5" CNC vise cracked today

[RussMachine]

The sliding jaw on my 5" TORMACH CNC vise cracked today.
I've only had it for a year, and don't really use it a lot.
Normal usage today, I wasn't beating on it, hammering it, or abusing it in any way.
Only tightening it with upper body strength and a good wrap with my palm, then "POW!!!" it cracked.
I emailed TORMACH, and sent them pictures.
Bad casting, most likely. I hope they can replace it. At least replace the sliding jaw.

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[RussMachine]

- - - Updated - - -

[SCzEngrgGroup]

Ouch!

Regards,
Ray L.

[jid2]

No more Red Bulls for you.

[WOTDesigns]

Damn. That's something I've never seen before!

I thought it was bad when the steel jaws on my 5" Tormach broke off!

Brian
WOT Designs

[RussMachine]

Yes Keen, it is a 'no lift' design. The crack goes all the way across the bottom of the jaw, through the hook as well.

[CadRhino]

Bummer
If you ever get another 5" vise, you might want to look at Tormachs machinist vise. They are made really well by mini mag here in the usa. Both of mine have been great.

The sliding jaw on my 5" TORMACH CNC vise cracked today.
I've only had it for a year, and don't really use it a lot.
Normal usage today, I wasn't beating on it, hammering it, or abusing it in any way.
Only tightening it with upper body strength and a good wrap with my palm, then "POW!!!" it cracked.
I emailed TORMACH, and sent them pictures.
Bad casting, most likely. I hope they can replace it. At least replace the sliding jaw.

[Steve Seebold]

The sliding jaw on my 5" TORMACH CNC vise cracked today.
I've only had it for a year, and don't really use it a lot.
Normal usage today, I wasn't beating on it, hammering it, or abusing it in any way.
Only tightening it with upper body strength and a good wrap with my palm, then "POW!!!" it cracked.
I emailed TORMACH, and sent them pictures.
Bad casting, most likely. I hope they can replace it. At least replace the sliding jaw.

It looks/sounds to me like you're trying to make the vise WAY tighter than it needs to be

[RussMachine]

It looks/sounds to me like you're trying to make the vise WAY tighter than it needs to be

A good squeeze with muscle, and a rap with the palm of my hand isn't "Too Tight".
If I was beating on it with a mallet, or using a cheater pipe, then I'd understand ... but I wasn't.
Apparently I'm a lot stronger than Cast Iron?.
Good news though, TORMCH is sending a replacement next week.
Can't beat their customer service.

[LeeWay]

It's fairly obvious it was a flawed casting. I have seen quite a few flaws fail in castings. Not just cast iron, if that is what this vise is made of.

[Don Clement]

Good news though, TORMCH is sending a replacement next week.
Can't beat their customer service.

+1 on Tormach customer service.

Don

[LRF]

RussMachine, good the hear things worked out. The good part of this is that now you know your stronger than cast iron.

[pickled]

Damn!! I sure wouldn't want to be around you when you decide to go all Beast Mode on something! It must be from your table clamps because the crack lines up so well LOL! Glad that Tormach stepped up and is replacing that for you. I've beat up on my 5" CNC vise and it's still functioning after a couple of years.

[Zetopan]

RussMachine, good the hear things worked out. The good part of this is that now you know your stronger than cast iron.

And I will add to the some fairly obvious advice - If you are that strong, DO NOT use a wrench when tightening bolts in the future, for you finger-tight is plenty sufficient.

[Tkamsker]

Zetopan you made my Day ...

[rowbare]

I am glad you are getting a replacement. Just out of curiosity, was the jaw plate extending below the level of the moving jaw? It almost looks like that in the picture. That would add stress as the movable tries to sit down flat.

bob

[LeeWay]

I don't think my Shars vise lifts and if it does, it's only a minute amount. I rarely ever use parallels to support my work piece and opt instead to use soft jaws. I use Monster Jaws. When I cut the step in these jaws, I first use my face mill to get both equal. I do this with the jaws tightened so if there is any lift, it's there then. Then I mill the step. This keeps everything nice and flat when clamped down.

I know my first China Vise was pretty poor quality. You could see the jaw lift and a lot. I still use that vise but not as intended. I now use it to thermoform my polycarbonate dust ports. It is fixed to the top of our oven. It has half round shapes bolted to steel jaws and I use an impact wrench to open them up rather than closing them. Works great. I never thought a vise, especially one that cheaply made would be just as strong opening as closing.

[CROSSHATCH]

Lee, pretty much the same set-up on my Torus Pro, I follow the same procedure with my monster jaws. Except, I face with the end-mill I machine the step because I don't want to make that annoying tool change...

Glad your getting a new vise.

Cheers.

-Jason

[twocik]

WOW !! Russ the Vise Cracker !!