I'm looking for ideas to retain parallels in a vise tower in a horizontal mill. We're using hard jaws with parallels in a Kurt vise tower. We have plates bolted to the sides of the jaws to use as stops so parallel spreaders aren't going to work. The current idea is to use some good die springs with flat faces. I was just curious if anyone had any good ideas. We've used this set-up before and the problems we've had are chips getting under the parallels, springs getting dislodged and lost, things like that.
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Hmc retaining parallels in a vise
- Thread starter Ryan_503
- Start date
- Replies 18
- Views 2,485
TeachMePlease
Diamond
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2014
- Location
- FL
Drill some holes in the jaws. Epoxy in some neodymium magnets flush, or just shy of the surface.
Mike1974
Diamond
- Joined
- Nov 5, 2014
- Location
- Tampa area
Expensive, but they make some parallels for exactly what you need (in 1/8" increments or so)... Sorry not finding a good link. I think Teco (probably others too) makes some. The vise jaws have a littel pocket and the paralells have a spring like notch that locks them in place...
QuickChange Parallel Kits On TE-CO
Here they are. Might be cheaper to make once you see how it works, but for $400 time might be better for you.
QuickChange Parallel Kits On TE-CO
Here they are. Might be cheaper to make once you see how it works, but for $400 time might be better for you.
I take leftover metal banding material, cut with tin snips then bend in a "WV" shape to whatever the spacing is. Pallet banding material is spring steel so its perfect. I keep all the banding that comes in and have a collection of heights from 1/2" to 1-1/2".
G
guest
Guest
Been using the banding trick for 40 years, but sometimes it's just better to make some jaws and mill in the step. Hell of a lot easier to blow off and load parts than monkeying around with parallels all the time- specially on a horizontal...
mhajicek
Diamond
- Joined
- May 11, 2017
- Location
- Maple Grove, MN, USA
Or use step jaws.
Scruffy887
Titanium
- Joined
- Dec 17, 2012
- Location
- Se Ma USA
Spacer block and a piece of polyurethane hose as a spring.
Job Shopper TN
Cast Iron
- Joined
- May 17, 2015
- Location
- Southeast TN
TBH step jaws sound like the answer. Steel jaws from Monster Jaws are pretty cheap, just add a step. If you're in a pinch then yep, bend some banding stock into a W or Z pattern and use it as a parallel keeper.
I could fill a 5 gallon bucket with modeling clay from vises I have bought from Everett area aerospace companies over the past decade. You wouldn't happen to be in that area would you?
as9100d
Stainless
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2019
- Location
- Paris, Arkansas
We make brass bushings for the magnets and then press it all together. No need for epoxy and the magnets don't magnetize everything around it.
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Not quite; local? no but only 175 mi away. This was something I did entirely on my own. I'd like to say .. great minds ...
More like even a blind pig finds an acorn once in a while.
TeachMePlease
Diamond
- Joined
- Feb 11, 2014
- Location
- FL
Brass makes sense. I know those coated magnets aren't going to compress without crumbling, so I figured for going right into steel, an epoxy fit was desirable over a a press fit. I imagine pressing into brass is no big deal.
as9100d
Stainless
- Joined
- Apr 19, 2019
- Location
- Paris, Arkansas
Either way works. Two of the best ideas came from us [emoji23]
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PegroProX440
Hot Rolled
- Joined
- Mar 7, 2012
- Location
- Ormond Beach
I use rubber bands but some of the chemicals I spray on them eat them up. Then I will use zip ties and make a rectangular shaped design and tighten them. They last forever and i reuse them all the time.
Cole2534
Diamond
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2010
- Location
- Oklahoma City, OK
I'm kind surprised that a reversible step/non-step hard jaw hasn't been released. I guess one could pair and elongate the holes.
Mud
Diamond
- Joined
- May 20, 2002
- Location
- South Central PA
There are 2 kinds from Teco, 1 snaps in and 1 slips in from the side. I have the snap in set, they are pretty nice.Expensive, but they make some parallels for exactly what you need (in 1/8" increments or so)... Sorry not finding a good link. I think Teco (probably others too) makes some. The vise jaws have a littel pocket and the paralells have a spring like notch that locks them in place...
QuickChange Parallel Kits On TE-CO
Here they are. Might be cheaper to make once you see how it works, but for $400 time might be better for you.
There is, I have a set for 8" vises, I think Kurt made them.
I've used truck tarp straps for serious holding power. Punch a new end hole where needed.
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