Fractal vice

I came across this on youtube. The chap did a complete restoration which included making a replacement jaw to replace one that was missing.

Is this wonderful vice design actually based on fractal geometry?

There is a degree of self-replication in the jaws. What was the state of fractal science at the date of the patent? Mandelbrot came along later, I think.

Fractal refers to replication of identical elements in ever smaller sizes starting from a single base shape.

All the pivoting arrangements of the vice segments are the same shape. Each little segment moves independently, as each larger segment does, so the vice jaws are true fractal! 2 to the 4th power.

Mandelbrot basically formalised the mathematics to establish the general solution and demonstrate the capability of infinite expansion.

Infinite replication of ever smaller elements doesn't actually have to refer to identical shapes but the maths is more than a little challenging rendering the concept pretty much impractical in an analytical sense.

Clive

The term 'fractal' was first used by mathematicians to explore the idea that between the common concepts of one, two, and three dimensional spaces, there could be other, in-between fractal dimensions. This gives rise to things like shapes with infinite perimeters yet finite area, or bounded lines of infinite length. Self-similarity isn't a necessary condition, but it's easy to come up with rules to create fractals that are self-similar and mathematically tractable. Discovering non-similar fractals is a trickier enterprise. It turns out that generalising the concept of 'fractal' to a usable, precise mathematical definition isn't especially useful, so nowadays fractal is more of "I know it when I see it" term.

What a fantastic piece of equipment, whatever it is called. I wish they still sold them as I haven't a hope in hell of making one!

Does it matter what it is called? It's a clever design, and well made. Could be very useful in some circumstances.

One thing that did please me in his very interesting YouTube video - his use of Sheffield-made Eclipse Vee blocks when drilling a hole at one point.

Amazing vice, though - and a lot of precision needed to make it in 1913. What would it cost to make it today?

Certainly something to consider for 3D printing - to be lazy about it.
Meanwhile a simpler version might be a rectangular (smallest) jaw with a pivot like a seesaw on its side, (two off) mounted on the end of a bigger seesaw etc.

Will one of the CAD gurus have the design out before I can finish typing?

This 3D Printed Version at Thingiverse might be of interest.

Fantastic vice!

I wonder if they could be made today using CNC setups to keep the cost down compared to the hand fitting methods presumably needed for the original. Potentially small market though I suppose.

The Swedish firm SEVO make or made a much simpler version which seems to work reasonably well.

Rod

There is another vice rebuild on YouTube featuring similarly adaptive gripping, this Ampogrip vice that uses ball bearings as a hydraulic fluid.

Ampogrip Vise Rehab

Brian

For light work you could print this one from Thingiverse

John

Edit: Oops, missed Peter's post above.

Edited By Journeyman on 24/07/2021 08:59:16

Looks brilliant in theory but with so many moving parts it's going to be a bit wonky after a bit of use

Question.

What does the "B" in Benoir B Mandlebrot stand for?

Answer Benoir B Mandlebrot.

I'll get me hat!