[Micro Milling]

I bought this vise from littlemachineshop

http://littlemachineshop.com/product...1590&category=



The problem is that depending on the size of the object I put in the vise it may or may not tighten down hard on the object. I can tighten the allen screw but it won't clamp down hard on the object.
I then have to use a parrallel to thicken it.

I guess its the way it is built, where at certain distances the vise won't clamp tightly, as your at the end of your travel for that notch. Sometimes its hard to tell if your tightly clamped down or not.

Anyone else have this vice and notice this problem?

If anyone wants to see how this vise works you can watch the video, click on adjusting a screwless vise (1:36)
http://littlemachineshop.com/video/videos.php

[hoss2006]

just the nature of the design, if you go over 45 you're putting more force down than you are in closing.
A screw type vise would give you lots more clamping force, Glacern has a new 4 incher.
LMS has some Phase 2 3 and 4 incher Kurt types.
Hoss

[mactec54]

If it is not locking, then you have to move the pins on the bottom forward to the next notch, This style of vice was not designed for milling, I know a lot of people use them for milling, there primary use is for grinding, I found all of the vices of this style using the catch type pin not to be very good for safe clamping, the best type of this style of vice is the one that you put a pin right through the vice were the holes are in the bottom

[vlmarshall]

... the best type of this style of vice is the one that you put a pin right through the vice were the holes are in the bottom

True, when I bought a little screwless vise to use at home, I purposely looked for a vise with side grooves for clamping, AND through-holes for a longer pin.

[MRM RCModels]

True, when I bought a little screwless vise to use at home, I purposely looked for a vise with side grooves for clamping, AND through-holes for a longer pin.

I second the plug for the glacern 4" vise. I also have the screw-less type from littlemachineshop and there is no comparison between the two; glacern hands down. The glacern vise is on sale for 229.99. Get one while they're in stock.

[ibuildstuff4u]

I bought that same vice and had the same problems. After a few tries with it I called Little Machine Shop and they were confused about the problem and said it should work just fine. I tried the vice again and gave up after it let loose a part while milling and I called Little Machine Shop back again and asked them about returning it. They said no problem and took it back, I was only out the return shipping. I ended up buying a regular 4" vice from them and have been really happy with it.

Hope that helps!

Dale P.

[Micro Milling]

Hmmm, I may call them about returning my vise also. It does work, but you have to use extra parallels when it is not griping firmly, and you can never tell how tight it is really until it rips out while milling.

They must make good money on those vises that is why they seem to push them so much on their website.

Can you tell me what vise you bought from them?

Did they give you a hard time about retunring the item even though it was used? Did you return your screwless vice clamps also?

[ibuildstuff4u]

I cleaned up my vise really good so it looked like new and they didn't have any problems taking it back. The new vise is a cheap copy of Kurt style vice and works really good. I think it was $80 to $100 dollars though for the 4 inch version.

I suggest giving them a call and tell them you hate the vise and want to spend more money on a different one. : ) They should take it back and let you get a different one.

Good luck!

Dale P.

[yantra3d]

Have you checked your stock for flatness? If the stock you are mounting in the vise is not flat then it will not grip and hold well in that style of vise. You might try adding a sheet of paper to the side that is not perfectly flat to help fill the gap and make for a tighter clamping force.

Not saying that is your problem (I don't own that particular screwless so I can't say really) but it might be worth checking into.

I was happy to see that Glacern 4" on sale again... Would like to get one of those if possible.

[QSPSB]

I've heard alot of negative input on these types of vises.. Here are a few fairly nice ones you should consider purchasing..I plan on ordering the 6'' CNC super vise here soon myself!

http://cgi.ebay.com/6-CNC-SUPER-VISE...item4ceba04ab6
http://cgi.ebay.com/6-ANG-LOCK-VISE-...item4835c4c1d9
http://cgi.ebay.com/4-ANG-LOCK-VISE-...item4833332a1f

[yantra3d]

QSPSB, you might seriously reconsider going with that 6" vise if you are planning to use it on your X2. That vise is way too big for that size mill. If you can get it mounted to the little table then it would certainly put the boots to that little mill!

I would recommend mocking up a quick 3D CAD model of both your mill and vise to help give you a better idea of their dimensions and what to expect. I did this for my X3 and a 4" Kurt screw-type and you can see what that looks like below. A 6" would be way too big even for the larger x3.

[QSPSB]

Well i actually plan on making a 8'' X 20'' tooling plate for the mill...I may go with the 4'' one.

Here is a shot of a 6'' vice on the X2

[yantra3d]

That 6" vise is being used on a manual x2 mill so the motor torque is not being accounted for. I would think that it would cause too much strain on your motors and drivers to push all those lbs around if you plan to cnc it. I will let someone else with more experience comment on this since I am not familiar with the x2.

Tooling plate is definitely a good idea. That one shown above is 12x24 and 5/8 thick - weighing in at 20lbs. Yours would only be about half the weight if you use 1/2 thick plate.


Anyway, good luck with that... Your build is coming along nicely.

[QSPSB]

Thanks for the complement!
My tooling plate will be constructed from 3/4'' Aluminum... I may go a little wider though..Perhaps 12''x 20'' I'm going to run the same stepper motors Hoss uses,, as far as i know he hasn't had any issues with his setup

here's my list.
My X2 Mini Mill, Base Plates, Column Brace, Tooling Table

6061-T6511 Aluminum Flat> 1/2'' X 12'' X 23'' $ 57.96> Base Plate
6061-T6511 Aluminum Flat> 1/2'' X 12'' X 18'' $ 45.36> Base Plate #2
6061-T6511 Aluminum Flat> 3/4'' X 6'' X 16'' $ 29.28 > Column Brace
6061-T6511 Aluminum Flat> 3/4'' X 8'' X 20'' $ 50.00 > Tooling Plate
$ 182.60
Shipping! UPS Ground
$ 18.86
+_______
$ 201.46

[yantra3d]

Didn't mean to steer the post off-topic (sorry guys). Just wanted to mention that if you haven't already ordered the tooling plate yet you might want to consider mic6 over 6061-t6511 if you want better flatness. (Mic6 is cast plate) Would have to look it up to verify but I think that the t6 is within .03" while the same thickness in mic6 is .005".

May not be worth the extra $$ but if you decide it's not flat enough for you then you'll have to pay to have a larger mill fly-cut it for you (expensive).

Mic6 should maintain better flatness if you decide to cut on it or drill a bunch of holes into it, etc...

Thought I would menion it while on the subject....

[Micro Milling]

DO you know if a vise like the one in the picture with a degree measurement on the bottom can been used as a rotary table for cuts that don't need perfect accuracy?

Like can you loosen the vice and rotate it slowly while milling?



http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...ory=1963256912

[hoss2006]

Nope, most of them only rotate 180 degrees anyway and it would
be pretty tricky to get the part clamped so that it rotated in the bases centerline accurately.
Hoss

[DonFrambach]

I second the plug for the glacern 4" vise. I also have the screw-less type from littlemachineshop and there is no comparison between the two; glacern hands down. The glacern vise is on sale for 229.99. Get one while they're in stock.

Where are the glacern vises on sale?

[hoss2006]

Where are the glacern vises on sale?

http://www.glacern.com/gsv_440
Hoss

[Hans_G]

After monkeying w/ my screwless vise too much in the garage (35F- cold!) on Sunday, I talked myself into the Glacern 4" too... should be here on Thursday.