Clamping Kits/New Vise?...?

[SpeedsCustom]

Hello everyone, I have a Taig Mill soon to be CNC running (Parts are in the shop getting set-up) The two inch vise that I have on my mill that came stock is really small and puney! I noticed my cuts were a little rough today, because my work-piece in the vise was being cut on the outside of where the pressure is applied maybe being able to slightly move and cause vibrating.

I really like the looks of some of those larger Vise like the Kurts, but obviously would not need one on my Taig, but something smaller like in the 5 in range.

Would it be wise to get a clamping kit from say littlemachineshop along with a better vise!

I feel like I have this nice machine, but not fully utilizing it's precision using that small vise that can barely hold my work!

So what do you think


-Jason

[SpeedsCustom]

So...does anyone have any specific vise they use.

-Speed

[Anokiernan]

I love my 2" precision vise on my taig cnc. When clamped properly it's very sturdy and accurate.

You loose some of your Z travel with a vise of even this size so i really wouldn't suggest getting anything larger. The precision vises also clamp downwards at the same time as laterally so the workpiece remains rock solid when clamped.

[tikka308]

Anokiernan - what clamp kit is that? I've been hunting one that's compatible with the TAIG (well, I guess it's just the t-nuts & bolts that need to be compatible). The LMS kits are, I believe, all too big except for http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...1943&category= but they are small!


Speeds - I've got a similar vice as Anokiernan's but have thought about upgrading. Here are a few that I've considered: http://www.hightechsystemsllc.com/pt_vise.html http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?P...PARTPG=INLMK32 (but would remove the swivel base), http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=428-9126 and http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAKA=428-9010

[Anokiernan]

I'm using the 6mm kit from LMS. I found the threaded rods that came with it to be inconvenient most of the time, so I've made frequent trips to home depot to buy various cap screws of the appropriate length needed. I have found the socket head cap screws to be much easier to set up fixtures with, beats fiddling around with a wrench and nut hands down.

As far as vices are concerned, I swear by this type of vise over all others. The downward clamping feature of them is second to none IMO. Provides greater accuracy and consistency, not to mention it can hold round stock just as easily without V blocks in either vertical or horizontal positions.

[SpeedsCustom]

Anokiernan, thank you for posting, I have been look at that vise along with the 3inch model. But I have read that the vise is a little tricky with how it works (Not as far as using) But heard it can be a paint to clamp some pieces because of it's design, can you clarify this?

PS. I like your Taig, nice set-up.


Tikka, I noticed that all the vises that have the swivel bases can be removed, which I would do too. I like the larger size with the nice holding capabilities.

So are there any other clamping kits?


And I'm not lazy, I have been searching the web, many sites trying to find whats best.

-Jason

[Anokiernan]

There has never been a part that I haven't been able to hold in the vise due to it's design. Some parts you simply need to lengthen and angle the screw underneath the vise slightly which you do by applying a moment to the cap screw on top as you tighten it. If the part physically fits within the vise I use, there is no doubt in my mind that it will hold it rock solid regardless of shape.

Just another note, setting up the vise square on the table is a breeze with a good set of machinist parallels due to being precision ground on all faces.

[pzzamakr1980]

Not having a taig I dont know how much yall would be affected by this, but, I have a 5 inch kurt style vise for my x3 and it is the right size for my machine. On a taig it would be gigantic and would severly limit z travel. Also, while I like most of the stuff that high tech systems sells, that vise is not one of em. I had it when I had my sherline and it was next to useless. It was too small and not rigid enough at all, even for light cuts on aluminum. And I mean light cuts using a sherline, not an x3. Just my two cents

[tikka308]

Anokiernan - the only 6mm clamping kit I see on LMS is this one: http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...1943&category=

You appear to have much higher clamp posts. Can you post the link to the kit you bought?

Thanks.

[rowbare]

I am not sure that it would suit your needs but another thing you might consider is a fixture plate system like http://www.hightechsystemsllc.com/pt...ng_system.html

They are quite flexible but aren't capable of the clamping forces a vice can apply. They are very useful if you are making multiple parts though.

[SpeedsCustom]

Thank you for the responses everyone, I think the 3inch "screwless" vise is my best bet, I have heard good things about it other then what I read. But coming from your first hand experience i'm going to take your word Which I appreciate greatly!

Rowbare- That is something I look into getting in the future, as it should hold many of the very weirdly shaped items i will end up milling.

I think i'm going to buy the screwless, I also have this great steal block in my shop, about 6 inches in length with a cut about 1-1/2 deep, like this [_____] it could make a very nice clamp, (A project I considered) But maybe I'll just use it to mount larger items like I planned too. I'll have pics.


But The screwless vise looks good, thank you for posting, if you have any other suggestions let me know.


-Speed

[Anokiernan]

Anokiernan - the only 6mm clamping kit I see on LMS is this one: http://www.littlemachineshop.com/pro...1943&category=

You appear to have much higher clamp posts. Can you post the link to the kit you bought?

Thanks.

That is the same kit that I have, in that picture the step blocks are laying down on the LMS site. It's perfect for nearly all of the taig sized projects I've worked on so far.

One last thing for SpeedsCustom, On the taig I wouldn't suggest getting a 3" precision model, there's a very good chance that it'll be too tall for most projects. Granted I don't know what you have in mind for your machine, but if you do a wide variety of shapes and sizes I would suggest staying with a 2" model like I have in the picture. I'm working on a project right now drilling 33 holes in 3 pieces with a #25 drill and even such a small drill barely has enough room to maneuver on the machine, and that's with the 2", I would go crazy trying to work with a 3" on a machine this small.