What does it do? The Self Centering Vise is used to clamp and hold items that are normally to difficult to hold with a standard table clamp or double-sided engraving tape. It can be used to hold notary seals, medallions, pens, and other various objects. With the use of jigs, clamps, and pins, odd-shaped asymmetrical items can be held and engraved. The advantage of using a self-centering vice as opposed to a standard vise is that once the center of the vise is found and set to the origin, round objects of different sizes will always be lined up. In other words, you will not need to find a new reference point every time you change the size of the object that you are engraving. Tables it will work with 9X12 In order to use the Self Centering Vise on the Star 9X12 the T-Slot will need to be lowered by removing all of the spacers. The T-Nut is used to square the vise to the table. 13X13, 16X25 No preliminary action will need to be taken in order to use the Self Centering Vise on either of these tables. The T-Nut is used to square the vise to the table. 25X25, 25X50 The vise mounts directly on the engraving surface of the machine using the included 8/ 32X1" socket head screw. The T-Nut is not used to square the vise to either of these tables. Viper JE There is a special mount that is attached to the base of the vise so that it can be used on this system. Specifications 1: Maximum opening using dowel pins 5 11/16" 2: Total height with jaws attached - 1" 3: Base diameter - 5 3/4" 4: Maximum jaw opening - 3 5/16" Items Included 4-1/8x1 Dowel Pins 4-3/16x3/4 Dowel Pins 8-1/8x1/2 Dowel Pins 4-8/32x3/8 Socket Head Screws 1-10/32x7/8 Socket Head Screws 1 8/32x1 Socket Head Screws 1-8/32x3/4 Socket Head Screws 1 - T-Nut 1 - Self Centering Vise
Squaring the Self Centering Vise to the 9X12, 13X13 and 16X25 Systems 1. Turn the vise over so that the back is facing upwards exposing the T-Nut mounting holes. 2. Mount the T-Nut to the vise using the holes as shown below. Mount the T-Nut to the vise using the provided holes 3. Hold the T-Nut in place and turn the vise over. Use the included 8/32X3/4 socket head screw to secure the T-Nut to the vise as shown. Do not tighten this screw all the way. This screw will need to be loose in order to slide the vise onto the table s T-Slot. Use the included 8/32X3/4 socket head screw to hold the T-Nut to the vise 4. Mount the T-Nut to the table s T-Slot as shown. Raise the guiderails along the top of the table and press the vise against the guiderails. Holding the vise in place, tighten the 8/32X3/4 socket head screw to secure the vise to the table. Once the vise is secure and does not move, it is safe to lower the guiderail.
Squaring the Self Centering Vise to a 25X25/25X50 Any of the holes along the Y-axis of the 25X25 and 25X50 tables can be used for the vice. Follow the directions below for mounting the vice to these tables. 1. Place the vise on the table and using the supplied 8/32X1 socket head screw, secure it to the table. Leave the screw loose so that the vise is still adjustable. 2. Open the jaws on the vise all the way and measure the distance from the edge of the Y axis ruler to the inside corners of the jaw closest to the ruler. Do this for each corner for the jaw. When the distance is the same, tighten the mounting screw. Measure the distance from the corners of the jaw closest to the ruler. Once the distance is the same on both corners, secure the vise to the table. Squaring the Self Centering Vise to a Viper JE Because of the way the Viper JE is designed, there is a special mounting bracket that is attached to the bottom of the Self Centering Vise. The Viper JE flat table is outfitted with the same type of bracket. This allows for easy swapping between the flat table and the Self Centering Vise. Therefore there is no need for squaring the vise to the machine.
Using the Self Centering Vise for NON Viper Systems Using Table Strokes and Home to use the vise Table Strokes and Homes is the function that we use to move the Z-axis into position to use the vice. However, before we can engrave the object, we need to find the origin of the material that we are going to engrave. (For this example we will assume that you want to find the center of the object) More information on origin can be found in the Xenetech help files. 1. In Xenetech choose Misc Table Strokes es and Homes... 2. Click on Yes es next to Set NEW X Y offsets. 3. Type in values in the X offset and the Y offset blanks. These values represent the APPROXIMATE distance the carriage will travel to get to the center of the object. ***This next step will cause the engraver to move*** 4. Click on the Start button. 5. The engraver will move out to the offsets that were placed in step 3. 6. Use the Forward/Backward switch along with the Character/Line/Plate switch to fine tune your position. More information regarding fine tuning using the pendant can be found in the Xenetech help files. 7. Once you fine tune your position, press the Home Cancel/Home Retain switch toward HOME CANCEL. 8. Click on OK. Now you are ready to set up your job and engrave. Before you send the job to the engraver, be sure that: The X, Y offsets are 0. The proper origin is selected
Using the Self Centering Vise for Viper Systems If you do not wish to set a permanent job offset... 1. Use the Viper touchscreen to move the Z Axis over the center of the vise. The center of the mounting screw is considered the center of the vise. 2. From the Main Menu on the Viper Touchscreen, select Soft Home, then select Yes. This will set a new home position for the vise and will remain as such until either the Viper is turned off, or the machine is mechanical homed. If you would like to set a permanent offset for the Self Centering Vise, you can do so through the use of Job Offset from the main menu on the touchscreen. Just remember that by doing this, you will need to be certain that each time you attach the Self Centering Vise, it is in the exact same position. Otherwise the engraving will be off centered. 1. From the MAIN menu on the touchscreen select MechHome and select Yes. The engraver will automatically move to its home location. 2. Using the touchscreen, move the engraver until the Z Axis is in the center of the vise. The center of the mounting screw is considered the center of the vise. This is an important step so take your time and be patient. If your measurments are off here, then your engraving will be off as well. Don t be afraid to drop the Z axis down over the vise to help assure that you are in the center. By having a diamond tip or a cutter in the spindle while doing this will ensure that you are in the exact center. 3. Once you have found the center of the vise, take a look at the touchscreen and write down the value for the Y axis, we will need it in a minute. 4. Use the touchscreen to bring the Z axis all the way up. 5. Use the touchscreen to move the Y axis back until the Y axis reading on the touchscreen is 0.000. By default the machine will stop moving in the Y direction at around.028. At that point, tap on the directional key and for each tap, the engraver will move in the Y direction by.001. Be very careful not to move the X axis in any way while doing this. If the X axis is moved during this step, you will need to start again at step 1. 6. On the touchscreen, touch Job Offsets. 7. Now touch Vise. 8. Touch Change and then touch Yes. This will be our new programmed job offset for the Self Centering Vise. When you use the vise all you have to do is touch Job Offset, Vise and then Run and the engraver will move right to this spot.
The last thing you will need to do is set up a template job in Xenetech for the Self Centering Vise. In this template job you will need to change the following settings. 1. From Xenetech select Misc Engraver Setup... 2. Set the Y Axis offset to the value that we wrote down earlier. 3. Set the Origin to X Center Y Center. 4. Make any other changes you wish and click OK. Once this is done, save the job and give it a name such as Vise Template. Now each time you load the job, be sure to select Load saved deafults so that these values will be loaded with the job.