The PositionALL - kind of a universal rotator for a vise or any work.

Here's a quick video showing a few of the features of the PositionALL darn-near-universally adjustable work mount.

This is a proof-of-concept/prototype. The finished tool will be powder coated and quite elegant (of course!).
: - )

There's more features coming to it soon, I'm still in the design/prove-out stage.

Please, let me know ALL of your thoughts, complaints, questions, comments, kudos, and amazement!
: - )

At the start of the video I have my favorite Wilton 3" vise on it, then I swap that out for a base fixture that can have ANYTHING mounted to it.

You see, the PositionALL is designed to accept any 1-12" square tube mount that you want to weld up - just like a receiver-hitch.

Yeah, this is an unedited video that I just shot a half hour ago.

Cheers!

https://youtu.be/t-b53TJs2eA

That's awesome! Looks like a rugged improvement over the Emmert Patternmaker's Vise...

The Iron Hand - Emmert Vises

Nice! Sure could have used on of those back in my mold making days.

Brilliant! I want one.

Duke,
Yes, it is!
I had an Emmert for years - but using it as a welding vise just seemed mean.
:-)

MoldyJim,
The patternmaker crowd is certainly one of my target markets.
Havin been a fine woodworker myself for years, I know the need.
:-)

RLM,
Sometime soon you should be able to buy one!
The goal here is to get this bugger manufactured for actual sale.

Since I was a design engineer in a past life, I'm designing it not just for usability, but for manufacturabilty as well.

Once I finish all the trial and error, error, error stage, I'll finalize my design and get a set of prototype parts made so I can fab up and verify all my easy-to-manufacture ideas as well.

Then the world will beat a path to my door . . .
: - )

Charles, it looks like a good idea. most of my questions are related to the design process...

Assuming the ball is a bowling ball, does the socket parts end up scoring the surface of the ball? will the ball become "rougher" over sustained use, and therefore more "clicky" in the positions it locks in, or have reduced locking power as it wears (possibly unevenly)
The locking mechanism seems to have a swinging pivot, and actuate at the bottom. Is the mech at the bottom tolerant of grinding dust, etc? is there a maintenance load/lubrication regime needed for continued service life?
I notice the piece of wood under pedal (temporary travel stop?) - is there an issue of overtravel? what effect does that have on the system?
Is there a minimum weight needed on the pedal to be effective? Should the mech have one pedal to unlock, with another to lock?

I know I'll be wanting one for myself in the future, but when I view with a lens of "in my place of work"... the questions above are what comes to me.

It's a great looking proposition, and I really want to see this available and successful,
Des

Des,
WOW! I love people like you (who think like me).
: - )

The sockets are CNC turned to match the 8.5" diameter of the ball, so they have a large bearing area and do not 'crease' into the ball.
I am using a used ball for this proto and I like the slightly roughened surface of the ball, b/c it give 'bite'. New balls are polished. Though I have been in talks with a ball mfgr who is glad to do whatever I need.

The clamping arm and all pivot points are oilite bearings, press fit. there currently is no dust-seal designed in, but your question makes me think that a simple square-ring and keeper might be in order.

The 'crank arm' between the pedal and the main clamping arm is adjustable so you can dial it in as needed.

Yes, the wood is temporary - the idea is to incorporate a locking mechanism to keep the pedal all the way down in the 'loose ball' position, so you have both feet free to use a TIG pedal, or kick the cat, etc.
With the ability to stop the ball at vertical of horizontal axis, this obviously becomes a handy 'turntable' for welding, in particular.

BUT, that said, I have designed this to be a 'dead man' action: if your foot slips off the pedal is CLAMPS! in position. My first horribly hacked-together-but-actually-working test wasn't that way and it scared the crap outta me to use it. : - )

BTW: I want to design a vise with centering jaws so things clamped are on-axis. : - )

THANKS very much for your questions - KEEP 'EM COMIN'!!
You see, so far this has been designed in a bit of a vacuum, so having experienced eyes on it helps immensely.
: - )

Cheers!

Nailed it,please send sample immediately to 13 elmer st Pacific Ocean drive.

That's a beautifully functional design, and I like the example you set by wearing hearing protection throughout the video. But welding without eye protection! It's a wonder your imaginary retinas weren't seared by the imaginary arc! What were you thinking, man??!?

Schuyler,
My imaginary welding hood protected me - duh!
: -)

And, truth be told, I am heading in next week to be fitted with my first-ever hearing aids!
After 20 years in a woodshop overseeing CNC routers running at 20,000RPM, despite wearing the best hearing protection I could find, "I got used to it" (as the old, sad, saying goes).

My wife is sick-n-tired of having to raisE her voice to get my attention (not that that's a new thing!)
: - )

Oh! I didn't see you flip the hood down. You must have one of those fancy new imaginary auto-filters in it!

And my father-in-law loves his hearing aids...because he can take them out or turn them off when he wants to tune out...well...whomever he wants to tune out.

My new ones are bluetooth enabled (great! I get antennas in my brain! grrrr!) but, it does allow for adjusting all sorts of things on the fly.

Amazing what they can pack into a cigarette-butt sized thingy. Me? I'd have to use at LEAST the whole cigarette.

Trig,
Thank you for your interest in our beta testing program.
MANY people are interested in testing it.
Your name has been added to the end of the looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooong list of others who are interested.
Sincerely,
Charles
: - )

Very nice! I want one. Do you have a price range that you are shooting for?

Odd One,
Thanks for your vote of desire.
:-)

I'm still way early in the design stage to know what it will really cost to produce.
I need to spend some serious time with a fab shop and go over every detail to see if my guesses of manufacturability are right.
And then get a quote from them for 10, 25, 50, 100 units.

I don't want to build this one myself - I know my strengths and having done manufacturing for decades, I don 't wanna be on the shop floor.
:-)

Short answer on price: not really. . . yet.

:-)

Charles, Nice work and I think you did go the distance on the proof of concept. The amount of force you applied in some of those positions was extreme. It would be a great tool to have around the shop. Again nice job and looking forward to your showing of your finished work.

Trigger, I too would like one sent my way.

Cheers