From: djb@invalid.com   
      
   On 22/01/2026 18:32, Bob La Londe wrote:   
   > 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).   
   >   
   >   
   OK, thanks for the reply, I expect you'll report back on how you get on   
   with them after they arrive, maybe even post some pics of the results.   
      
   Tea cakes like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Compressed_tea ?   
      
   Here in the UK EN24T is a common alloy steel equivalent to 4340 and   
   supplied hardened and tempered to T condition which seems to be the same   
   as the 4140HT. Never really had an issue with it but I don't machine   
   lots of it and certainly slow the SFM down compared to easier to machine   
   steels.   
      
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