➢ Crank Handle is made of unbreakable steel, provided with a spring-loaded

mechanism providing positive grip.

➢ Vice is used to hold metal when filing or cutting. It is sometimes made of

cast steel or malleable cast iron, but most are made of cast iron.

➢ Some vices have a cast iron body but a steel channel bar. Ductile cast iron
can also be used.

➢ Cast iron is most commonly used because it is typically 30,000 psi grey iron
which is rigid, strong and inexpensive.
➢ The jaws are often separate and replaceable, usually engraved with serrated
or diamond teeth. Soft jaw covers are made of aluminium, copper, Wood (for
woodworking) or plastic may be used to protect delicate work.
➢ The precision vice with axially swivel able base can be used for surface
inspection, on optical projectors, hardness testers and small drilling and
grinding work. These vices are made of magnetizable chrome steel which is
rust-resistant.
➢ The selection of vice material depends on the type of work that needs to be
done. A Grey iron vice is the best choice for completing tasks such as
hammering, cutting or filing, where vibrations are likely to occur.
➢ If the requirement is to hold a wider workpiece, such as a metal block or
brick, which will stretch the vice to its limit, then a steel vice is ideal as its high
tensile strength means there is less risk of breakage.
➢ Two of the most common materials used are grey cast iron and Ductile iron.
The primary difference between them is the type and structure of the carbon
present within them. The carbon type and structure provide different product
characteristics.
1. Grey iron can be cast very easily and has good machinability. It is
typically used in the non-critical applications where strength is not the
main required property. Gray iron dampens vibrations more effectively
than ductile iron.
2. Ductile Iron has the property of the increased strength and ductility but it
has low thermal conductivity.

DESCRIPTION ABOUT OTHER PROPERTIES OF

GREY CAST IRON AND DUCTILE CAST IRON IS
GIVEN BELOW:

1. DUCTILITY

The addition of magnesium in ductile iron means that the graphite has a
nodular/spherical shape, which results in superior strength and ductility
compared to gray iron, which is shaped like flakes.
2. IMPACT RESISTANCE
Ductile iron has a greater resistance to impacts. It is capable of resisting a
minimum of 8-foot pounds of impact compared to only 2 pounds for grey iron.
This can be critical if the vice has an anvil or the user frequently delivers
inaccurate blows which hit the vice.

3.TENSILE AND YIELD STRENGTH

Ductile iron has a minimum tensile strength of 60,000 PSI and minimum yield
strength of 40,000 PSI. Grey iron by comparison has no measurable yield
strength and a tensile strength of 20,000–60,000 PSI.
COMMONLY USED MATERIALS

1.Grey Cast Iron

● Grey cast iron is an alloy of iron which has a graphite microstructure and is made up of 95%
iron, 3% silicon and 2% carbon.
● The silicon in grey iron causes the carbon to change into flake-shaped graphite, and this is how
the material gets its dark grey colour.
● Grey iron is a material known for its strength under pressure and high capabilities (also known
as damping). This means the iron stops any unwanted vibrations from occurring during clamping
by absorbing the energy into the material, thus easing the task for the user.
● It also has high wear resistance, meaning it is not easily damaged. This is an ideal material to
be used for a tool such as a vice, which requires repeated clamping.

● DUCTILE IRON

Ductile iron is a type of cast iron made up of a variety of materials, including carbon, silicon and
magnesium.
● Other elements such as copper can be added to the iron to improve certain properties like
corrosion resistance and tensile strength. This is ideal for vices which are to be used outside, as
the tool is less likely to rust.
2.Ductile Iron
 The common defining characteristic of ductile iron is the shape of its graphite. Differing from
grey iron, its graphite is in the form of nodules rather than flakes.
● The rounded shape of these nodules means the iron is less brittle and so cracks are less likely
to occur, which provides enhanced ductility to the material and so gives the iron its name.
 1.

3.STEEL

● Steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. It is a material widely used in construction due to its tensile
strength and high corrosion resistance.
● The jaw surfaces, handle, and screw of a vice are usually all made of hardened steel. ●
Hardened Steel is used to make the jaws, handle and screw of a bench vice strong and
durable.Hardened steel has a medium to high carbon content and has been given the heat
treatments of quenching and tempering.
4.POWDER COATING

● All Vices are usually covered with a powder coating, which is a dry finishing process that, along
with giving a decorative appearance, also increases durability and offers a protective layer over
the iron and steel. It aims to protect machinery when completing tough applications.
● A powder coating is usually sprayed onto a vice and then left under heat to allow it to flow and
form a “skin”.
MANUFACTURING PROCESS

★ Bench vises are commonly made in two distinct processes: Casting and Forging.
● The Casting Production is the most common and cost effective manufacturing process.
● It involves pouring hot liquid metal into molds. Once poured into the mold the liquid steel is
allowed to cool.
● After cooling and hardening the molds are removed leaving a finished shape.

● Casting is the most direct way of producing entire shape of swivel base. Mild steel is used as a
material of swivel base. Molten mild steel is poured in the molding box and with the help of
pattern Base is produced. only few operations are required after casting process.
● Although cost effective, there are several drawbacks to this production method including a
rough final surface finish and the possibility of impure casting and thus a weaker, compromised
part.

● The Forging production method is more costly. Unlike casting, the forging process uses solid
blocks of steel that are heated and then pounded into their required shape.
● This production method is common in the tool industry when manufacturing wrenches and
pliers.
● A high quality forged vise can have a tensile strength of 90,000+ PSI compared to 19,000-
60,000 Psi for a cast vise.
● Surfaces of swivel base which is having direct contact with vise surface required to be
machined by grinding and then after by lapping. So, super finishing is achieved and vise can
swivel on the base smoothly.

FACING OPERATION
● After casting process the surfaces of job are rough so by facing operation roughness of job get
reduced . Operation is used to remove metal to produce a flat surface. Facing operation is done
on the gap bed lathe machine for convenience.

BASE
● This is the part of a vise that holds it all together.The base of a vise is the part that is secured
to your bench. .
● Some bases are designed to be clamped into place, while others are bolted down. There are
also vacuum and swivel bases available for different purposes.
● To set the swivel base at the right angle and properly aligned with the spindle a test indicator
could be clamped to the machine arbor and check made to determine the setting by transverse
or longitudinal Feed, depending upon position of vise jaw.

FIXED JAW

● The fixed jaw is rigidly fixed on work bench with the help of nut and bolt arrangement on both
sides.
● Its function is to guide the movable jaw and vise screw which are operated in to and fro
direction.
● Fixed jaw is manufactured from cast iron (CI) metal. The workpiece is held between fixed jaw
and movable jaw hence while performing operations on work piece thermal stresses and large
forces are applied on the workpiece.
● For this reason movable jaw should be thermal resistant and should be able to withstand with
large amount of forces.