Newbie : First CNC Part (don't laugh too hard) - Plus a Question

[Mac Tech]

Ok guys, I've have no real machining experience and zero experience with CNC. I've been trying to get my X4+ mill setup and this was my first CNC part. I wanted a t-slot cleaner, this is what I ended up with.

Question: I will be making many parts this size and smaller (this is 4.5 in long), what are you guys using to hold small parts down? I guess I'll be spending much of my time designing fixtures.

Thanks Guys

[cncjunky]

Ok guys, I've have no real machining experience and zero experience with CNC. I've been trying to get my X4+ mill setup and this was my first CNC part. I wanted a t-slot cleaner, this is what I ended up with.

Question: I will be making many parts this size and smaller (this is 4.5 in long), what are you guys using to hold small parts down? I guess I'll be spending much of my time designing fixtures.

Thanks Guys

All depends on the part, but for your part your showing I think this fine tool would work great, it's called a peg vise. I think that would suit you well, it uses a plate that has a bunch of holes all over it that you put dowel pins in to trap your part. It's for irregular shaped parts that are a pain to clamp down, you can get your hands on one for like $25.00 from harbour freight. I don't recommend harbour freight myself because I feel they have low quality tooling, but for something like this it would probably alright, or make your own.

[Enraged]

when i was in school we did a bunch of similar flat parts, and we used two methods, depending on the shape (we used flat stock, didnt require the face to be machined). one, mill the center section while holding your raw stock, and then clamp through the center to do your outer profile (so 2 operations basically). two, you could mill the entire piece in one operation, but use tabs so you aren't actually cutting the part out completely. this would require post-machining cleanup though.