Vertical Mill Fixtures 1

[mielke]

Is there any good public standards/codes for how to clamp and hold a work piece inside of a horizontal mill for drilling/face milling/end milling/etc...?

 

[ornerynorsk]

You should be talking to your machinists about this. Here is where experience trumps academics.

 

[mielke]

...so are there any standards or codes for fixing work pieces in a vertical mill?

 

[racookpe1978]

In the sense where you say "Clamp it per XXX ASME YYY Section 1.123.456"? - No.

As mentioned above, that's whats taught as a machinist trade school, union hall - if required in your state, or as an apprentice. The machinist handbooks have diagrams and drawings showing "recommended practices" such as tightening the dogs and brackets close to the work, leveling braces, etc.

But "spec's" ? Clamp it so it:
doesn't move far enough to affect your dimension tolerances,
is safe,
doesn't hit the tooling or machine,
is safe,
is affordable,
is safe,
can be built with what is available on hand in the shop,
is safe,
fits the table or mill bedplate T-slots,
is safe,
etc.

Get the point? 8<)

 

[racookpe1978]

One basic starting book:

http://www.amazon.com/Milling-Complete-Course-Workshop-Practice/dp/1854862324/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_c

A little more advanced:

http://www.amazon.com/Machine-Shop-Trade-Secrets-Manufacturing/dp/0831132272/ref=pd_sim_b_2

Also machining basics:

http://www.amazon.com/Audel-Machine-Shop-Basics-Miller/dp/076455526X/ref=pd_sim_b_5

Might help explain things (Q&A format vice text)

http://www.amazon.com/Machine-Shop-Essentials-Questions-Answers/dp/0975996339/ref=pd_sim_b_6

Product Description for the last:
A comprehensive and detailed presentation of manual machine tools and methods, machine shop know-how and practical shop tips. Machine Shop Essentials is for a wide range of users including machinists, engineers, model makers, R & D lab technicians, instrument makers, prototype builders, product designers and gunsmiths.
Machine Shop Essentials features: * A simple question-and-answer format. * Material is divided into small, easy-to-understand blocks. * Over 500 clear, concise drawings. * Introduction to metal lathes, milling machines, drill presses and their cutting tools and accessories. * Step-by-step instructions for many common machine shop operations, including typical problems and their solutions. * Shortcuts, specialized tools and tips from expert machinists on indispensable shop-made tools that will quickly expand the user's capabilities. * Machine tool accessories that simplify making complex parts. * Screw threads and non-threaded fasteners. * General shop safety issues and special precautions for each machine tool. * A review of basic precision measuring and marking tools and methods. * How to incorporate purchased components such as bearing, gears, snap rings and roll pins to quickly make sophisticated and durable devices. * How to heat-treat steel in the machine shop. * Guidelines for avoiding metal fatigue failures. * Cutting, drilling, and shaping plastic, rubber and glass. * Safety precautions and equipment for each machine tool. * A comprehensive machine shop glossary.

 

[ABritTurner]

Buy a book on workshop technology. Using a horizontal mill one should always attempt to clamp locating pads to the bed of the machine if heavy machine operations are envisaged, these will stop any creep of the work piece as one puts on heavy cuts. Aids to clamping are cast iron boxes and angle plates. For cylindrical work one use 'V' blocks to centralise and locate. In some cases machinists have to make fabricated special holding devices for particular work.

Clamping complex work to the bed is always a specialised and skilled job and should never be attempted by odd jobbers when the work is 1. expensive and 2. very large or complex.

 

[Troy2601]

Fixture's for this type of application are best built by an experienced Tool Maker so i would suggest that if you are not sure about the clamping pressures needed and or location of clamps and such you should consult a experienced Tool Maker. or the other method of this is trial and error wich can be dangerous.