10 Questions
What should be done before placing the vise on the machine table?
Ensure both the machine table and bottom of the vise are clean and burr-free.
What is the purpose of tightening the clamps to secure the base to the table?
To secure the base to the table and prevent movement during alignment.
Why should the dial indicator be positioned near the solid jaw of the milling vise?
To avoid errors in alignment and ensure accurate readings.
What is the goal of repeating the process of moving the vise and checking the indicator reading?
To achieve an indicator reading of TIR or less.
What should be done after tightening the swivel base clamping nuts?
Recheck to ensure the vise did not move.
When aligning a vise with a solid base, why should you snug only one clamp?
So it can act as a pivot point and make movements more predictable.
What should you recheck after fully tightening the clamps when aligning a vise?
The TIR (Total Indicator Reading)
What is the maximum acceptable TIR when aligning a vise?
or less
How can a vise be mounted on a solid base, as an alternative to the traditional alignment?
With the solid jaw parallel to the saddle movement (Y-axis)
What tool is used to tap the vise during alignment?
A dead blow hammer
Study Notes
Aligning a Milling Vise
- Ensure the machine table and vise bottom are clean and burr-free before aligning the vise.
- Caution: Get help when moving heavy vises and bend at the knees when lifting.
Aligning a Vise with a Swivel Base
- Tighten clamps to secure the base to the table and loosen the two nuts on the swivel base.
- Align the reference mark on the vise with the "0" mark on the base, making the nuts finger-tight.
- Mount a dial indicator in the machine spindle or on the head or ram using a clamp or magnetic base.
- Position the indicator near one end of the solid jaw of the milling vise.
- Indicate the solid jaw, as indicating the moveable jaw can create errors in alignment.
- Move the saddle to preload the dial indicator and set the dial face to "0".
- Turn the table handle to move the indicator near the other end of the solid jaw and note the direction and amount of indicator movement.
- Use a soft plastic or dead blow hammer to lightly tap and move the vise to split the difference of the indicator readings.
- Repeat this process until the indicator reading is TIR (Total Indicator Reading) or less.
- Tighten the swivel base clamping nuts and recheck to ensure the vise did not move.
Aligning a Vise with a Solid Base
- Snug one clamp and make the second one only finger-tight, allowing the vise to pivot at the tighter clamp.
- Follow the same steps used with the swivel-base vise until TIR across the solid jaw is 0.001 inches or less.
- Always recheck TIR after final tightening of the clamps.
- A vise can also be mounted with the solid jaw parallel to the saddle movement (Y-axis), using the same technique for aligning.
Learn the steps to align a milling vise, including cleaning the machine table and vise, positioning clamps, and tightening nuts. Also, discover how to align the vise with a swivel base.
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