Dovetail workholding utilizes a precision 45° or 60° dovetail prepped at the base of raw stock, providing rigid multi-axis cutting access to 5 full part faces with only 2–3mm of material grab.
Engineering Specifications & Parameters
Clamping Force
15 kN to 30 kN Mechanical / Hydraulic
Dovetail Angle
45 Degree or 60 Degree Standard
Tooling Access
Complete 5-Sided Machining in Single Setup
Stock Grab Depth
2.0 mm to 3.5 mm (0.080 in to 0.140 in)
Raw Material Scrap Reduction
Saves 15-25% stock volume compared to step jaws
The Dovetail Workholding Principle
In 5-axis simultaneous milling, tall vise jaws obstruct cutter tilt angles. Dovetail clamping grips raw stock with a negative 45-degree or 60-degree wedge profile.
Major Production Advantages
Full 5-Sided Tool Clearance: Allows short, rigid cutting tools to access top, front, back, left, and right surfaces without spindle housing interference.
Minimal Material Scrap: Requires only 2.5 to 3.0 mm of sacrificial dovetail prep material at the bottom.
Massive Pull-Down Force: The wedge geometry physically pulls the stock downward against the fixture body, eliminating part pull-out during heavy dynamic milling.
Preparation Protocol
Dovetail prep is milled quickly on raw stock in Operation 0 using a standard indexable dovetail cutter, or wire-EDM cut for pre-hardened billets.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does dovetail clamping prevent workpiece pull-out under heavy cutting forces?
The angled dovetail jaws create a mechanical wedge interlock; as cutting force pushes upward or sideways, the wedge action forces the part tighter into the ground seating base.
How is the sacrificial dovetail bottom removed after 5-axis machining?
In Operation 2, the part is flipped into aluminum soft jaws or parallel blocks and faced off with a standard face mill.
