Fractal vise - GIF, video, and patent

**Jon** · Jun 26, 2021, 01:39 PM

1913 fractal vise restoration.

36:19 source video:

1913 U.S. patent 1,059,545 for "Device for Obtaining Intimate Contact With, Engaging, or Clamping Bodies of any Shape"

Previously:

30 plans for homemade machine vises
Miniature machine vise - video
Antique pattern maker's vise - GIF
41 interesting vise patents - drawings
The PositionALL - kind of a universal rotator for a vise or any work.
Giant vise - video

**mklotz** · Jun 26, 2021, 02:02 PM

I hope Mandelbrot was aware of this device; he would have been delighted.

**bruce.desertrat** · Jun 26, 2021, 07:43 PM

I cannot even start to consider how crazy handwork-intensive that was to manufacture in 1913.

**mklotz** · Jun 27, 2021, 08:03 AM

Apparently one can still buy a version. This...

https://fractalvise.com/?fbclid=IwAR...2ZKM-FpIPX341E

from a thread over on HSM.

**Toolmaker51** · Jun 27, 2021, 09:51 PM

Articulating jaws were prevalent in production lines, especially castings and shorter run forgings until CNC and CAD, which facilitated the milling/ boring conforming jaws. That also reduced fixturing of individual parts, into parts ganged up in vise jaws.

**Moldyjim** · Jun 28, 2021, 02:23 PM

Steve Lindsay Engraving just started offering their version for holding parts in an engraving vise.
No price set yet, probably more than I could afford without selling both kidneys.

**Toolmaker51** · Jun 28, 2021, 03:12 PM

What do we do in the face of high pricing.......?
Start with various solutions here in hallways of HMT.net

**WmRMeyers** · Jun 28, 2021, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

What do we do in the face of high pricing.......?
Start with various solutions here in hallways of HMT.net

This is where someone starts chanting "DIY, DIY, hey, hey! DIY, DIY!!" Sound about right?

Bill

**Toolmaker51** · Jun 28, 2021, 06:59 PM

Originally Posted by WmRMeyers

This is where someone starts chanting "DIY, DIY, hey, hey! DIY, DIY!!" Sound about right?

Bill

Eloquently put!
I'm itching to get back into working on instead of gathering materials. Started about 2-1/2 years ago, then on hold a year.....attacking a different way now.

**Moldyjim** · Jun 30, 2021, 10:02 AM

Originally Posted by Toolmaker51

Eloquently put!
I'm itching to get back into working on instead of gathering materials. Started about 2-1/2 years ago, then on hold a year.....attacking a different way now.

Sounds like a good collaborative project.
A number of us arrange to each build enough parts for a vise or two per participant.

That way on person builds say ten bases, another builds twenty jaws, a third builds x number of large pivots, etc.

Everyone makes one type of part, trying to equalize the costs and labor between the different parts.

Once everything is made all the parts are distributed and everyone gets a vise.

Should be possible with the skills here. Fitment might be tough, but still possible with todays accuracy.

Logistics would be the biggest issue, shipping costs, and agreement on the distribution of labor/material costs.

It's nice to dream though...