Mill Workholding

  • T-Nuts
  • Strap Clamps
  • Serrated Step Blocks
  • Vices
  • Parallels
  • Chucks
  • Rotary Table
  • Indexing Head
  • Sine Plates
  • Angle Blocks
  • V-Blocks

T-Nuts

T-nuts are designed to work inside of T-slots. ANSI/ASME B5.1M defines T-slot size limits. See Also ISO R286.

Rotary T-nuts are available that can be inserted from the top of the table instead of at the end.

T-nuts are designed to work inside of T-slots.
T-nut being used with a stud and flange nut to attach a vise to a mill table.

Strap Clamps

Strap clamps are a popular way of holding large or oddly-shaped parts that may not fit in a vise or other workholding devices. Strap clamps are often used in conjunction with serrated step blocks (shown below).

Strap clamp (model courtesy of Carr-Lane)

Serrated Step Blocks

Serrated stop blocks can be used with serrated strap clamps, or with other step blocks.

Serrated step block (model courtesy of Carr-Lane)

When using a strap clamp, it should be level with the surface of the workpiece, and the stud should be as close to the work as possible.

Strap Clamp Setup. (clamp model courtesy of Carr-Lane)

Vices

Machine vices are among the most versatile and commonly used workholding devices found on milling machines.

The machine vise is one of the most common ways of mounting work in a milling machine.

Vice Jaws

V-Jaws

Soft jaws

Dovetail Jaws

Serrated Jaws

Vice Accessories

Vice stops

Parallels

Parallels are precision ground bars that are usually used in pairs to lift a workpiece off the bottom of a vice. They are often sold in sets of various heights. There are a variety of parallel types including thin and wavy varieties.

Parallels are used to lift work off the bottom of the vise.
Here the parallels are shown positioning a workpiece in a vise.

Chucks

Although normally thought of as workholding devices for lathes, chucks make convenient fixtures for round workpieces. Lathe chucks may be used, but low-profile chucks are made especially for mounting on milling machines.

Chucks are often used on rotary tables and indexing heads as well.

Low profile chucks are available for mounting to mill tables.

Tooling Plates

Pallets

Rotary Tables & Trunnions

Indexing Head

Sine Plates & Sine Vices

Angle Blocks

Tombstones

5-Axis vices

2-Piece Vices

Double Vices

Vices in other vices

Vacuum Chucks

Collet Blocks

Custom Fixture Elements

Edge Clamps

Adhesives

Low Temperature Alloys

Expanding Mandrels, Arbors, and Studs