Drill vise: features, description of types, tips for choosing

Holes in metal, wood, rubber and plastic parts are made using special drilling equipment. For various jobs at home, few holes are usually drilled, so craftsmen can use a hand drill with minimal rotation. If more accurate drilling is required, then it is necessary to purchase machines and install high-quality vices on them.

Drill vise are an important accessory that allows you to reliably fix the workpiece in a stationary state relative to the machine chuck. Thanks to this device, the master can carry out serial drilling operations. Machine vices are widely used not only in large enterprises, but also in home workshops. They are often purchased for joinery stands and other tabletop equipment to enhance their functionality.

Drilling vices are available with different jaw widths. Most often, this figure is from 60 to 150 mm. There are also devices with prismatic jaws on sale. They allow you to fix round parts. The main part of the structure produced in accordance with the requirements of GOST from alloy steel, which undergoes several hardening cycles and is characterized by high strength.

Vices are the main component of most machines, which are used to make holes in workpieces. Without this device, it is impossible to safely and with maximum precision to carry out technological operations for the preparation of parts.

As for the serial drilling of holes in hard material parts, it is impossible without reliable fastening. In this case, the machines are additionally equipped with a special vice.

To date, vices for drilling machines are represented by a chic assortment, depending on the purpose, they may differ in design features and functionality... There are several mandatory elements of this device:

1. Plank (base). It acts as a supporting element in the device, to which all components of the vice are directly attached. Since it is on the bar that the drilling process is carried out, it is released from durable metal.
2. Two sponges. One of them is mobile, the other is motionless. They are responsible for fixing the workpieces. In order for the sponge to move accurately along the base, its lower part has a rectangular tail inserted into a cutout placed on the fixed jaw.
3. Screw handle. He is responsible for moving one of the jaws and is connected to it using a retaining ring. By rotating in the threaded hole, the screw sets the jaw in motion.
4. Working Plates. This is one of the important elements of the device, which experiences significant loads during the operation of the vice. Plates are usually made of high quality metal with increased strength. They are attached to the surface of the clamping jaws with screws.
5. Additional parts (their availability depends on the features of the model).In the usual version, the working surface of the vise is flat, in some models it can be concave or angular, which allows processing workpieces of various shapes. There are also vices on sale, in which the clamping bars are spring-loaded. They are more convenient to use.

Work principles all vices, regardless of their design features, are identical and based on a screw drive. All parts installed on the bar move under the influence of the rotating element. The position of the clamps is changed by turning the screw. Accuracy of movement is ensured by a rectangular tail located at the bottom of the movable clamp.

Manufacturers produce vices for machine tools of various modifications. Depending on the design features, they are divided into 2 types: swivel and non-swivel. For drilling wooden parts, use locksmith and screw vice. At large enterprises, specialized vices are installed that have many functions.

Devices of this type allow in the process of processing the workpiece to change its spatial position without preliminary unclamping. They are ideal for production halls. This vise is designed with a swivel jaw that can be rotated 360 °. Therefore, having drilled a workpiece in one place, the platform can be quickly rotated to the desired angle to prepare another hole, leaving the workpiece fixed.

On the market you can also find modern models with a base with cross guides, allowing not only to flip the part at a certain angle, but also to move it horizontally along 2 axes. There is also a variety of complex rotary devices. Devices are called global, thanks to them, the clamped workpiece can be rotated in 3 planes. Typically, this type of vise is used to make inclined holes.

You can watch a rotary vise for a drilling machine in action in the following video:

This is one of the most popular types of devices. Such a vice has a stationary design. Many craftsmen make them on their own at home. Compared to the swivel vise, it can only be used to drill workpieces in one position. With the help of a non-rotating vise, you can make one hole, then you need to unclench the part and move it to another position. Structures of this type have increased rigidity and are not suitable for professional processing.

With regard to functionality and ease of use, they are in many ways inferior to rotary models.

Before purchasing a drill vise, there are many nuances to consider, since their service life and the amount of work performed will depend on this. For serial machining of large metal workpieces that need to be firmly fastened, it is recommended to purchase professional models... They will reduce production costs and will last for a long time, as they are durable and are not afraid of mechanical damage and corrosion. In addition, such a vice will increase the processing accuracy, which will reduce the risk of rejects. If you plan to use the machine in the country for equipping racks, then you can purchase a small non-rotating vice, they have a secure hold (hands free) and are easy to use.

When choosing rotary models, you need to pay attention to their dimensions. More often on sale there are models with sizes 80, 100, 125, 160, 200, 250 and 320 mm. These numbers, in addition to dimensions, can also mean other indicators. For example, “200 mm” may indicate the maximum vise opening, and “100 mm” may indicate the width of the jaws.Besides, the choice should be based on the type of machine, for which it is planned to buy a vice, and on the features of the workpieces, where it will be necessary to drill holes (material, weight, shape, dimensions). The choice of the material of the sponges and the body (cast iron or steel) directly depends on this.

Many craftsmen prefer to make machine vices on their own, since this is a simple process that saves the family budget. Before you start assembling the device, you need decide on the choice of material, from which it is planned to make a vice. It is best to give preference to a square (profile) pipe measuring 60X40 mm.

You will need to follow the steps in sequence:

1. It is necessary to cut a square out of metal, which will serve as the basis for the future device. On each side of the square, you need to make 4 holes, they will be needed to fix the vise to the machine.
2. Then, 2 sponges should be made from the pipe, in one of which you will need to make a hole and insert a washer.
3. The next step will be the manufacture of guides, thanks to which the plate can move along the axis of the stationary jaw. An ordinary metal corner is suitable as rails. It should be welded on both sides along the edges of the plate. It is important that the corner then does not interfere with pressing the workpiece.
4. Next, you need to make a rotation mechanism by welding a clamp with a nut to the base. After that, a screw is screwed into the nut, it must be inserted into the hole in the plate so that the bolt does not pull it back.
5. The production is completed by fixing the vice to the drilling machine. This can be done with nuts and bolts. Since the vice is made at home, it differs in many ways from the shop one. Therefore, you need to pay special attention to their setting, which should not be in a hurry. Vise machines should be installed in the home workshop at a distance of 70 cm from each other.

A more detailed overview of how to create a vise for a drill vise with your own hands is presented in the following video.