Bench vise

There are a few models of bench vises available here or on Thingiverse. But they are either too small or they use a 3D printed vise, which is too weak for my applications. So I designed one with a big 200mm stainless steel threaded rod, so the jaws can open 11 cm wide. I also wanted the vise to be bulky and feel stable like a real bench vise.

I've printed most parts at 80% infill, except for the rails, the support piece and the jaw faces at 60% infill. I've chosen to print in black PETG, silver PETG, and black TPU. It's printed without a multi-color unit. The color ornaments can be printed separately and glued. Looking back, silver PETG was a bad choice for the second color, as this shiny-looking filament has special additives compared to regular PETG, which gives it poor bed adhesion and makes it more sticky.

I've included the 3MF files for the handle and support piece, as they need a support blocker to prevent supports from printing in the M3 screw holes: those supports are unnecessary and would be a total pain to remove. The rest of the pieces are printed as is, without supports. Only a brim is needed if you feel it lifts. The tolerances are pretty tight: they work for me, but feel free to adjust them for your needs or to use a heatgun to heat up the nuts before inserting them. The rails have lips on the side with M5 holes, allowing you to either fix it to a workbench with screws, or using a G-clamp.

(If you are interested in building this project, but don't want/can't print the pieces or collect the required hardware, you can buy a kit including hardware and printed parts, send an email to [email protected])

So, without further ado,

List of parts:

• Printed pieces (0.6mm nozzle, 0.2 layer height)
  • 2x rail (PETG color 1)
  • 2x jaw face (TPU)
  • 1x fixed jaw (PETG color 1)
  • 1x moveable jaw (PETG color 1)
  • 1x support (PETG color 1 & 2, must be printed up, with a color change for the top)
  • 1x handle (PETG color 1)
  • 2x disc (PETG color 2)
  • 2x disc_with_holes (PETG color 2)
  • [Optional] 2x ornament_left (PETG color 2)
  • [Optional] 2x ornament_right (PETG color 2)
  • [Optional] 5x ornament_back (PETG color 2)
• Hardware
  • 1x M8 200mm threaded rod
  • 3x M8 square nut
  • 2x M8 washers
  • 8x M3 40mm screws, with button head
  • 8x M3 16mm screws, with button head
  • 8x M3 12mm screws, with button head

Tools:

• 3D printer
• Screwdriver
• [Optional] Small cutters and sanding block (to remove brim)
• Threadlock (like Loctite)
• [Optional] Small heatgun (to heat up the nuts before inserting them if the holes are too tight)
• [Optional] Drill or rotary tool or file (to sand holes if they are too tight)
• [Optional] Super glue (like Gorilla Glue) for glueing ornaments

Step 1: Assemble support

• Insert 4 M3 nuts in the slits under the piece, all the way through.

• Insert an M8 nut in the squared shaped hole in the center.
• Screw a disc with_holes on top of it with 4x M4 16mm screws, chamfered side towards the piece.
• Insert a disc without holes on the other side, the chamfered side facing towards the piece. No need to glue, it just press-fits.

• Screw the piece on the M8 threaded rod.

Step 2: Assemble handle

• Insert an M8 nut on the handle.
• Screw a disc_with_holes on top of it using 4 M3 16mm screws. Make sure the chamfered side face towards the handle.
• Apply thread lock on the last centimeter of the rod
• Screw the rod in the handle, through the cover and the nut. If you placed the threadlock correctly, the rod should bond with the nut in the handle, and you should have a solid handle.

Step 3: Assemble moveable jaw

• Attach the TPU face using 4x M3 12mm screws.

• Insert an M8 washer in the hole in the front.
• Insert the other disc on the threaded rod (not screw, it must slide in, enlarge hole if necessary) with the chamfered edge facing way from the support piece on the rod.
• Insert an M8 washer on top of it.
• Apply threadlock to the tip of the rod and screw the last M8 nut on it. The tip of the rod should protrude just a little.

• Insert the rod in the hole in the moveable jaw, such that the nut is sandwiched between the two washers. The idea is that the nut will be fixed to the rod with the threadlock, but not the washers, so the rod (with the nut) can spin freely against the washers, allowing the jaw to move.
• Press-fit the already-inserted disc on top of the sandwich.

Step 4: Assemble frame

• Insert 4x M3 nuts in the slits under the fixed jaw, all the way through.
• Fix a TPU face on the fixed jaw using 4x M3 12mm screws, one in each corner
• Screw one rail against the fixed jaw and the support piece, using 4x M3 40mm screws. The screws go in on the side of the rails and through the inserted nuts in the other piece.
• Make sure the moveable jaw is inserted in the rail, then lock it in the dent of the other rail by screwing it to fixed jaw and support piece.

[Optional] Step 5: Ornaments

• Glue the 2x left and 2x right ornaments to the side of the jaws, and the 5x back ornaments to the back of the jaws.

Potential areas for improvements:

• The rails could have holes fo rubber feet or metal weights
• The rails could be straight so the vise itself could be inserted in another bigger vise
• Handle that can be turned faster with the fingers (better grip)
• Gear ratio mechanism for the jaw to move faster and require less turns (but keep stability and strength)
• Bigger vise by either printing the rails bigger on a printer bigger than the MK3S, or by using standard aluminium extrusions as rails