Strange Method Of Tramming A Mill Vise

[the penguin]

This morning I saw a very strange method of tramming a vise, to the mill spindle. It took the guy about 30 seconds and bang he was done. I asked about it, he said he sometimes removes the vise 10-15 times a week and this method makes it almost painless.

He puts the vise on the table, slightly tightens both bolts, he has a ball bearing on a shaft that goes into the quill, he starts at the middle of the vise, moves the table about an inch in one direction, the an inch, in the other. Then repeats the process, between 2" and 3" movements, right and left, then finish tightening the vise to the table. 

I questioned his procedure, he took out an indicator, ran it across the face of the vise, the needle barely quivered, way less than .001".

I have not done this myself, I just this morning saw it done for the first time, but it did look interesting. I may have to try it out, to see if I get the same results.

[Vinny]

There was something in homemade tools this week where the guy made two blocks with 4 drill rod pins that fit snugly in the t-slots and were tethered to each other with a bar. He opens the vise, puts this fixture over the open jaws, closes the jaws with the mounting bolts loose, tightens the mounting bolts and he's done.

Found it! http://www.haythornthwaite.com/vice%20align.html

[DaveH]

Tom shows a very good and easy way (in just one pass)

http://www.metalworkingfun.com/showthread.php?tid=511
 
DaveH

[Vinny]

That looks easy enough.

[awemawson]

John Stevenson showed a quick set up years ago. He had a beefy flat bar clamped in the vice, and the bar had projections down into the Tee slots either side. Projections were a snug fit, but even if a loose fit you just press the assembly either backwards or forwards as you tighten down the vice.

[TomG]

Jack,

I've used that method to align large parts on the table and I can see where it would work on a free floating vise, but not on one with keys. The dynamic method I use, where the angle of the vise is adjusted as the indicator is moving along the jaw will work with any vise.

Tom

[f350ca]

I've been using Tom's method ever since I watched the video. Thanks Tom,

[wawoodman]

Tom's method works for me, too. I don't think I could make that setup device accurately enough!

[the penguin]

(10-22-2016, 09:31 AM)TomG Wrote: Jack,

I've used that method to align large parts on the table and I can see where it would work on a free floating vise, but not on one with keys. The dynamic method I use, where the angle of the vise is adjusted as the indicator is moving along the jaw will work with any vise.

Tom

Tom,

I use the process basically very similar to yours, taught to me by my grandfather, about 45 years ago, but I saw the ball bearing method, thought it was interesting. But probably not interesting enough for me to change my current method.

[kwoodhands]

(10-22-2016, 01:48 AM)awemawson Wrote: John Stevenson showed a quick set up years ago. He had a beefy flat bar clamped in the vice, and the bar had projections down into the Tee slots either side. Projections were a snug fit, but even if a loose fit you just press the assembly either backwards or forwards as you tighten down the vice.

I use the same method except my flat bar is 1/4" thick. I pull the vice forward til the flat bar hits the slots edge on each end, then tighten the nuts. My bar is packed out with a 123 block and several parallels because the bar is thinner than John Stevenson's.