Fixturing Advice

[muddawg]

I purchased a Probotix Fireball Comet last year, and have just been toying around with it lately. One issue I tend to run into is how to fixture small parts. Curious if anybody has advice.

I tend try to use my router as more of a "mini-mill" for plastics and wood, then what I would expect they are mostly used for. Don't do much sign making and the such.

Any advice would be appreciated.

thnx

[muddawg]

I came across these:

Myers Made Industries. SC501A Slot Clamp

Anybody have any experience with using them, or any other ideas?

[txcncman]

Work holding really depends on the size, shape, and material of the part and what type of cutting needs to be done on them, as well as precision and repeatability desired. There is not one work holding method that fits every scenario. The method linked to would be a good stating point. Also invest in a quality milling vise and some aluminum soft jaws. If you plan to do milling on small round parts, a 5C collet system is a nice addition.

[muddawg]

Thanks for the reply tx.

I guess I should clarify, that what I'm looking for is basically a low profile vise mechanism (I think). I'm use to running the conventional knee-mills and machine centers where I have all kinds of room for vises, collets etc. Problem is on my little router, there isn't much travel on the Z, so I have to get creative, in how I fixture things. If anybody else runs into this problem, I'd really like to hear how they have dealt with it.

[dertsap]

Mitee-Bite Products Co.



.

[brucer]

I've machined small uhmw parts on the hard jaw of a kurt vise using double sided tape to hold the part. parts were approximately 1"x1"


a small split (2pc) vise might help you..


toolmakers vises come in various sizes
http://www1.mscdirect.com/eCommerce/...akers%27+Vises

[RomanLini]

I used the machine to drill an accurate grid of holes in the table, then tapped threads in the holes. For small jobs I just drill the piece of stock and screw it down, it's low profile and very secure.

As a bonus you can use countersunk screws so it locates the stock to the table, I have done this and taken the part off the machine for measurements and testing etc, then screwed it back down and done some more machining on it. It may not be a "precision" locating jig but it worked pretty well for repeatability!