Aligning Two Vises

[clemens1292]

I set up one vise and have it within 0.001 all the across. I'm trying to now set up an identical vise about a foot to the left of it to the exact same measurments. I can set it up and get the right side of the vise equal to the other vise, but as soon as I try to dial in the left side everything gets screwed up. It's racking my brain how much harder it is for me to calibrate a single vise, but to calibrate one off the other seems near impossible (I know it's not, just saying).

Any tips for this? Sorry if this is a total noob question.

[underthetire]

Soft jaws, rough them in then just cut them.

[clemens1292]

Oh sweet baby jesus. Darwin award of the day:
The dial indicator mount some how came loose, so everytime I was tapping the vice, it was rotating the indicator.

Embarassing... yet relieving....

[KenFoulks]

1. You can use a piece of material (tighten in right vice, then push the left vice against the material)
2. You can see if your vice has the ability to use pins for alignment
3. You can use soft jaws as underthetire recommended
4. You can trig out the movement, based on the right bolt as the pivot point
5. You can make a fixture that locates on a certain feature.

[txcncman]

Easiest way, if you have a ground piece of bar stock, is clamp the bar stock in both vises and then indicate the bar stock and tighten the hold down bolts.

[Boone]

If you can't indicate two, three or even four vises in line within .0005 of each other, perhaps you should think of another line of work to get into...

[jeffrey001]

If you can't indicate two, three or even four vises in line within .0005 of each other, perhaps you should think of another line of work to get into...

What a great reply, hope it will help somebody...

Jeff

[Machineit]

What a great reply, hope it will help somebody...

Jeff

Thanks Jeff,

I had some to say that was less kind, but held my typing finger.

[l u k e]

Thanks Jeff,

I had some to say that was less kind, but held my typing finger.

lol, I deleted my reply before I hit Submit.

[Delw]

You know boone has a point , if you cant do that How the heck you going to inspect your parts. Sometimes common sence has to come into play.

[jeffrey001]

clement1292 said that it was a noob question...

IMHO, that's why forum exist, someone with less experience asking for help from members having more experience.

Just my 2 cents.


Jeff

[Machineit]

I think everyone missed the post where he found his indicator had come loose and fixed the problem!?!?!?!?!?