Clamping Advise

[MaverickNH]

I'm looking to clamp a 4in x 4in aluminum slab to my minimill table, to square it, but my vise is only 3in. Does the picture look like a good way to clamp? There are two blocks underneath the plate, with a Z clamp through one block.

 

[Bob Korves]

I'm looking to clamp a 4in x 4in aluminum slab to my minimill table, to square it, but my vise is only 3in. Does the picture look like a good way to clamp? There are two blocks underneath the plate, with a Z clamp through one block.

The setup looks like it will work fine. You might get some chatter from the overhanging aluminum. I assume you are working on the left side in your setup. If you are going to use conventional milling, all the chips will be thrown at you, climb milling will make them go toward the column. On a small mill it is smart to have the cutter pushing the work in the opposite direction from the feed direction so it won't chatter due to backlash issues.

 

[Chipper5783]

What you have should work. Another option is to clamp it to the table on a piece of plywood (have to keep moving the clamps one at a time) - just mill right into the plywood.

 

[MaverickNH]

I'll try that plywood idea sometime - never would of thunk it!

I have about 0.1" excess, so will conventional mill off most from each side, 5-10 thousands at a time to minimize chatter, and climb mill the last 2-3 thousands for a nice finish on the last passes on each side.

Thanks for the advice!

 

[Bob Korves]

Rethinking... Edit: You have it correct.

 

[Wreck™Wreck]

Does your vice not have removable jaw plates? If it does bolt the fixed jaw plate to the outside of the fixed end this will likely hold more then 4".

 

[lpeedin]

What he said ^^^


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