I was sure my vise setup was fine until a part flew out

Last week, I was running a batch of 50 aluminum brackets and one just launched across the shop. I'd been using the same jaw pressure for years, thinking 'if it worked before, it's good.' A guy on the next machine saw it happen and said, 'You're still using the old torque specs from the manual, right? That steel vise needs way more for aluminum.' I checked, and he was totally right. How many of you actually adjust your clamping force based on the material?

3 comments

3 Comments

daniela8511d ago

amy_coleman saying it was just a weird one-off with a burr is wild to me. That bracket flew 15 feet and dented the steel cabinet door. If you're running 50 parts, the setup has to hold for all 50, not 49. The manual specs are for the vise itself, not your specific cut on a specific material. I watched a guy snap a 3/4 end mill because his steel part slipped in a vise set for aluminum. It's not overkill, it's just the job.

harperp2411d ago

Seriously, daniela85 has a point about the manual specs being a starting point. The real force depends on your tool path and how much material you're taking off. I'd rather waste a minute checking torque than spend an hour fixing a crash, you know?

amy_coleman11d ago

Adjusting torque for every material sounds like overkill... the manual specs are there for a reason. If you're not getting chatter or seeing tool marks, the part is held fine. That flying bracket was probably just a weird one-off with a burr or something.