Re: Clamping stock for milling...?

My favorite method to minimize M0 and M1's is a milling vise.
Depending on your part, you might want to CNC some custom shape jaws
to orientate the part correctly in the vise (CNC a negative contour
of your workpiece). Another method that provides minimum M0 or M1
interruptions is use of the dead center. This also helps to
position the odd shaped part. But that also requires a previous
center drill operation and the use of more substantial clamps
elsewhere on the part. Charles Hixon


--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, "Bill Kichman"
<billkichman@c...> wrote:

> I haven't seen discussion of this topic recently, but am ready to

make a

> first part on a cnc mill conversion....how do you typically handle

clamping

> of different parts on a mill and avoid hitting the clamps? And

even better,

> how to mill a part without having it "fall out" from the stock or

get loose

> when the part is nearly finshed. For record, I plan to use

VisualMill or

> similar for the more complex designs...do you mill only a Region

of stock at

> a specific time, which avoids preplanned clamp locations? Then

move the

> clamp and hit "go" on the controller at the "change clamp pause"?
>
> Also I would appreciate reading descriptions of the different

clamping and

> hold-down methods currently in acceptance.
> Anything beyond t-nut simple clamps would be especially

helpful....what goes

> into the thought process when deciding how to clamp down a part

for a 3-axis

> setup, I guess is what I am asking....
>
> Thanks again to this fine group for all your help...
>
>
>
> R. William Kichman, P.E.
> Kichman Engineering Associates
> 103 Old Furnace Road
> Cornwall, PA 17016-0643
> tel/fax 717/270-0714