I’d like to cut a 1" notch out of a piece of 1"x1" square tube (mild steel). Do we have v-blocks that would let me hold the tube in a vise? Should I use a v-block on both sides of the vise, or is one side enough?
Thanks!
I’m not sure we have them but I think we do. One would be enough for just a light milling.
1 Like
We have several V-blocks of various sizes. They are in a container in the cabinet in the machining area.
1 Like
I would mount your tube to a sine bar and set the sine bar angle to 45 degrees.
1 Like
If you have too you could also 3D print a V Block. Give it tons of walls and infill and smash it in that vice.
A sine bar is on our (rather large) list of tools to acquire.
As a 3D Printing steward, I felt compelled to go the printing route. PLA is very strong under compression, but I didn’t think through the fact that the forces on a V block are not purely compressive. As horizontal pressure is applied, the geometry works to push the two sides of the V apart, leading to a stretching force at the bottom of the V.
There’s a balance between tightening the vise enough to prevent the material from slipping and tightening enough that the stretching force starts tearing the two sides apart and splitting the V block down the middle.
Anyway, my cuts succeeded! Thanks everyone!
Badass. Glad that worked for ya! I have had very surprising luck with pa12 as soft jaws. I was able to machine with fairly normal speeds and loads with no issues. Defiantly always will be deflection with 3D printing jaws but one time use all day on a prototype or low tolerance part.