Posted: 2/5/2016 5:36:48 PM EDT
| I am having a hell of a time getting my vice square. How do you all do it? |
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You mean trammed in?
1.) Eyeball it 2.) Snug down nuts by finger so you can still tap it back and forth 3.) Set test indicator at one end and run along x. Note measurement at extrema (left, right, and center of vise jaw 4.) Take indicator to one end and tap until it reads what the reading was at the middle 5.) Run indicator along vise jaw one more time and make fine adjustments until runout is below desired level Shouldn't take more than a minute or two. ETA: And it's a vise, not a vice. A vice is all the swearing you do while you're trying to tram in your vise. You'll also want to make sure your ways are decently snug so you get minimal motion in y. What kind of mill is this? |
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I'm assuming you are referring to a vise on a mill or something similar, if so read on, if not my bad - you must have really meant vice.
Squaring a vise is one of those things where once you figure it out you want to kick yourself for doing it wrong so many times. My technique has been refined over the last 45 years to the point I can have one mounted and squared in just a couple of minutes. The secret is to use the hold down bolts as a pivot point, barely snug one and tighten the other (assuming you aren't using a vise with a rotary base - if you are and can't get it squared you need to take up knitting). Run your indicator across the stationary jaw to determine which way it needs to be adjusted then tap lightly to bring the indicator reading close to the same as it read on the end with the tight nut. Snug the opposite nut a little tighter and loosen the original tight nut a bit then repeat the indicator step. It should only take a few passes with the indicator to have it dialed in. Another issue you might be having since you didn't mention what kind of machine the vise was mounted to, is loose gibs or excess play on your y axis. Always clamp that axis to eliminate any movement from the table if you are on a knee mill or lesser machines. I usually snug up the table clamps on every axis. |