3D Printed Fractal vise V2: Overview + CNC router testing

The "long awaited" version 2 of my fractal vise! Now optimised for use not just show! In this video I show my new designs, upgrades, and test it in a variety of scenarios. I think it for sure it is a useful tool as the results in this video show.

Build video up next so sit tight for that.

In regards to the comments in the video, its something im trialling, obviously I cant fit all comments in, in this case I collected these a few weeks back so sorry if you made a similar suggestion and were not featured.

Parts:

Source files:

Materials list:
~around 1.8M of 4.5mm/ 3/16th threaded rod
3x m4 bolts at least 70mm long
~30cm 1.5mm rod for jaw type A
very small elastic for jaw type A
TPU for jaw type B
Appropriate nuts washers ect.

Music:
6 seasons: unicorn heads

fully printed vise by ToMaTo Lab:

0:00 intro

0:19 thanks for last time

0:55 comparison to v1

1:21 new jaws

2:40 new body design

4:39 testing

6:25 CNC testing

8:54 upgrades

10:30 final thoughts

10:57 outro

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My name is Chris, I am a 3D printing hobbyist from australia. I dont really specialise in anything specific, but 3D printed tools and tabletop accessories are some things youll probably seen quiet often. I do all my 3d printing on a Ender 3, which I highly recommend as a budget printer. Currently I only run 1 printer but I hope to expand that in the future. Recently acquired a photon 0 to do resin printing with. I like to share all my 3D printing ideas for free although I do plan to sell stuff in the future. Most of my projects will be mostly 3D printed with a few non printed components included, these can often be found on ebay. I actually use the cheapest filament I can get for all my projects, again I hope to change this in the future.

[Borgedesigns]

Two things I forgot to mention in the video that I really meant to

Firstly, a lot of people told me last time that this mechanism is more appropriately called a Whiffle Tree, which would be correct since the jaws of my design are not a pattern that repeat forever. Also that it would never have been called this since the term fractal wasnt used until the 70s. Not really important but I wanted to mention it.

Secondly, casting. I have no experience in lost PLA or any other casting method but I cant imagine that my single piece jaws would cast particularly well, but I speculate that the teaching tech multi part jaws could translate to casting better? Just a thought.

Finally, and admittedly this is more a build video thing, but the larger part of the elastic jaws require support blocking in the middle or else you wont be able to remove the support.

Thats all, hope you enjoy!

[arloames]

Suggest an auxiliary flat jaw for the fixed jaw. Lots of parts are only unusual on one side, and you could get great alignment. Still fractal, just less so.

[BoagsBugger]

I just wondered about this, and I think the original concept is so genius, I thought I'd share: the original designer of what today is known as the "fractal vise" was a Mr. Paulin Karl Kunze, circa 1922. Kudos Mr. Paul!

[t_c]

Its not a vice replacement. They are 2 tools for 2 different jobs.

Like an impact driver versus a drill. On the surface theyre 2 spinny things that can put in screws and make holes. But they actually both have an express purpose that they excel at where the other does not

[joe]

Since force is pretty directional the thicker TPU grippers should be hollow. should be able to get the benefit of the more complicated head.

This amount of 3d printed tools is amazing!

[VertexCarver]

I think there's something called "Machining Pallet" or "fixture plate" I believe. It's very similar to traditional workholding for woodworking where you have "dog" holes for pins & clamps that mounts into these holes. It's a way simpler solution for these oddy shaped parts.

Idk, hope it's at least interresting to hear people way back when, was wicked smart. ^^

[arloames]

Also the number of use cases need not be very limited. Consider that the standard engravers vise has an array of pins for grabbing weird shapes. Add how often soft jaws are used by machinists. The question is really only one of size and material.

[Drcnc]

Really well designed and it actually seems to work suprisingly well. As you mentioned it has very limited usecases though... But it's really cool!

[benjamincook]

Great to see a design withstand real machines, excellent proof of concept borgey!

[seanyackley]

Amazing, I cant even remember all the times I've needed to hold oddly shaped knife parts for drilling/filing, time to get printing,
and that filing machine will be useful for my current project, cant wait!

[bwselectronic]

This could be useful for someone who paints models, ceramics etc to hold them in positions that would be hard to hold otherwise

[theofficialczex]

Very cool to see it functioning in more practical applications!

[dstrir]

even if this is a solution in search of a problem, there's nothing wrong with that, 'cause when you DO find the problem you can be glad you have the solution

[michaeldavies]

I’d make one of the outer jaws at each level (eg: the left-most jaw) slightly larger than the rest to allow it to clamp smaller objects more consistently

[tomatolab]

Very nice upgrades! I like that magnifying glass attachment. Very useful for soldering works.

[eamonnstevens]

I love the idea of the backlight upgrade, though a frosted piece of acrylic could make a great diffuser to cut down on the harshness of the light as you wouldn't want to be staring directly into those LEDs for long periods of time.

Awesome video btw, great production quality, really well explained and interesting content as usual

[matthewjohnstone]

Dude you're channel is awesome. I'm defs gonna be watching these CNC build guides. Thanks for actually checking the vice's use with real machines and explaining the design choices, I found that all really interesting!

[International_Jetset]

Just found your channel dude, glad I did. Great to see some real world application like this. 3d printing tools superb. Great work

[danielcarollo]

Great design!
You sound as if you consider this project done, but just in case: for the next version, consider running the threaded rods that open and close the jaws under some protection so they are not directly exposed to the milled particles and shavings.

[ssjgohan]

Yep, would be interesting to see a metal version of this. Maybe just one done with lost PLA casting?