To understand soft jaws, it's important to start with the concept of vise jaws. A vise is a clamping tool that holds objects securely in place, typically for tasks like sawing, drilling, filing, or other types of work that require stability. Vise jaws are the surfaces that directly make contact with the object being held. Standard vise jaws are usually made of steel and provide a firm grip, but they can be harsh on delicate materials, leading to scratches, dents, or even crushing damage.
This is where soft jaws come in. Soft jaws are specialized attachments that replace the standard steel jaws on a bench vise, offering a gentler grip to protect delicate or sensitive parts. They are typically made from softer materials like nylon, rubber, or plastic, which allows them to conform to the shape of the part they’re holding. This flexibility makes them particularly useful for tasks in woodworking, mountain biking, automotive repairs, and even delicate electronics work, where preserving the surface of the material is crucial.
In a workshop setting, soft jaws allow users to grip a variety of materials without worrying about causing cosmetic or structural damage. Whether you’re working on a suspension fork for a mountain bike, an anodized aluminum part, or any delicate component that needs precise handling, soft jaws can save time and reduce the risk of costly mistakes.
Soft Jaws in Machining: Aluminum Soft Jaws
In machining, the term "soft jaws" generally refers to aluminum inserts that are custom-machined to fit the specific contours of a part. Aluminum is chosen for its balance of strength and softness; it’s durable enough to hold a part securely but won’t leave the same marks or scratches that steel jaws might. Machinists often create custom soft jaws by milling the aluminum to match the shape of the part they’re working on. This allows for a firm grip on the component, which is essential for precision machining operations such as milling, drilling, and grinding.
A soft jaw fixture machined into a vise for op1 and op2.
A key concept in machining is "workholding," which involves securing parts in place so that the cutting tools can machine them accurately. Machinists use a variety of workholding devices, including vises, clamps, and specialized fixtures like tombstones. Tombstones are multi-sided fixtures that allow multiple parts to be mounted at once, which can then be machined from different angles without needing to re-clamp the part. This setup is especially common in 3-axis, 4-axis, and 5-axis CNC milling, where the goal is to maximize efficiency by machining as many parts as possible in a single setup.
Soft jaws are also invaluable for positioning parts accurately between different machining operations, such as flipping a part from one side (referred to as "Op1") to another side ("Op2"). Custom-milled soft jaws ensure the part can be held in exactly the right location when switching between operations, minimizing alignment issues and reducing the time needed to set up each part. This repeatability is crucial for maintaining consistent quality, especially when producing complex components that require multiple stages of machining.
Soft Jaws for Bench Vises: Nylon, Plastic, and More
In contrast to aluminum soft jaws used in machining, bench vise soft jaws are often made from materials like nylon, plastic, and rubber. These jaws are designed to provide a gentle grip that won’t damage delicate parts. Unlike their metal counterparts, plastic and nylon soft jaws are flexible and conform to the shape of the part, which is especially useful when working on rounded or irregularly shaped objects. For example, a mountain bike suspension fork needs to be held securely during servicing, but the anodized finish must remain unscathed. Nylon or TPU soft jaws can grip the fork without marring the surface, providing both stability and protection.
Bench vise soft jaws also offer a high level of versatility. They can be swapped out quickly, and they often come in standard sizes that fit most vises. This makes them a more accessible solution for those who need a temporary setup or are working on smaller, less complex projects compared to the highly specialized tasks in machining.
Combining Customization and Flexibility with 3D-Printed Soft Jaws
At Gorman Precision, we’ve taken inspiration from the best of both worlds. Our soft jaws bring the precision and customization of machined aluminum jaws to the versatile, surface-friendly domain of nylon and plastic bench vise jaws. By leveraging advanced 3D printing technologies (additive manufacturing), we offer a unique solution that combines custom-fit precision with the flexibility and gentleness of soft materials.
A 3d printed soft jaw for the Craftsman Pro 4.5" Vise specifically created to hold Wolf Tooth Components seat post for service and upgrade.
Additive manufacturing and CNC machining are two distinct approaches to creating parts, each with its own advantages. CNC machining is a subtractive process where material is removed from a solid block to form a part, allowing for high precision and a smooth finish. This makes it ideal for creating custom aluminum soft jaws, especially when tolerances and durability are critical. However, CNC machining can be time-consuming and expensive, particularly for short production runs or complex geometries that require extensive setup.
On the other hand, 3D printing (additive manufacturing) builds parts layer by layer, directly from a digital design file. This is particularly true in Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) or Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) printing processes, where thermoplastic materials are extruded and deposited in successive layers. This method offers greater design flexibility, enabling the creation of intricate shapes that might be difficult or impossible to machine. It’s also more cost-effective for low-volume or custom production because it eliminates the need for tooling and reduces material waste. By using 3D printing, Gorman Precision can quickly adapt designs, create prototypes, and produce custom soft jaws on demand, allowing for a rapid turnaround that meets the needs of various applications.
Our process allows us to create bench vise soft jaws that are designed specifically for the parts you need to hold. Using CAD software, we can create designs tailored to the contours of your components, and our 3D printers then manufacture these jaws on demand. Whether you’re a mountain bike mechanic needing to secure suspension forks without damaging the coating, or a motorsports enthusiast working on shocks, our custom 3D-printed soft jaws provide the perfect grip.
By combining the precision of CNC machining with the flexibility of additive manufacturing, Gorman Precision enables bench vises to benefit from custom-designed soft jaws for a variety of tasks that were previously accessible only to machinists. This level of customization empowers anyone with a bench vise to enhance their workflow, making it easier to tackle unique projects with the right tool for the job.
Conclusion
Soft jaws are essential tools for anyone who needs to work on delicate or irregular parts. Whether made from aluminum and machined to fit a specific part, or from plastic and designed for general use, they provide a solution that standard vise jaws cannot. Gorman Precision is at the forefront of this field, blending the precision of custom-machined aluminum jaws with the flexibility of 3D-printed polymers. Our soft jaws provide a gentle yet firm grip, designed specifically for your needs.