Starting out as a young apprentice in the late 80’s I learned a lot from the “old gray-haired guys” in the Tool Rooms and machine shops. They had a lot of wisdom and very kind in sharing it. Some of it even, surprisingly soaked in. Learning lessons the easy way never was my strong suit. But the one that did that stands out.

You start out right—— you follow through right —--you end right.

It’s easier that way

I have always found this advice applicable in more than just toolmaking and machining. I have always tried to pass this advice along to any one I have trained ask for my advice. If start with a plan, constantly strive for it to better than it needs to be on the way, and finish it better that it needs to be. Thats the easy way. No planning, cutting corners, hurrying to get something “acceptable” is the hard way to build anything. I guess I’m the “old guy” with hard earned knowledge now.

Over the years I have built a lot of tooling and fixturing. Things have changed a lot in machining world or manufacturing in general as I’m sure if you reading this, you know. This vise and clamping system is something that has morphed out of a number of different fixturing, clamping and vise making mainly for use in my own shop. There is similar products out there but they seemed to be very expensive for the limited versatility you get. Unless you're making the same part all the time it doesn’t make sense. Then having a pneumatically operated setup can have its own problems especially on 4 & 5 axis setups. Trying to keep a low profile design with enough clamping power to hold tolerance and rigidity, can be some hurdles to overcome. You also have the problem of getting a rotary air connection to the vice to operated it. Easy, if you order the $4000 option when you order a new machining center and new robot and you pay your integrator to set it all up. What about the rest of us that already have the machine and just are looking for a better, more automated way to hold on to parts we’re already making.

The problems I solved for myself in developing and using this system is

-Consistent clamping force, No more having operator’s gorilla the vise shut and distort 10% of the parts or not enough and some parts move while machining. - It costs too much to not have Reliable Consistent Parts.

-Versatile 5 axis setups, No more trying to come in from the sides and using mile long stick outs on tools to keep from running into the side of the vise. Swap to differant jaws widths. As the jaw widths get smaller, the Z heights go higher, so like a pyramid for clearance and rigidity. No more trying to make a 2” wide part on 6” vise with 1 1/2” stickout on 1/8” endmill and still pushing the feedhold button through the back of the machine on setup.

-Versatile setups period. The Gravy Jobs with a 5000 pieces hasn’t come along very often for me. More like 5 - 50 mostly, so you need to setup quick. Flip, move, or change jaws easily. Change to or make soft jaws easily and cheaply because you don't know how many times you will get the job or when. So you need to make money on this job, not the next time that may never come.

-Mounting on Rotary Setups without existing plumbing. The rotary retrofit kit is something that took some development to produce, but what good is the best vise in the world if you can’t use it on the machines you already have. Or spending twice the cost of the vice on getting the internal machine plumbing done.

-Don’t have the right jobs for a Robot. Robots are Cool! But- not a lot of jobs out there are great for a machine tending robot. We all have the dream of setting up the machine, turn on the Robot, turn out the lights, lock the door and head out on vacation. Unfortunately—-Yeah. But anyhow this will work great with a robot. Even short run and changeovers. The repeatability and quick setup will help pay off the investment of the robot you have or the robot you have in your future.

So what we have here is good base to work from. Now it’s your turn if you choose. See if this would work well in your quality setups and fixturing. If you're setting up a 5 axis Robotically fed machining center making lots in the 1000’s or 3 axis, manually loaded machine making lots of 5, We’re here to help.