The quickest way I know how to clock up a machine vice

Hi All
I thought I would share this video with you on the way I clock up a vice. I hope once you have watched it anybody having any issues with this fundamental part of milling will be able to try this simple, quick, and accurate method to help speed up set up times. This method works on all types of set ups.
One quick note before clamping any tool or component to a machine table ensure all mating faces are clean and the tee slots are clear of any swarf. This will increase the accuracy of setting the machine up and prevent any damage. Hope you enjoy the video and I am not showing you how to suck eggs.

https://youtu.be/3ZduCTUml4Y

Thank you again for your interest in my post
The Home Engineer

Thanks, I need to do this for a new vice I got.

Ralph

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Thanks thehomeengineer! We've added your Vise Clocking Method to our Measuring and Marking category,
as well as to your builder page: thehomeengineer's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

<div id="blocks"> <div class="block b1 pngfix"> <div class="bimg"> <div> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-vise-clocking-method"> <img src="/uploads/209620/homemade-vise-clocking-method.jpeg"/> </a> </div> </div> <div class="head pngfix"></div> <div class="left pngfix"></div> <div class="right pngfix"></div> <div class="blockover b1 pngfix"> <div class="title"> <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/homemade-vise-clocking-method">Vise Clocking Method</a> <span> by <a href="http://www.homemadetools.net/builder/thehomeengineer">thehomeengineer</a></span> </div> <div class="tags">tags: <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/vise'>vise</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/alignment'>alignment</a>, <a href='http://www.homemadetools.net/tag/dial-indicator'>dial indicator</a> </div> </div> </div> </div>
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Yup, same way this side of the pond!
thehomeengineer shows a bar in the vise and only travels to approximate center of vise [over the center post]. That's all the travel needed for the first few checks. Going all the way across doubles the TIR without any benefit; if the right side is off, so is the left! Always amused watching guys traverse full right and left, especially if there doesn't happen to be power feed, lol.

A few I'll tease with some racing parlance wisecrack about "you collecting lap money?", that an indicator or tachometer, ZIP Codes, if you travel any farther pick up lunch, etc.
It's fun being the old guy!

Hi Toolmaker51
Really like the jibes very funny, typical engineer humour and banter.
Thank you for the good explanation which will help improve the thread. I am a server dyslexic so do struggle with expressing myself in words both written and verbal. It’s not an issue to me and I would rather people know so if I do a really mess-up people understand why.
Doing the videos, I have just started or posting on here just takes a bit of time. Thank heavens for Microsoft word. (mind you I can even confuse the spell checker lol) So thank you for the great reply to this post.
The Home Engineer

I can definitely relate to causing spell checker going into meltdown, particularly when it applies to mechanical terms.
Toolmaker 51's comment about lap money lunch and zip codes, brings to mind a time I hired a young man whose union was out on strike. He worked in a machine shop that did aerospace work. He had never worked around older worn machines and my old Bridgeport fit that category x 10. It should have been relegated to the museum of abused antiquities 30 years before I acquired it. However I knew where the sweet spots were to achieve the results I needed for the things we made. Those being at either end of the table travel . Bob however didn't know this so one day he was doing a set up in the vice and was trying to get it trammed in right in the center of the table. I seen him spinning the wheels back and forth again and again., which had gone on for quite some time. Finally I asked him if he was going to run the job or wear the handles off the hand wheels. I CAN"T GET IT TO REPEAT 2 times in a row he yelled. Well why not mount the vice at either end of the table and try that just use one of the 12 inch parallels clamp in in the vice zero off the center run it to the left or the right 1 time tap it to zero tighten the vice down and run the job .002" is close enough for what you are doing. If you keep on the way you are going I'm going to have to pay air miles for the job.

In our workshop we had a brand-new rotary table and the very first job someone drilled 9 holes into it. (I was gutted as it was less than a week old) anyway after a bit of investigation I found out who caused the damage. The guy said he didn’t realise he had done it. When I looked at the job he had machined on the rotary table it was an 18-hole bolted flange. So, a bit tongue in cheek I said to him “did you not go deep enough on the other 9 holes”.
The Home Engineer

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thehomeengineer

In our workshop we had a brand-new rotary table and the very first job someone drilled 9 holes into it. (I was gutted as it was less than a week old) anyway after a bit of investigation I found out who caused the damage. The guy said he didn’t realise he had done it. When I looked at the job he had machined on the rotary table it was an 18-hole bolted flange. So, a bit tongue in cheek I said to him “did you not go deep enough on the other 9 holes”.
The Home Engineer

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OUCH!
I've mentioned before; observation that such things plague those who haven't spent THEIR or serious money on equipment.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by thehomeengineer

In our workshop we had a brand-new rotary table and the very first job someone drilled 9 holes into it. (I was gutted as it was less than a week old) anyway after a bit of investigation I found out who caused the damage. The guy said he didn’t realise he had done it. When I looked at the job he had machined on the rotary table it was an 18-hole bolted flange. So, a bit tongue in cheek I said to him “did you not go deep enough on the other 9 holes”.
The Home Engineer

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9 holes in one in a single round but wasn't quite up to par on the other 9 Eh? That's bad. Back in the day I would have gone Hiroshima and Nagasaki on him.
Some folks just should never be left alone around complicated machinery.

I like it Frank

Dear home eng, thanks heaps for your video, you explain it well it's obvious, much appreciated. Guess whos been doin it wrong for years??

Our shop has been indicating the fixed chuck jaw forever. thanks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stevohdee

Dear home eng, thanks heaps for your video, you explain it well it's obvious, much appreciated. Guess whos been doin it wrong for years??

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Different maybe, wrong perhaps not. Vise condition is the factor; thehomeengineers is the go-to test for most conditions, especially where 1 edge of part is dependable.

I'm 1700 miles from my equipment. I'd like someone conduct a test.

Indicate hard jaw, then movable jaw with and without a very good cylinder (or a thick parallel) clamped in the jaws. It's common to find deflection if the round is parallel to vise bed, but 'hide' the discrepancy if not. A vise 'sees' an inclined cylinder as a flat. In the past, have found results of loose lock-down vise adjustments that lift cause it to incline without loosing parallel, just perpendicular. Cylinders are good to aggravate that tendency.

Regardless vise position, a long part is best indicated itself, whereas jaws only hold a portion. For dual vise setups, I like a length of Thompson bar, TGP (Turned, Ground, Polished) or drill rod. I indicate one vise at right or left end .0001 and tighten down. Clamp the rod into that vise, and the 2nd floating on the table (no fixture keys). Lock down vises are secure enough to pull the 2nd into register with the first, but worthwhile verifying with indicator.

If a part with height needs real accuracy, I mount a true flat into jaws vertically and test the quill and knee or sliding head.
This makes a partial substitute or preparation for surface grinding, having really parallel or perpendicular surfaces on a workpiece.

He starts out saying he is working from the center, but he is working from the right end.

Can anyone duplicate this. I tried but it did not work.

Ralph

That's the only way we have ever don it. Might be more but...