A machine vise holds a workpiece for milling or drilling and can be adjusted to any angle or position. It is essential for repeating angles on multiple pieces. There are two spellings, vice in the UK and vise in the US. CNC machines use a hydraulically operated vise for precise machining. The vise allows for precision, accuracy, and repeatable results.
A machine vise is a device used to hold a workpiece when using a milling machine or drill press. It is adjustable in many different ways, allowing you to manipulate the workpiece into any required angle or position. This type of vise is essential when you need to repeat a certain angle on multiple pieces. The machinist can mount the work piece and adjust the vise to the desired angle and position and the finish machined will exactly duplicate the previous pieces.
It should be noted that there are two common spellings of this piece of machinery. In the UK, when referring to a machine defect, the word is spelled vice. Alternatively, in the United States, the mechanical vice is used.
In some milling operations, the cutting tool remains stationary while the machine’s vise is used to move the work piece into the cutting tool and complete the machining operation. The precision movement of the vise allows the machinist to create precise operations by manipulating the vise controls. In other operations, the machine’s vise simply serves to position the workpiece as it is milled. This typically occurs when machining a flat, square workpiece.
While the vast majority of machine vise designs are manually operated, some styles of computer numerical control (CNC) machines use a hydraulically operated and controlled vise. This allows the vise to position the workpiece to a programmed set of dimensions. As the CNC machine creates and completes a series of machining operations, the machine’s vise rotates the workpiece into position for the next programmed cutting pass. The computerized precision of the CNC makes it possible to machine several thousand exactly alike finished parts.
The evolution of the machine vice has made it possible to complete milling and machining projects with great precision. Machinists could complete several identical pieces in a single shift. By retrofitting the vise to a CNC machine, a machinist can now create dozens of highly detailed, complex parts in a single shift to precise tolerances. Precision, accuracy and repeatable results are just some of the benefits of working with an infinitely adjustable vise and router.
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