LokJaw is a Quick Change machine vise jaw system that has significant advantages over other vise jaws used in production machine shop and job shop vises for work holding. For recurring production jobs, many shops machine aluminum soft jaws to fit the part to securely hold it during machining operations. These custom jaws then become fixturing to be used each time the job is run. Sometimes hard steel jaws are used to hold material to machine. With either case, the vise jaws are being changed regularly back and forth.
The three primary disadvantages that exist with using machine vises are the significant amount of time it takes to change jaws over from one job to the next, accurately locating the Softjaws back into the correct position each time and the minimal depth of softjaw available for machining. The LokJaw Quick Change Vise Jaw system solves these problems and more.
Advantages to the production machine or job shop user:
1. 15 second jaw change time.
2. Aluminum soft jaws or hard step jaws interchanged just as easily and quickly.
3. Highly accurate repeatable jaw placement.
Because of our novel jaw fastening system, our soft jaws have a full inset machinable depth into the soft jaw of 7/8” compared to 3/8” inset machinable depth into standard soft jaws.
The parts in the LokJaw system are:
1. Master Jaws – A Starter Kit will include 2 Master Jaws. The user will remove the standard jaws on their vise and attach the Master Jaws with the low profile socket head cap screws provided as shown in Figs. 1-3.
2. Soft Jaws – A Starter Kit will include 2 Softjaws. The Softjaws are made of 6061 aluminum. Note in the side view of the mounted Softjaw (Fig. 6) that almost the entire depth of the Softjaw can be machined to hold parts, which allows a much larger work holding interface than any other vise jaw system out there.
3. Step Jaws – A Starter Kit includes 2 Step Jaws. Step Jaws are made of 4140 precision ground hardened steel and have a small step machined into them to hold material for stock on machining. The Step has serrations to provide a secure bite into the material being machined. Step Jaws with a .110” deep step are included in the Starter Kit. Step Jaws with a .230” up to a .480” step are also available.
Another major benefit is that the time required to swap vise jaws on the LokJaw system is a few seconds compared to 10 to 15 minutes for the standard method. See Figures 7-9 for the LSTR (Loosen, Slide, Tilt, Remove) technique. The Soft/Step Jaws are locked down in place with the two set screws on top of the Master Jaws. Tightening the set screws on top of the Master Jaws with 3 ft lbs of torque will secure all interchangeable jaws in position.
Individual Parts – The following individual parts can also be purchased separately.
• Master Jaw sets
• Aluminum Soft Jaw Sets, 1 1/8” thick.
• Hardened Steel Step Jaw Sets with Serrated or Smooth clamping surfaces, ranging in step size from .110” to .480”.
• Hardened Blank Steel Jaw Set
Although there are no systems that provide the scale of performance of the LokJaw system, our system is still priced considerably lower than other vise jaw systems offered in the market. A typical starter kit is shown in Fig. 10 below.
For more information, please visit:
jetmfg.com
