precision small part machining. They are well-suited for clamping parts for continuous five-axis cutting motion of complex pockets, sculptured and contoured surfaces, and intricate 3D features with repeatable high precision. The MaxLock vises are able to hold parts up to 6 ½" (165-mm) in length with machined jaws and clamp both OD and ID. They feature an adjustable centerline, and their tall jaws provide increased spindle clearance and are machinable to include a step for eliminating the need for parallels. “A major benefit of the zero point
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clamping system is its ability to reduce setup time and deliver high quality part finishes without scrap. The DockLock zero point system is able to reduce setup time for a typical workholding setup change requiring 20 minutes using standard methods to less than 2 minutes,” said Kane. “For a mold com- pany, for example, the pull studs can be put right into the mold itself. When the mold comes back for rework, they put pull studs back into the machine and it’s already placed for machining,” said Kane.
“The big challenge of five-axis work- holding are the variables in part size and shape,” said Andy Popky, applica- tions engineer, Tombstone City (Stuart, FL). “People want simple solutions to holding parts on five-axis machining centers. You always have to deal with the possibility of interference with the spindle head which tilts from vertical, where there is less chance of interfer- ence, to horizontal where interference with the vise, the workpiece or the machine table can occur.” Tombstone City offers the VB 5AX
100 five-axis vise in 4, 5, 6, and 7" (100, 125, 150, 175-mm) heights that
are designed to avoid interference issues when the head is tilted to the horizontal or the spindle is larger. “The larger the spindle, the more chance of interference,” said Mr. Popky. “Our tall vises from 4 to 7" [100-175 mm] are designed to
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