How to choose a machine vise?

A machine vise in a workshop can serve several important functions.... Usually they are used to implement rather complex tasks, complete with a drilling machine. And how to choose them correctly, we will consider in the article.

Machine vices are designed primarily for high-quality processing of metal workpieces. With the help of a vice, you can reliably fix detail to drill neat holes exactly according to the markings. Body parts and fasteners are made of steel or cast iron, and are installed directly on the work surface using a special fastener.

For work, the vice must be strong in accordance with the requirements of GOST. Some designs provide springs for fixing parts or special bracket, with which you can adjust the size of the vice and work with workpieces of different shapes.

If we talk about the use of a machine vise on a drilling machine outdoor or tabletop construction, then the main task in this case is to create marked holes in the workpiece, regardless of materials, with maximum accuracy and compliance with all technical safety measures. In addition, the vice is often matched to CNC lathe, grinder or fire machine.

The same of drilling machines, vices are not always present in the package when purchasing, although their presence does not greatly affect the cost of the model as a whole. Sometimes the machine vice in the case of a master's set is also called a drilling vice for the convenience of indicating the specifics of the work.

But the use of a vice also largely depends on the materials with which you will have to work in the future.... For example, they are not needed for wood or plastic. A minimum of effort is required to secure the part in place. And in the case of plastic, excessive pressure can even deform the material.

A vise is essential when working with steel, cast iron or any other heavy metal. Their presence in the kit will allow not only to efficiently complete the task, but also to comply with all safety requirements.

Instead of a vise, other clamps are sometimes used, but they will be less reliable.... In addition, with due care you can make a vice for the machine with your own hands. Such a tool will fulfill its purpose no worse than factory production models, and in terms of cost, minus time costs, it will be much cheaper than an analog from the manufacturer. Before assembling, it remains only to understand the design of the desired vice.

At the heart of any machine vice, there are a number of basic elements:

• steel strips at the base of the vise;
• movable and fixed jaws, which directly clamp and hold the workpiece during operation;
• a handle with a screw to control the entire structure, changing the position of the jaws;
• additional plates and fasteners to ensure the integrity and reliability of the vice during operation.

Through the main planks all other parts of the vice are fixed.This is a kind of foundation that ensures the work of the vice during the entire operational period. Therefore, a hard and durable metal is selected for them. At the specified location a hole is drilled under the screw for future attachment of the jaws. At the bottom of the movable sponge a small steel plate is installed - this makes it possible to fix their movement and reliably protects from jumping off the grooves.

The sponge moves, thereby providing a clamp between the movable and stationary parts. But the effect of the screw in different models may differ - it all depends on the features of the chosen design. Simple models connect the screw and the movable jaw directly to each other. Clamping is provided either due to the fact that the screw pulls the sponge behind it, or repels it during movement. The concept will differ depending on which direction the propeller is turning.

Concerning rotary models, then, to facilitate the work, the energy for the screw is supplied through several gears connected to each other in several lines. In this case, the master does not need to apply too much effort during the processing of heavy and massive workpieces. This is just one example of a more complex design.

Machine vice can be divided into several types.

Fixed vise also called stationary. Their design is the easiest to make at home. The vise itself is fixed in one position on the working surface of the machine.

In such models, only one hole is made. In order to change the position of the workpiece, either the vice itself is moved along the working surface, or the jaws are unclenched, and the part is pulled out. The construction itself is rigid, does not imply minor, cosmetic operations, unlike rotary models. For the price, they are in the below average category and therefore are available to almost everyone.

But they have a higher cost, so they are not always suitable for a home workshop.

Swivel vise make it possible to work over the entire coordinate plane without removing the workpiece from the clamp and without changing the position of the tool itself. The difference from previous models is that there is a special turntable up to 360 degrees in a circle, so the part can be turned literally at any angle for further processing.

There are also compound self-centering models, which make it possible to work equally effectively in the horizontal plane. Due to this, work can be significantly accelerated up to the serial production of workpieces of a certain type.

Globe type vise make it possible to work in three planes at once due to a special platform, so that even inclined holes can be reproduced. The most important thing in the process of work is to choose the right angle. Working with a part with this tool will be painstaking and time-consuming.

Sinus quick-clamping vise - an auxiliary tool for machines of various types, with which you can perform a number of operations from milling to planing or grinding. As a rule, they are actively used in plumbing work when processing a workpiece at an angle to the vertical. The angle for processing is usually sharp, it all depends on its size and the complexity of the task assigned to the master.

Three-axis machine vice installed on milling and drilling machines as an additional piece of equipment.The material of manufacture is foundry cast iron; the design provides for a turntable and a number of additional small parts, which significantly increase the accuracy of working with any materials. The total weight of the tool is from 4 kg, the pressure zone is quite wide so that the master has the opportunity to work with large-sized workpieces.

There are more complex models with pneumatic clamping. Such hydraulic heavy duty vise installed on milling machines as the main tool for processing. The material for the manufacture is cast iron or any other metal similar in technical characteristics and level of resistance to mechanical damage, corrosion and other breakdowns during operation. When the workpiece is clamped, a certain amount of pressure is exerted on it.

Pneumatic vise often additionally equipped with hydraulic booster. With their help, you can work with heavy metal workpieces without the risk of damaging the product. The body and fasteners are made of steel and cast iron, the jaws have a wide movable stroke - up to 250 mm inclusive. The vice can be installed on any horizontal surface using special fasteners... There are several springs in the clamping mechanism, which additionally enhances the indicator of its reliability and safety under air pressure during operation.

In the process of choosing the design of a suitable vise, a number of parameters are taken into account:

• functional application of the model;
• features of the fastening mechanism;
• material for making sponges and other main parts;
• the size of the jaws and their maximum travel;
• pressure level on the workpiece during processing;
• maximum and minimum in the course of the screw;
• weight and mass of the vice (if you plan to assemble a desktop model, the size of the future working surface is also taken into account);
• drive mechanism.

Steel and cast iron as basic materials, they guarantee high wear resistance and corrosion protection. You can perform delicate and precise work without fear of ruining the part.

Machine vice - a tool designed to work with hard material, therefore, for reliability, their main and most important parts in the structure are made of durable steel or cast iron. The designs themselves may differ from model to model, depending on the type and profile of use. If the master makes a vice with his own hands for the first time, it is best to choose a non-swivel vise in order to gain the necessary experience and skills.

The only difficulty in reproducing some vices at home is the design features of the swivel and non-swivel models.

Pressure plates, strips and other parts, on which the strength and reliability of the tool depend, should be made of metal that can easily withstand wear during long-term operation. Fasteners and connections such as screws and nuts are also made of steel... During the assembly of some models, it is also used welding, then you must definitely remember about the stage stripping seams. Planks for working with different types of workpieces and parts, they can also be of different shapes and contain a spring in the structure for comfortable work with dimensional parts.

After have been identified type of and main parameters future vice, you can try to make them yourself. If we talk about sizes, then at home you can do:

• large;
• small;
• mini.

At the first stage, according to the drawing and the requirements of GOST, a workpiece of the required size is cut - standard 45x45 cm, then a few more for fastening the rest of the parts. Long ones are installed with an edge inward, short ones - always outward and at right angles. After that, the entire structure is welded together.

After that, jaws are made and joined with the working screw using a nut... The entire assembly of the machine vice takes a minimum of time in accordance with the selected scheme. At the final stage, all the seams are cleaned, in addition, you can paint the tool with paint in order to protect the metal from corrosion for as long as possible.

Machine vices, just like homemade ones, can be attached to the table with special bolts, which are located in special recesses at the base plate. If the design is made by hand, you can come up with another, more convenient type of fasteners. The grooves are fixed perpendicular to one another on the surface of the table or machine, the base of the vise is wiped dry before... And also there are several steel plates for fixing. If the vice is fixed across, then these plates are also inserted into the transverse grooves. The use of bolts and nuts for fastening is mandatory to comply with the technical safety requirements.

How to choose a vise for a drill stand, see below.