Small instrument vise, 25th-year issue

This topic has 8 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 17 October 2015 at 02:56 by MikeK.

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2 August 2015 at 22:30 #198965
MikeK
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@mikek40713
Regarding the "Small Instrument Vise" article in the recent anniversary issue…

Would it be alright to make this from cold rolled steel (1018) or even drill rod (what you Brits call "silver steel&quot?

I have plenty of 1/2" cold rolled steel. I also have 3/4" drill rod, but I imagine it'll take considerable work on my mini-mill to get it down to 1/2" square.

The article mentions "bright mild steel" and "EN8". I know nothing of such concoctions.

Mike
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2 August 2015 at 22:30 #7734
MikeK
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@mikek40713
3 August 2015 at 00:00 #198977
steve de24
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@stevede2433577
Mike,

EN8 is a medium carbon steel (0.4% Carbon) and has an ultimate strength of approximately 50 tsi (tons per square inch); the direct American equivalent steel grade is 1040.

1018 is a low carbon steel with an ultimate strength of approx 27 tsi so not a good substitute.

Drill rod is a 1% carbon steel and in its 'as supplied condition' also has an ultimate strength of 45 – 50 tsi so would be a good substitute provided no post machining heat treatment is called for as that would through harden the component and make it brittle.

Steve

Edited By steve de24 on 03/08/2015 00:08:39
3 August 2015 at 01:43 #198979
Enough!
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@enough
All of which is fine Steve, if the ultimate strength is the limiting factor of the design.

For the Small Instrument Vice in the 25th Anniversary Edition, I can't believe it really matters. Personally, I'd use whatever steel I had to hand that was reasonably easy to work. Or even brass for a soft-jawed version.

Edited By Bandersnatch on 03/08/2015 01:44:17
3 August 2015 at 03:16 #198986
MikeK
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@mikek40713
I misread the article. Only the clamping screw is EN8. The rest of the parts are “bright mild steel” which I think is the American 1018.
3 August 2015 at 05:29 #198988
Hopper
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@hopper
UK: Bright mild steel = US: cold rolled steel.
3 August 2015 at 09:02 #198999
Neil Wyatt
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@neilwyatt
Good luck Mike, post a photo when you finish it!

I'm tempted to make it myself – I tend to use one of my ever-rowing collection of (mostly ratty) clamps whenever I need a small vice, and a nice neat hand vice would be a boon.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 03/08/2015 09:03:17
17 October 2015 at 01:14 #208150
MikeK
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@mikek40713
I finally got around to making this. It has a few mistakes, but I almost finished it today.

I have the clamping screw chucked in the lathe right now with no good idea how I'm going to cut the 0.040" radius groove. I do have a small set of imperial radius gages with 3/64" being the closest, but it seems unlikely that I could grind an appropriate tool bit. Any thoughts?

Also, I accidentally reamed the moving jaw guide pin hole too large, at 0.251" or so. I wrapped a piece of brass shim around the guide pin and it looks like I should be able to press it into the jaw. Will this be alright, or should I go with high-strength Loctite?

Mike
17 October 2015 at 02:56 #208152
MikeK
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@mikek40713
Typo: should be 5/64", not 3/64".
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