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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    15

    440 vise alignment key?

    I just got a 4" Tormach vise for my recently acquired used 440 and found to my dismay there were no alignment keys, do I have to make them or?

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    15362

    Re: 440 vise alignment key?

    Quote Originally Posted by jabingb View Post
    I just got a 4" Tormach vise for my recently acquired used 440 and found to my dismay there were no alignment keys, do I have to make them or?
    They are not normally needed, having a key can sometimes prevent you from indicating the Vice true to the axis. Having a Key does not automatically align the Vice true to the axis.

    An Indicator is all you need to set your Vice up.
    Mactec54

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Posts
    344

    Re: 440 vise alignment key?

    I’d say ditch the keys. I’ve had a few light crashes that just moved the vise instead of trashing something. If I had vise keys that could have ended badly

    Takes me 10 minutes tops to get 4 vises aligned to each other within .0005”. Only a few minutes for one.

    Takes much longer to actually get the table cleaned and deburred properly.

    When I first started I thought vise keys would be a great idea but now I realize they are not really needed at all.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Posts
    15

    Re: 440 vise alignment key?

    Both of you, good points , the idea of lack of keys preventing a more serious incident has merit, thx.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Posts
    653

    Re: 440 vise alignment key?

    Depends a bit what you do... if you're constantly swapping vises and indexers and such around that don't need to be swept in perfectly, keys can make that faster and easier, but for the most part they aren't necessary, so I'd suggest starting without them and then decide if you want to make a set. Most off-the-shelf keys don't fit Tormach T-slots anyway.

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