Soft Jaws & Custom Fixtures for CNC Precision Clamping
Soft jaws are machinable aluminum or mild steel vise jaws machined directly on the CNC machine to perfectly nest around complex, irregular, or thin-walled second-operation workpieces.
Engineering Specifications & Parameters
Purpose
Operation 2 nesting & thin-wall support
Repeatability
< 0.005 mm (0.0002 in)
Material Options
6061-T6 Aluminum, 1018 Steel, Delrin, 3D Printed Carbon Fiber
Clamping Mechanism
Hydraulic / Mechanical Vise, Dovetail, Collet
Workholding Engineering
Custom soft jaws provide massive contact surface area, preventing clamp deformation, eliminating part slippage under heavy cutting, and maintaining concentricity across multi-op setups.
Design Best Practices
Dovetail Jaws: 45° or 60° dovetail prep requires only 2-3mm stock grab for high-load 5-axis holding.
Pin Locators: Include hardened dowel pins for sub-0.005mm repeatable re-locating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are aluminum soft jaws preferred over hardened steel jaws for Op 2?
Aluminum jaws match the exact reverse geometry of the part, dispersing clamping force uniformly without marring finished surfaces.
