Industrial Mechanic

SUBJECT / MODULE: Bench Mechanics

Ing. Nicolás Albarrán

Workbench Screw

Nombre Estudiante
Course 3°B Delivery Date:

Learning Objective: OA5 Carry out fastening, polishing, and adjustment work, using
electric and manual tools, considering safety measures and
environmental protection.
Objective of the Guide: To recognize through the applications of the vise,
jobs that are carried out in a mechanical workshop.
Recognize the definitions and classifications of bench vices.

Contents: Bench vise, types and generalities.

Instructions and activities:

Carefully read the guide and answer the questions.

A bench vise is a common mechanical device used to hold a

stationary workpiece, is a comprehensive tool in many applications of
carpentry and metalworking. The vise, in particular, connects directly to a
workbench to hold the workpiece during operations such as sawing,
brush and drill.
A bench vise itself consists of several components. The elements of the
The vice, responsible for holding a workpiece, is called jaws.
A set of jaws, one fixed and another that moves parallel to the other, ensures the
workpiece with a screw mechanism, which moves one jaw towards the other
until they are firmly adjusted onto the workpiece. The jaws generally
They are made of wood, plastic, or metal, depending on the specific application.

The correct fastening of workpieces of any material that need to be cut,

Drilling, filing, or machining in any way requires manual tools
special measures to ensure not only precise and high-quality operation, but also the
maximum comfort and safety for the user.

One of those essential clamping tools in any workshop, whether mechanical, of

blacksmithing, carpentry, plumbing, locksmithing, and even watchmaking and related fields, are the trades,
also known as bench screws or workshop jaws.

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 Department / Specialty: Industrial Mechanics
Bench Mechanics
Engineer Nicolás Albarrán

Basically, a vise is a tool of great robustness, of size

variable, weighing between 200 g and 30 kg, and consisting of:

●A pair of clamps to firmly hold the workpiece in place.

any slip.
● A screw or crank that is manually turned to open or close the
gags.
● A base de support.

Below is a schematic of one of the simplest bench vise models.

most used, with their main parts.

The base of the bench vise is mounted on a workbench or table using various
methods, depending on the design of the tool, and can be fixed or rotating.

The mouths or jaws are two: one fixed and the other mobile; the mobile mouth moves through
of a screw threaded into a nut located inside the fixed mouth; at one end, the
The axis is equipped with a crank. Grooved jaws are screwed onto the mouths.
interchangeable and of various profiles, which are the ones that hold the workpiece. To

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 Department / Specialty: Industrial Mechanics
Bench Mechanics
Ing. Nicolás Albarrán

turn the handle clockwise, the jaws close, allowing the clamps
trap the piece interposed between both. If the handle moves in the opposite direction,
the mouths open and the jaws release the piece.

The opening of the mouths can occur in two ways, which has led to two major
bench vise groups:

Parallel vise: they are the most used because the jaws are kept
always parallel in any opening, holding pieces of various sizes in shape
suitable for that size and without the need to exert too much pressure on them. These
bench vises are made of cast iron or cast steel, the latter being more
expensive but more durable.

Blacksmith or pedestal vises: they are made of forged steel and are very
resistant. They come from the times when horseshoes were prepared for horses.
and they are used to hold a piece that must be struck with a heavy hammer, which
they are ideal for blacksmithing and forging jobs. They are attached to a sturdy workbench or
from the wall, and the long leg is secured to a solid base on the floor. They are not suitable
for mechanical adjustment work because their jaws are not kept parallel to
to open up and, therefore, the pieces are not held properly or become deformed if they
tightens too much.

Types of Parallel Vices

Due to their widespread use, parallel bench vices present a great
variety of models, and some are even intended for very specific tasks, such as

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 Industrial Mechanics
Bench Mechanics
Professor: Eng. Nicolás Albarrán

the bench vices for welding at an angle or those used with machines
certain, for example, turbulent drills.

most common lost positions of parallel bench vices:

bench vices
Without a doubt, the morsamás class used is also known in some countries.
bench vice (or bench) for machinists. They are used to hold objects.
big and heavy, and the base is firmly screwed to a workbench. Depending
from the manufacturer, these walruses are offered in three models, combined or not. These are:

● Fixed-base vises: the most common and economical, available in a wide variety
of sizes.
● Vices with a rotating base: this base allows the vice to be moved at an angle of
180º for an optimal working position.
● Vices with an anvil: attached to the fixed jaw (that is, to the back part) of the
tool, the anvil is useful for performing light hammering operations
to flatten and/or give the proper shape to the piece.
●
Examples of these types of vises:

b) Table screws

Lightweight and portable bank morse clamps. They are mounted on a table or workbench.
through a clamp located at the bottom. They have serrated jaws for

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 Industrial Mechanics
Bench Mechanics
PROFESSOR: Eng. Nicolás Albarrán

hold the piece and some models include a rotary base. They are used to hold
light materials or in areas where more robust clamps are not available.

c) Vise clamps for pipes or tubes

They are specially designed to hold round pieces and are manual, portable and
extremely resistant. They have 'V' jaws that allow you to position the piece and
block it in position. They are generally mounted on a workbench, although
There are also models available for tripod or shelf mounting. They are used for
hold 1/8 inch to 8 inch diameter pipes that must be subjected to cutting or
rusty.

Pipe vice screws can be of two types:

● C-clamps: they consist of a pivoting upper jaw and a

fixed inferior, both interchangeable and made of hardened cast steel. The
the fork, the base and the crank are made of cast iron and the screw or axle is made of steel.
● Morsas a cadena: consist of two fixed milled jaws, interchangeable and
built in casting on which the pipe rests, which is secured
firmly through the chain, made of tempered and normalized steel. The base
It is made of cast iron and the crank is made of cast steel.

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 Industrial Mechanics
Bench Mechanics
PROFESSOR: Eng. Nicolás Albarrán

flat bench vises

They are also specially designed to be screwed onto a drill, a lathe, or a workbench.
for work. The base can be fixed or rotating, and they come in two sizes: one with jaws.
105 mm wide and 105 mm maximum opening, and the other with 150 mm jaws
180 mm wide and 180 mm maximum opening, although these measurements vary depending on the
Manufacturer. They are used to hold small pieces of wood or metal for the
machining or drilling operations.

e) Combined bench vice

As its name indicates, they combine the function of a vise bank with a vise for pipes.
The tubes can have a fixed or rotating base. They are screwed to a bench or work table and
They are used to hold heavy objects, pipes for cutting and threading, and to shape
metals.

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 Department / Specialty: Industrial Mechanics
Bench Mechanics
Eng. Nicolás Albarrán

Tips for the use and maintenance of walruses

Vise are simple machines that do not use electric power and, for that
Thus, its maintenance does not involve major requirements.

To carry out the work properly and avoid uncomfortable postures of the operator, it is
an essential condition is that the bench vise is mounted at the height
adequate. This height is achieved when the worker is able to touch with the elbow the part
superior of the screw jigs, as shown in the following figure.

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 Industrial Mechanics
Workshop Mechanics
PROFESSOR: Ing. Nicolás Albarrán

Otherwise, the workbench must be raised or a platform must be provided.

on the floor so that the operator can get on it.

Machining operations must be carried out in such a way as not to affect the jaws.
To do this, the piece mounted in a vise must be held at an appropriate height, that is, at
approximately 1 cm from the jaws. When the vice is not in use, it
it recommends securing the jaws by moving them until they slightly touch and
leaving the handle in a vertical position. A bench vise should never be struck with
a heavy object or hold large pieces on a small screw.

At all times, the walruses must be kept well oiled and clean. They should not be
accumulate shavings, especially in the guides along which the movable mouth moves, the
nut and the axle. To this end, they should be cleaned with a cloth after each use and apply a
light layer of oil. However, care should be taken to avoid applying oil on the rotating base or the
rotary joint, as this decreases the gripping force of the tool.

Questionnaire.

According to what is presented in this guide, answer the following questions:

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 Department / Specialty: Industrial Mechanics
Bench Mechanics
Eng. Nicolás Albarrán

According to your words. Why is a vice important in a workshop?

mechanic?

2. What are the jaws of the vice used for?

3. What other names does the bench vise have?

4. Name 5 main parts of a vise

5. How many types of bench screw bases exist?

6. Explain in detail how the movable jaw of the bench vise operates.

7. What happens when turning the crank counterclockwise?

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 Department / Specialty: Industrial Mechanics
Workshop Mechanics
Eng. Nicolás Albarrán

8. Indicate the difference between a bench vise and a table vise.

9. Specify the characteristic of a bench vise for pipes or tubes

10. Indicate the characteristics of a combined bench vise.

11. Indicate the steps to perform good maintenance of this tool.

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