[keen]

Hi all.

I am considering adding the T slots clamp set

32410 - T-Slot Clamp Set

to my next Tormach order - any thoughts welcome.

I have an earlier generation of this type - and it is of little use. So I am wondering how these perform, eg compared with Mitee Bites etc.

Cheers, Keen

[Steve Seebold]

I have 2 sets of them. Mine are Mitee Bites, not the Torch ones. I also have a bunch of Mitee Bites. I have them in 8-32, 3/8-16 and 1/2-13 sizes. I also have their Uniforce clamps in 8-32 and 5/16-18 sizes. And 3 or 4 sets of their Pit Bull clamps in the 1/4-20 size. I guess you might say I like their products.

[EvolveES]

It looks like these clamps are for holding wirk down to the top of the table, meaning that they rest on the top surface of the part (Tormach says a max thickness of 3/8"), in my opinion of i were holding something down from the top i would just go with standard toe clamps. Mitee Bite has some really cool clamps that hold on the sides of the part as well as exert a downward force so you can clear the entire top surface of the part. If i were going to spend the money on something like this i would definitely check the Mitee Bite catalog first.

[kstrauss]

I don't believe that they rest on the top of the part but press from the sides. To my mind a major disadvantage is that the stock rests directly on the table which could be a problem if you have setup or CAM mistakes. I like something to mill other than the table while I grab for the eStop!

At about $25/clamp they seemed rather expensive so I made some of my own that utilize the Mitee-Bite Pitbull(R) clamps that I had purchased for another project. My clones seem to work OK but I've only used them once. I'm curious why Tormach says that theirs are not usable on a PCNC770.

[SCzEngrgGroup]

I'm curious why Tormach says that theirs are not usable on a PCNC770.

Probably because they don.t fit into the T-slots in the 770 table.... Doesn't the 770 have 7/16" T-slots, instead of 5/8 like the 1100?

Regards,
Ray L.

[kstrauss]

My 770 slots are 5/8 wide. Plus clamp sets such as the Tormach 32580 are explicitly listed as being both 770 and 1100 compatible.

[keen]

Still no user of this exact clamp has posted?..... maybe they are new or not popular?

Keen

[TurboStep]

Just a few quotes:

Doesn't the 770 have 7/16" T-slots, instead of 5/8 like the 1100?

From the Tormach home page:

Why do you keep making guesses,...

... guessing just gets your arise dragged over the coals

Food for thought???
Step

[mountaindew]

Good food, Step!
md

[LeeWay]

That still doesn't answer the question as to why they will not work on the 770.

[mountaindew]

That still doesn't answer the question as to why they will not work on the 770.

I would guess because they are designed for tables with 2 parallel t slots and thus 4 can be used to hold down material or fixture. I am Guessing the reason tormach does not say they work on 770 is I guess a 770 only has one t slot and 2 drain slots on table. educated guesses anyway
I could be wrong as I don't own a 770 and just looked at specs and it states 3 so im wrong
md

[kstrauss]

All three slots on my 770 are identical.

[TurboStep]

That still doesn't answer the question as to why they will not work on the 770.

But I guess this might:

Attachment 269108

Photo courtesy of Matt Doeppers.
Step

[treyjugson]

How hard is it to understand that the width of the slot is not the only dimension of a t-nut that matters?