Sherline.....stupid bits o metal thanks so much for a simple and nice idea

[FleaCircusDirector]

Note: A end mill won't cut a slot exactly to size so you need to use a smaller one and machine each size in turn, just as the Doc has done here. A slot drill will cut to size and the slot could be cut in one pass.

[Hands Without Shadows]

I like it, but I hate having to tighten the same nuts frequently. I would change those nuts out for lift and set levers but thats another project in itself.

[CameronSS]

Which came first, the milling machine or the milling machine vise?

[Hands Without Shadows]

The milling machine came first. Its easy enough to mill just by clamping parts to the table, its just a pain to realign everytime you move the piece.

[Doc Workingday]

First came the charcoal foundry ;-)

Build your own metal working shop from scrap, by David Gingery

[Polyhistor]

Nice work, Doc!