Precision vise

• US 20030213777A1
• Filed: 05/15/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph M. Walter
• Original Assignee: Joseph M. Walter
• Inventors: Walter, Joseph M.
• Granted Patent: US 6,755,408 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/69.11
• CPC Class Codes: B23H 11/003 Mounting of workpieces, e.g. working-tables
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2405 Construction of the jaws
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2484 Supports
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 1/2489 Slideways

Abstract

A vise with the precision to match the quality expected of a Wire Electrical Discharge Machine. With the quality of the vise you can locate parts with extreme repeatability from part to part enabling to produce parts with exact duplication. With the range of the opening you are able to hold a variety of sizes of parts and with the low compact profile you are less likely to run into interference with the machine while in the cutting operation. Due to the exposure of water in the cutting operation on the Wire Electrical Discharge Machine the vise is made from stainless steel and for wear resistance the stainless steel of a heat treatable grade.

Claims

1. A vise used in holding a work piece with very precise accuracy. The body of the vise is built in a way that the main surface represents the main alignment surface. This alignment surface will receive contact from the workpiece in its full length and give it the first axis of location and the main repeatability surface.

A solid stationary jaw extending out of the body or main alignment surface will receive contact in the clamping operation. In the clamping, the stationary jaw identifies the second axis of location and repeatability.

The body of the vise is constructed with a slot that runs the length of the vise to guide and carry the moveable jaw. The channel the moveable jaw travels through is constructed of radiused contours that will give direct support in preventing the side walls to be forced or flexed in an outward direction during the clamping operation. These radiused contours create a stronger guide will be less acustom to cracking.

2. A vise jaw to assist in the holding the workpiece. The moveable jaw must assist in drawing the work piece to the alignment surface.

In the moveable jaw, constructed of a second piece or insert, located on an abutted surface set at an angle. The angle is created in a way so as to cause movement when the pressure of the clamping action applied to the work piece it will cause an inward movement toward the alignment surface. To return the insert to a neutral position ready to perform the clamping and drawing function, it is held in place with elastic retainers.

These elastic retainers give spring to the movement of the insert.

The moveable jaw also has the same radiused contour on it that is in the vise body.

Again, this radiused contour with a precision slip fit gives a more direct hold in preventing the side walls of the body from flexing outward in clamping pressure. This matched radiused contour will also create a stable slide surface for the moveable jaw. As in the body or in any structure, the matched radiused contour of the moveable jaw is less likely to ever crack.

3. With the construction of the stationary jaw to be of solid material all part of the body structure and not an attachment to the body, this will assure solid non-movement.

This solid constuction will assure relocating consistancy from work piece to work piece. This solid structure will also assure that the precision manufacturing, parallel and squareness will be maintaned and not move or change. This focus of repeatability is part of the value of using this type of tooling in a quality manufacturing process.