How to mount a machine vice?

3rd March 2020


How to mount a machine vice


	Shop for Vices


		A vice will need to be mounted correctly to make sure it is secure enough to clamp onto objects without risk of movement. This can be done by following a few simple steps.

		When used for holding a workpiece during machining operations, such as drilling or reaming, a machine vice should be mounted to a machine’s table by bolting it into place. It is bolted down in order to provide stability and safety when working on a clamped workpiece.

		If you want the vice to be easily moved then you can also use clamps, instead of bolts, to hold the vice to the machine table. G clamps would be the best type of clamp to use as they can be placed through the table mounting holes and secure the vice down by its base.

		Step 1 – Place vice Place the vice onto the table of the machine.

		Step 2 – Position vice Make sure to position the vice in the best position before bolting. When using a machine vice, the tool should be positioned with the jaws directly underneath the machine’s drill bit.

		Step 3 – Bolt vice Place bolts in all of the holes provided in the vice’s base. To add further security, place lock washers in-between the bolts and vice base to distribute the load of the fastener.

		A lock washer is a thin metal plate with a hole in the middle that the end of the bolt can pass through. Once the ends of the bolts have come through the other side of the machine’s table, keep them firmly in place by fastening nuts onto their ends, and tighten them using a wrench.

		The vice will now be mounted to the machine table and ready for use.