Table clamp for miniature vice

This furniture friendly table clamp is specifically designed to fit to the first version (now obsolete) of my miniature vice, which can be found here:
https://www.prusaprinters.org/de/prints/50151

If you have not printed the vice yet, I strongly recommend to go for the latest version right away, which is much easier to assemble and has basically all part reworked in detail. You can get it here:
https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/53471

There also is a new version of this table clamp to fit the new version of the vice available here:
https://www.prusaprinters.org/prints/53706

Please note that the clamp in this publication here (#50360) is NOT compatible with the latest version of the vice.

The clamp can be fixed to table plates with up to 30mm of thickness. Despite being very gentle to the table plate, the metal screw and the nut inlay allows to clamp this thing very tight.

I have made this clamp, and the respective miniature vice, so that I can do smaller mechanical work right at my desk. I have found it to be strong enough and non-damaging to my desk, which was a strict design requirement. Anyway, use this at your own risk.

The upper arm of the clamp features three holes for M3 screws, which can be inserted from the bottom and have their heads completely sunk into the arm. You may use these screws to fit whatever to the clamp (after all, it's your print), but the natural cause for this clamp is the vice that you can find in the link above.

If you like this part, please send a picture of your print and share your application with all of us.

Take care everyone, keep your distance to others, wear your mask and do whatever else can help mankind to minimize our losses until with have defeated this pandemic.

Happy printing!

Print instructions

I strongly recommend to print all parts in PETG, which is simply better suited for functional mechanical parts than PLA. However, I have tested the complete clamp and the vice in PLA and the results were also acceptable.

The only thing that did not work too well in PLA was the sliding mechanism of the table bottom-side protector. Therefore I have added an extra part with a bit more play. I recommend the "tight fit" part if you print in PETG and the "more play" part if you print in PLA.

All parts should be printed in the uploaded orientation. Use the following infills for best results:

• table clamp frame: 100% (it really needs the strength)
• table bottom-side protector: Can be done with little infill (like 15%) but make sure the top side is solid all the way till the screw hole, as this part is under pressure when you clamp the part to your table
• hand knob: 100% (it does not have much material volume anyway and should be strong around the screw head)
• lid for the hand knob: 15% (it is pressed into the hand knob and a bit of flexibility is a good thing for that)

Assembly

All you need in addition to the printed parts are:

• M6 nut
• M6 screw with hexagonal head (the length depends on your table plate thickness, if your table is at least 25mm or one inch thick, a M6x30 screw will do, otherwise you may need a M6x40)

Simply push the nut into the cavity of the clamp. Then put the M6 screw though the knob and press the lid into the knob with the chamfered side first. It is a very tight fit, so no glue will be needed, but you may need a bit of force or a little hammer to get it in.

Snap the table plate bottom protector on the clamp as shown in the pictures, then insert the screw from the bottom side screw it through the inlay nut all the way to the protector part.

You are done, have fun with your clamp and vice!

License:

The license does not allow derivatives, as one of my designs in the past was “taken” from me in the past to collect donations on Thingiverse via a “Remix”, that did not add any significant value. That made me really sad. If you want to seriously remix this design, please contact me and I will glad approve that.