Mystery Milling Vice

Does anyone recognise the make of this large milling vice and/or possibly have an instruction manual? There is a piece missing at the handle end (I've put in a bronze bush as a temporary fix) and it has a strange sprung action when initially closed at which point you can continue turning the handle before coming to a solid stop. There's also some kind of cam operated by a hex socket on the top moving jaw but it doesn't seem to do anything. Despite this, it's obviously a quality piece of gear and I'd be interested to know more about it and a ball park value.

After an awful lot of internet surfing, it seems to suggest it's a Gressel and although outwardly having the appearance of hydraulic vice, the hex controls a cam that changes the clamping force by a mechanical means. It seems the bronze spacer I added is irrelevant and there should be two stops screwed in either side of the handle where I thought a part was missing.

Hi Chris, yes it's a Gressel MHS vice. I have one too, and some instructions etc which I will be happy to send you next week when I am back from holiday. Cheers Peter

Thanks, that's much appreciated.

Agree, it's a Gressel, I have one but of the smaller type. It should have some jaws that have 'V' slots vertical and horizontal.

Clive

The jaw pressures can be set with the key on the retracting jaw, normally just run up to the job with the knurled ring and then apply lever pressure.

Edited By Clive Hartland on 07/03/2019 13:43:47

Thanks Clive. I didn't get alternative jaws with it but the ones fitted suit me well.

Turns out the info I have is not all that extensive. I've placed what I have in this album:

https://www.model-engineer.co.uk/albums/member_album.asp?a=50264

The instructions I have I just saved after they were posted as images on some German Ebay auction... see the album for the other pages.

Edited By Bikepete on 10/03/2019 10:46:13

Edited By Bikepete on 10/03/2019 10:48:09

I also included some extra pics of semi-dicassembled vices and some of the accessories e.g. below:

The clamping force is set via the Allen key on top, which controls a cam which stops the 'second stage' compression at different force levels. The 100mm version only has two stops, but the 125mm and larger have three. On mine the sticker was missing too but for the 100mm (the one I have) see:

Edited By Bikepete on 10/03/2019 11:14:02

Also note that when I got mine, the 'two stage' action was not working. This was because the spindle assembly had been incorrectly assembled. It was a few years ago now but as I recall:

There should be a Allen-head grub screw somewhere on the circumference of the big knurled knob. Loosen this and unscrew the inner threaded spindle. Clean and lube. You'll see there is a sort of sprung face cam with a step which controls the 'two stage' action. On mine this had been assembled 'locked solid'.

As I recall all it needed was for the knurled ring to be backed off a few turns to provide space for the cam to move, and re-tighten the grub screw.

You'll probably have no problem figuring it out once the spindle is removed (and the first image I posted should also be helpful)

If you have lost all the markings on the two or three-position clamping force adjuster, try wiggling it with the Allen key as you tighten - you should be able to feel the 2 or 3 'flats' where the cam seats in each of the 2/3 positions.

Just in case it's not clear from the German instructions to use the vice there are three stages:

(1) Turn either the knurled knob by hand or use the handle (on the hex spindle). Jaws move 6mm per rev until contact is make with the workpiece.

(2) Turn the handle (on the hex spindle) a little more until it clicks - there is now 3-4 kN pre-tension on the jaws, and the knurled knob stops moving.

(3) now finish turning the handle until it reaches its hard stop (set by the 2 or 3 position cam) so that the full clamp force is applied (takes surprisingly little force). STOP at that point as trying to move the handle further will damage the vice.   

Hope that gets you going

Edited By Bikepete on 10/03/2019 11:10:21