Author Topic: Best way to clamp and cut this?  (Read 7363 times)

Offline DarrenUK

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Best way to clamp and cut this?
« on: November 14, 2013, 03:20:48 PM »
I need to cut a quarter section out of the length of some round stock (like in the diagram) using my milling machine. I'm having trouble figuring out the best way to clamp and cut successfully.

When clamped in my vice if I try to mill that part out I will end up cutting into my vice jaws.

Any ideas?

Offline mattinker

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Re: Best way to clamp and cut this?
« Reply #1 on: November 14, 2013, 03:25:30 PM »
How long is your stock and how long is the finished article. What is the metal?

Regards, Matthew

Offline DarrenUK

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Re: Best way to clamp and cut this?
« Reply #2 on: November 14, 2013, 03:29:52 PM »
How long is your stock and how long is the finished article. What is the metal?

Regards, Matthew

The stock is 20mm x 70mm and is made of steel. There will be no spare either end to clamp, need to mill that part out of the entire length.

Offline awemawson

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Re: Best way to clamp and cut this?
« Reply #3 on: November 14, 2013, 03:33:19 PM »
Surely you can start with a longer bit of stock to give you clamping room?

If not, cast it in one of the low temperature alloys to hold it such as cerobend they melt at less than boiling point of water.

http://www.budgetcastingsupply.com/papers/Low_Melting_Temp_Alloys.pdf

Andrew
Andrew Mawson
East Sussex

Offline 90LX_Notch

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Re: Best way to clamp and cut this?
« Reply #4 on: November 14, 2013, 03:38:21 PM »
The ends of the bar perpendicular to the face of the vice jaws and the center of the bar just above the top of the jaws.  The ends of the bar should be faced and parallel to one and other.

-Bob
Former HMEM member.

Offline philf

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Re: Best way to clamp and cut this?
« Reply #5 on: November 14, 2013, 03:57:24 PM »
Darren,

Bob's suggestion is good but as he says you need to machine the ends very parallel and you need a very good vice where the  moving jaw doesn't lift when tightened.

If you can angle the vertical head or your vice you could try either of the following:



Phil.
« Last Edit: July 13, 2017, 01:58:54 PM by philf »
Phil Fern
Location: Marple, Cheshire

Offline DarrenUK

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Re: Best way to clamp and cut this?
« Reply #6 on: November 14, 2013, 03:58:57 PM »
Darren,

Bob's suggestion is good but as he says you need to machine the ends very parallel and you need a very good vice where the  moving jaw doesn't lift when tightened.

If you can angle the vertical head or your vice you could try either of the following:



Phil.

Thanks Phil, that looks the way to go for me. I think I will give that a try.

Offline DarrenUK

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Re: Best way to clamp and cut this?
« Reply #7 on: November 14, 2013, 03:59:14 PM »
Thanks all for the suggestions.

Offline Mike K

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Re: Best way to clamp and cut this?
« Reply #8 on: November 14, 2013, 05:11:28 PM »
If it's only 70mm long, can't it be clamped in the vise with the ends against the jaws?  Seems like that would be a better grip.

Offline tekfab

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Re: Best way to clamp and cut this?
« Reply #9 on: November 14, 2013, 05:19:25 PM »
Why don't you just clamp it on the table using the t slot to locate it and either add a clamp at a machined place then remove the clamp at the area still to be machined that way it shouldn't move/rotate while you continue your machining operation.

Mike.