Is this a good tilting vice?

I cannot see John how a tilting vice could be used satisfactorily to machine a Keats angle plate, even using a robust vice.

Incidentally, the site now runs to almost 350 pages and includes 50 workshop projects and 20 workshop processes, with many more to follow over the next few months. These will be most of the articles I have provided in ME and MEW.

Harold

Edited By Harold Hall 1 on 22/09/2011 16:37:18

Edited By Harold Hall 1 on 22/09/2011 17:06:31

Actually Harold I dug out MEW 161 and read your article. I just need to make a lot of clamps to be able to do it your way, and buy a protractor!

Good news is I do have two angle plates

Edited By John Coates on 22/09/2011 18:19:23

Sorry John for having been slow in replying to your question.

This is a very difficult question to answer as there are so many variables so can only give a few pointers and will start with castings.

Do remove all the high spots on the face to be placed on the faceplate, machine table or angle plate.

Even with that done the face will be far from perfect so place a piece of thin hard card between the workpiece and mounting surface. Sheet copper is often mentioned but is expensive and card is freely available. This will increase the contact between the surfaces.

However, contact will still not be perfect so do make sure, if possible, that the end of the clamps being used are well in from the workpiece's edge which does in some cases fall away. Say at least 10mm. I think this is possibly one of the more likely causes of the problem

The packing end must be higher than the workpiece, but only just, say plus 1mm. Much more, especially with a short clamp, and the clamp stud will have to approach at an angle so that the nut/washer sit cleanly on the clamp surface.

If you are using clamps with jacking screws, as I mostly do, above say 40mm workpiece thickness, add and tighten a nut against the clamp to make the assembly more ridged. If the clamps have a clearance hole, add a nut below and above for the same reason.

With multiple clamps, gradually tighten each one in turn.

In particularly difficult situations, if possible, add supports around the base of the workpiece.

Avoid using multiple pieces of steel, etc. to make up the packing height. If you have to do this make sure it is stable. Don't do this on the faceplate!

Try, wherever possible, to have the angle plate horizontal in the bench vice whilst mounting the workpiece, then moving it to the machine.

If securing a more regular item, rather than a casting, you should not need the card packing, otherwise the other comments all have some relevance.

I would like to think that I have solved your problem, but I am not confident, however, the above should provide a starting point.

Harold