From: none@none.com99   
      
   On 1/22/2026 10:49 AM, David Billington wrote:   
   > On 21/01/2026 18:50, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   >> My CNC machines have limited work envelopes.  As a result I have   
   >> modified a number of screwless vises to maximize use of the work   
   >> envelope.  3 are 6.6 x 11.8 and only after I reconfigured the   
   >> software. I long ago figured out a modified 5 inch vise with jaws   
   >> machined back or other modifications worked best for y, and a 6 inch   
   >> was an "okay compromise for X.  In fact a pair of 5 screwless vises   
   >> modified to match would give the most working envelope.  I only have   
   >> one five inch screwless vise.  I've been using six inch on the other   
   >> two machines.   
   >>   
   >> Technically they are 4.72 (120mm) wide by 5.91 (150mm) jaw opening. In   
   >> the past I have just machined away part of the jaws, to provide wide   
   >> opening, and small step jaw, and clearance for through holes in mold   
   >> plates.  I think this time I'll do it differently.  Machine a grove on   
   >> the flat tops of the jaws to add a secondary jaw.  Z height is limited   
   >> on the smaller machines, but since I am almost exclusively machining   
   >> plate no thicker than an inch it shouldn't be an issue to raise the   
   >> work piece a little. If I do have to work on somethign outside my   
   >> normal scope I am charging extra for it anyway, so taking down the   
   >> default setup is not a big deal.   
   >   
   > How are you going to machine it, the link says they're hardened steel   
   > and HRC 58-62, while not impossible to machine it makes it interesting.   
   > I accidentally touched the top of one of the jaws on my Gerardi vice   
   > which is similar hardness and it just polished it slightly although IIRC   
   > that was an HSS cutter.   
   >   
   >   
   >>   
   >> I have been wanting some screwless vises in this size class for a   
   >> while, but they all seem to be over priced compared to smaller and   
   >> even some bigger options.  A while back I found some from Tormach of   
   >> all places. I put six of them in my shopping cart and saw I qualified   
   >> for free basic shipping.  I didn't want to spend the time, and I   
   >> forgot about them. Yesterday I was looking up something else on the   
   >> Tormach website and saw they were still in my shopping cart, still a   
   >> great price, and still free shipping.  I figured I better get them   
   >> while they were still available.   
   >>   
   >> Now I might have some use for that surface grinder Jim was talking   
   >> about, or maybe I'll just mill them and call it good enough.   
   >>   
   >> Anyway, the main point of this post was to let you guys know about   
   >> them if any of you have a use. https://tormach.com/120mm-toolmaker-   
   >> vise-screwless-33111.html   
   >>   
   >> Its a good enough price I was tempted to buy extras, and wait for them   
   >> to run out, then resell them on FleaBay.   
   >>   
   >>   
   >   
      
   I've had no insurmountable issue cutting similar vises with TiAln coated   
   carbide or even AlTiN coated carbide with steel cutting geometry.  I   
   suppose theoretically it could be through hardened, but I think its   
   unlikely.  Even if it was quenched and tempered instead of case hardened   
   I think the hard layer will be relatively thin just due to the mass.  If   
   I have to dress down a grinding wheel to break the surface I will, but I   
   don't thing I'll have to.   
      
   FYI:  Two of my current vises I stepped the cut back jaws with 1/4 inch   
   AlTiN coated cutters at crazy high RPM on my high speed spindle   
   machines.  Machined in place.  I don't recall off hand, but the lowest I   
   typically run those spindles is 8K, and they don't start developing real   
   power until about 12K.  Cutting in place turned out to be a waste of   
   time.  I wound up taking them off the machine, and slitting them for a   
   relief cut in the step on the knee mill in the back.   
      
   Anyway, they were hardish, but it was not like hard milling, and if   
   theses new ones turn out to be hard milling I'll just follow some of the   
   recipes worked up ages ago by NYC CNC for the Tormach.  Its not like I   
   have to do it everyday.  I do it once (well maybe six times) and never   
   do it again... or atleast not for several years.   
      
   I've struggled more with "softer" 4140HT (28-32HRC).  The machinists   
   groups on Facebook sneer at my struggles, but I've found the stuff very   
   tough and experienced very short tool life.  I spent weeks replacing   
   cutters and recutting parts when I made some 4140HT embossing and   
   compacting press dies with the stuff for tea cakes (cakes of tea, not   
   cakes to be eaten with tea).   
      
      
   --   
   Bob La Londe   
   CNC Molds N Stuff   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)