Vise for mill

[megafix4]

I recently bought a lathe/mill from Grizzly, model G4015Z, and I have ANOTHER quwestion for you all. Yes, I read your opinions about multi-machines, but too late now. I already have it.

As I slowly begin to learn the basics of the lathe and mill, I find that there is one problem with this setop. The vise for the mill is horizonal, and if I wish to do any 'top' side operations on a piece of metal, such as slitting, I'd need to mount the item sideways in the vise.

For many things this isn't really practical, so I was wondering if anyone knows anything about some kind of vise I could mount in the existing vise, but at 90 degrees to it? That way, the 'top' of the extra vise would be pointing in a horizontal direction, which would work for me, it seems. That assumes that the added vise would be sturdy, and that the adjustment for the jaws wouldn't get in the way of the mill chuck, etc.

Any ideas, anyone? I'm REALLY new to all of this, but I'm slooooowly learing!


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Bruce Johnston

[Paul H]

You might be best off by getting an angle plate, and bolting your existing vise 90 degrees to your table. Angle plates are versitile and relatively inexspensive.

[megafix4]

Paul,

That would be a good idea, except in this particular setup, the tool post for the lathe is a part of the vise. The tool post actually moves horizontally as you open and close the vise. That makes this vise, at least one side of it, big! :-)
But keep the ideas coming. I can use them!

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Bruce Johnston

[Paul H]

I'm looking at Enco's Sept. sale flier, and their 3 in 1, which I'm assuming is the same as the Grizzly. Is it possible to remove the turret tool holder from the vise? If so, it looks like you could remove the vise from the from the t-slotted cross slide on the lathe, put an angle plate on the cross slide, then attach the vise to the angle plate. Seems like for small pieces, you could just put the slitting saw on the lathe chuck, and use the vise as normal, though might need to add some sort of a plate under the vise to lift it up.

Lots of ways to fixture, just remember, keep it as rigid as possible. If you have to resort to less then ideal fixtures, ie not that rigid, then remember, sharp tools, and light cuts. I've milled acrilic tubing, and it was held to V-blocks with modeling clay.

If you can give some more details of what you are working on, might help me to brainstorm on other options.

[spkrman15]

Paul,

this might sound weird but what is an angle plate? Is that like a riser? A box shaped metal piece with slots cut into it for t-bolts?


Magafix,

It sound liek your lathe might be like mine. I can remouve the tool post from the cross slide. The vice comes off as well. I just had to pry alot.

Spkrman

[Paul H]

Sparkman,

An angle plate is like a big piece of angle iron, but precision ground, so truly 90 degrees, and typically has a reinforcing web or two. They are available in different sizes and styles, some have slots to allow clamping, others are plain, and can be drilled and tapped as needed for custom use, or just clamped with machinists clamps.

The import ones run $10-30 for the medium sizes, handy to have a few on hand. Go to http://www.use-enco.com type in angle plate, and check out some of the pictures.

If you need to do some index work, a good investment is an import spindex, with some 5C collets. You can mount the units w/ or w/o 90 deg plates in a drill press, lathe or mill to make many parts, and w/o breaking the bank.

[steve]

Ive got the big brother to your machine and my toolpost/vise is removable. Best get a serious vise for milling.

Had any oil leaks?


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[Thrud]

Spkrman,

An angle plate can be hardened steel or cast iron and the best ones have a ground finish. Cheaper Iron angle plates are just machined. The Iron plates come with ribs (strongest) or without (these can be machined on the inside of the corner as well) and with or without slots.

There are also granite angle plates for supporting work to be measured on granite plates. You do not need to worry about these.

A box shaped metal piece with slots cut into it for t-bolts or holes drilled and tapped is called a "tool maker's cube". These are handy for some set ups as are 1-2-3 or 2-4-6
blocks (usually drilled & tapped). They are also used with radial drilling machines to support work (iron sections).

Bruce,

You can clamp a smaller vice (such as a tool makers vise) in your main vise if you like.

Dave

[megafix4]

Just so you can see what it is that I'm working with at present, here is a picture of the vise mounted on the lathe/mill. It can be seen at:

http://members.aol.com/bjohns7764/lathe.jpg

The entire vise can be removed, along with the tool post, etc. but if I do that, I'm still faced with the problem of getting a vise that could be mounted sideways, using the two bolts that hold the present vise, and also keeping the handle for tightening the vise, out of the way of the mill chuck.

Perhaps, if I look around, I can find a vise that I could mount on a thick piece of steel, then clamp the plate into the present vise. That may be the only practical way at this point.

Any other ideas, after seeing the picture, would be greatly appreciated.




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Bruce Johnston

[Paul H]

Bruce,

My main concern with mounting a vise in a vise is you are going to be taking away what little rigidity the 3 in 1 already has. After posting my suggestion, I realized the existing vise handle might get in the way. If you have room, you could mount the vise with the handle facing the lathe bed.

The other option is use an angle plate, and get one of the clamp and stud kits for a mill, to clamp items to the plate. One of my angle plates is a plain one, that I've d/t'd a grid of 3/8-16 holes for that purpose. You can use v-blocks to hold round stock.

A further simpler option is to get some small dia end mills and use them in place of the slitting saw, and mount work in the std fashion in the vise.

One last thought, for small pieces, mount the vise on the angle plate, but have the handle facing you.

[Thrud]

Bruce,

"God, next time I complain about my tools I promise to remember the picture Bruce posted and smack myself in the head with a 3Lb. dead blow mallet for good measure - Amen."

Yooiks! Scared the poo out of me! First time I seen anything like that - strange...

My Maximat 7 has a dinky platform for the compound slide and it doubles as the milling table. Two 1/4 non-standard t-slots run along the right and left side. I have two Palmgren 3" ground vises mounted on plates so I have horzontal & vertical vises.

This still proved inadequate so I was forced to manufacture a tooling plate 15"x8x1" out of 6061 T6 Aluminum. I could not find a piece of cast iron big enough, and decided Aluminum would be fine as long as I don't ding it. I arranged a grid of forty holes & installed steel inserts from below to prevent pull out. This allowed me to use a 5/16" stud & clamping kit for a milling machine. (no camera for pictures - sorry). My machine is quite ridgid and the large plate does not seem to deflect enough to cause problems.

Paul made a good suggestion about the endmills. You could look at a small toolmakers vise and decide for yourself if it will work for you as it could be clamped in your present vise.

Good Luck
Dave