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What is a vice?
A vice is a mechanical device that is used in the engineering field to hold a workpiece rigid at a stationary position. It is used in different areas and fields such as woodworking, metalworking, mechanical engineering, etc. due to its wide applications.
Vice is attached to the bench, hence named, bench vice or workbench vice. bench-vice is attached to a bench in order to be easily accessible and to give operators comfort while using the vice.
It is not necessary for a bench vice to be attached to the workbench as long as the working surface is stable. It can be installed either directly on the surface or the side. The one installed directly to the top of a surface contains, enabling the vice to rotate as required.
A vice is made of metal entirely, for this reason, linings in the jaws are made with wood or similar materials. This assists the integrity of the workpiece. Jaws are replaceable if worn out over time.
Bench vices vary according to their application, strength, and durability i.e. medium-duty and heavy-duty vices are common for industrial use. Well, bench vices can function as an anvil.
Types of vice are used to perform different operations such as planning, sawing, drilling, etc. Now you can see bench vice is one of the most essential pieces of equipment that must be seen in the workshop.
Due to the broad use of vices, today I will expose the different types of vice and their applications. Keep on reading!
Various applications of vices
The following stated below are the types of vice and their applications;
Woodworking vices:
A Vice used in this condition is in a woodworking shop. These types of vice consist of jaws, one helps to secure the workpiece and the second jaw moves against the other in order to hold the object firmly.
A screw mechanism allows the movement of the jaw. Woodwork vice is typically made of metal, wood, or plastic. Depending on the specific application.
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Metalworking vices:
These types of vice are also known as engineer’s vice or machinist vice. Instead of wood, it holds the metal piece in place in this situation. A metalworking vice is sometimes made of cast steel but mostly made of cast iron, making its channel bar steel. Cast iron is used because it is strong, rigid, and inexpensive.
Operations done with metalworking vice are usually cutting and filing. Jaws in this vice are often separated in the piece so that they can be replaceable. For delicate work, the jaws are covered with a soft layer such as aluminum, copper, wood, or plastic. This is done to protect the material.
Metalwork vice is often bolted on a workbench, with the face of the jaws jutting out a little over the front edge. The vices may also have small anvils behind the vice bodies. However, they are often available in swivel bases.
Heavy-duty vices:
The heavy-duty bench vice is often made from iron in order to withstand heavy applications applied to it. Its parts include separated steel jaws, an ACME-threaded main screw, and a precision slide bar. Heavy-duty bench vices are available in the stationary stand or feature a 360-degree swivel. This vice is also referred to as a machinist’s vice.
Medium-duty bench vices:
This vice is closely related to the one heavy-duty bench vice. It is made of iron and also gives the chance of replacing its steel top jaws. Some of these types of jaws also feature a 360-degree swivel and a built-in anvil.
Yoke vices:
The yoke vice is known as a hinged vice or adjustable jaw vice, it uses a screw to clamp the pipe in place. A fixed V-shaped lower jaw and moveable upper jaw hold lengths of pipe firmly. These jaws are serrated for proper gripping of the object.
Pipe vice:
The vice is used in plumbing jobs to hold pipes or secure tubing when cutting or threading. It is designed to hold pipes in small diameters as small as 3mm or as large as 200 mm. It may be fitted on a workbench or used with a mobile tripod stand. The stand is generally used for projects to be performed outside the workshop, they are portable and easy to transport. It can also be combined in two or more for long lengths of pipe.
Chain vice:
A chain vice uses a chain to secure the pipe. The pipe is held in a v-shaped by the chain clamping around the pipe tightly. This chain is made of high-tensile steel, making it work well with irregular-shaped pipes or other objects. The chain vice tends to have a larger working range and capacity because the length of the chain limits the working range of the vice. The large clamping surface of the chain determines the entire circumference of the pipe can hold securely. One of the greater disadvantages of this vice is that securing a pipe in place with a chain pipe vice takes more time than other vices. This is because the chain must be carefully threaded between the jaws of the tool to clamp the pipe firmly in place.
I hope you found this post interesting and that you’ve attained knowledge. If so, you can freely give your point in our comment section and please share with other students. Thanks!
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