OT - Machining question

[Bob W.]

Okay, I just purchased my Haas Mini Mill and I will receive it in a few weeks. Thanks for the input!

 

I plan to do a lot of prototype work and some short run production parts and I will be using soft jaws extensively. Does anyone know of a soft jaw that is available that can be quickly replaced but it will have very accurate repeatability? Are there any tips or tricks that can be done such as pinning them to the vise jaws etc...?

 

I know this is the Mastercam forum. Is there a machining forum where I could post future questions like this so I will not be cluttering up this message board? Is so, I would really appreciate a link.

 

Thanks,

Bob

[Guest]

Here's one thing I've done, good for bar and plate stock mainly.

 

Take a softjaw square up the bottom and back.

 

Now on the face of the jaw lay out a bunch of 1/4" dowel pin holes. You can set them for different depths of holding and fit in some holes to use as dead stops. the you can set up parts at set depths and locations.

 

If you'd like to see a file of it let me know I'll send it along.

[Thad]

Bob,

 

Machining questions are perfectly acceptable in this forum.

 

Welcome aboard!

 

Thad

[Chris Rizzo]

Our mini mills are set up with regular 6" kurt vises that I've modifed for "repeatable" softjaws.

 

Each soft jaw I make has (2) .1875" dowl pins which mate to matching holes on jaw faces of vice. I took vices apart and bored the pair of .1875 holes in both the hard and movable jaw. Holes are about 5." inches apart, about .500" outboard of the 1/2-13 jaw mounting holes.

 

Good luck with the mini-mill. We've run the holy-hell out of ours. Post here for more questions, and welcome!

[spade117]

accu-snap makes machinable jaws that might be what you are looking for.

[Bob W.]

Do you have a web address for them?

 

Thanks,

Bob

[chris m]

Chick and Kurt both make vises with machinable top jaw configurations called 'Carvelock' or something similar that are designed for this exact purpose. The vises and jaws are not inexpensive but they are absolutely beautiful pieces [particularly the Chick].

 

C

 

P.S. A more descriptive title to your thread might get you more help in the future [like "Quick Change Vise Jaw Source?" or something]

[SLJ]

Not soft jaws or Haas, but we use 6" Kurt vises with Toolex jaws and quick change parallels. Very handy.

[Müřlıń®]

Be sure to drill a tooling hole in the top of the back jaw for part zero...

[spade117]

quote:

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Do you have a web address for them?

 

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web page

[Chris Rizzo]

We've also got 6 and 8" double station toolex vices on our larger machines...even the smaller vices are way too big for the mini mill. Busted up a z way cover finding that out a few times. Also not enough z clearance during tool changes with the umbrella changer.

 

The repeatabilty on the toolex's is pretty good, however my homemade kurt's with dowlpinned jaws are alot tighter. Jaws are generally 2 x 2 x 6" aluminum bar stock. quick and cheap to make in-house. We also make our own toolex jaws, and they are certainly alot more work. Or 225$ per set from toolex.