The patented CarveSmart quick-change vice jaw system from America is now available in the UK exclusively from the work-holding specialist Leader Chuck Systems Ltd, Tamworth (
www.leaderchuck.com).
The jaw system has been developed to simplify set-up for production vices and tool-room vices. It uses a dovetail interface to quickly and accurately locate and secure the jaws.
With conventional vices, the jaws attach to the face of master jaws via cap screws.
However, the CarveSmart system uses master jaws with a female dovetail profile designed to accept vice jaws with a male dovetail profile; this design allows the jaws to be front-loaded or slid into the side of the master jaws.
They are secured via clamping elements at the top of the master jaws; these provide downward pressure to keep the jaws in place.
Existing jaws are removed by loosening — but not removing — three channelled clamping elements in the top of each master jaw; and because the clamping elements are located at the top of the master jaws, it is not necessary to open the vice as might be required to access cap screws in a conventional vice configuration.
A jaw can be changed in less than 1min.
Because the CarveSmart system does not rely on cap screws, the jaws feature an increased machinable clamping area, allowing larger parts to be held deeper within the jaws and, therefore, more securely in the vice.
Dovetailed jaw blanks are available in a number of different sizes. Extruded-aluminium jaw blanks are available in sizes 19 ¥ 50mm, 25 x 57mm and 50 x 75mm; blank lengths are 150, 790 and 2,400mm.
Additionally, dovetailed 19 x 50mm EN32B steel bar stock is available in 150 or 790mm lengths. Quick-change hard jaws and knife-edge jaws can also be specified.