Make a vise out of a ball screw?

[eyekode]

I was wondering if anyone has ever made a wagon wheel vise or similar out of a ball screw? They could definitely take the load but can they take the dusty environment?

Just wondering because I came across these: http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm/subsection/19
18" long, 1x4TPI ball screws for < 10$.

The goal is to make something like: http://benchcrafted.com/vises.htm

How would you attach a handle? Turn down the end and use a setscrew? It would also need some sort of garter right? Not sure how that would work... Any suggestions on how to attach a garter to a piece of allthread?

I assume the thread on this would not fit any typical nut, otherwise it would be a screaming good deal .
Salem

 

[froglips]

At that price, I'd leap then look

You can get acme threaded rod, but the cost of 1" would be more than my little mind could contemplate cost wise.

I'd suspect the movement won't be as smooth on the ball screw, but heck, its a vise. Do you need something so perfect to pinch a board?

You might play with them in one of those Schwarz "Joseph Moxon's Double-screw Vise"

Jim

 

[Bernhard]

Don't think that will work. A ballscrew is designed for efficient transfer and reduction of friction. Unless you hold the handle, the ball nut will move in direction of the force applied, so can't 'tighten' a work piece.

Cheers,
Bernhard

 

[eyekode]

The fact that I have never seen a ball screw used by a vice made me think I was missing something . Thanks for clearing it up!
Salem

 

[eyekode]

Not only do I like the idea I made one a while ago .

Here is my thread: http://ncwoodworker.net/forums/showthread.php?t=33341

And I also added some handles recently:

View image in gallery​

View image in gallery​

It is a keeper! But it doesn't serve the duty of a tail vise for clamping long boards and it raises the work piece too high for using a hand plane with minimal effort.

Salem

 

[eyekode]

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3029&catname=electric
This looks like about the cheapest source of ACME thread + a nut I have found. Still not sure of a good way to make a garter. I guess you would turn a shoulder on the end of the rod, and fit the garter just larger than the end you turned down. Then attach the handle, but I guess the handle would need some sort of key to transfer the torque without slipping. Maybe welded on?