Here’s How I Designed Soft Jaws Profile for a Part | How We Do It Ep.2

Do you know if the shape of your soft jaws could make or break your part?
In this episode of How We Do It, Shawn dives into the details of designing soft jaws and why the profile shape really matters. From tips on preventing part pullout to improving accuracy and avoiding damage to your parts, Shawn breaks it all down in a simple, practical way.
You’ll see the whole process-from setting up the soft jaws to machining them-along with some tricks of the trade. Shawn also walks through Op-2 of the part, machining each feature to finish things off.
Connect with Shawn Brown from SBSolo Manufacturing:
Instagram: / sbsoloco
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[@oishisakana]

What a dream. Thanks for this video. @Practical Machinist can you make some content covering the business side? Accounting/insurance/odds and ends stuff like that?

[@TrPrecisionMachining]

good job..thanks for your time

[@Roberty98]

It came out beautiful

[@Str8UpRevving]

Thanks for the tips!

[@punkdudex69]

Really solid information. I agree with your ideology of clamping the parallel close to the clamping region in -Z-...I would like to add my own pseudomachinist perspective to help... I personally use pins/ shims to clamp my vice on, before cutting jaws to allow for a taper to the jaw. You can also get creative and change clamping pressure at the finish spring pass(like a few inch pounds). Adding dovetail reliefs is my secret sauce, similar to what you were describing in those radia, to areas I imagine needing some flexibility when touching inconsistent surfaces....
Hopefully that makes sense, but overall your strategy is absolutely great pseudomachinist knowledge

[@tylermccomb1925]

I sometimes use 1/8" thick aluminum scraps right at the top of the soft jaws and cut the profile, mimicks rhe flaring of a part accurately and you're not cutting steel parallels.

[@SBSOLOCO]

The dovetail trick is the best when needed. I almost brought it up but I think I will save that for when I have a part that actually needs the profile undercut on the jaws. Decided having a visual would be best for the audience vs just talking about it. 🤙

[@OffworldGear1]

Super helpful! Thanks!

[@scottchordas1287]

Shawn is just a cool dude 😎

[@adambergendorff2702]

This was helpful, I'm just learning how to run my mill, the point about the witness lines from the part moving was new to me, Thank You.

[@SBSOLOCO]

Anytime you get vibration from roughing hard it will cause those nasty black spots on your part if not gripped well enough. Little parts usually don’t have that issue since you can’t rough as hard. :)

[@SerenityMae11]

Shawn's awesome 😎

[@Machiningiscool]

That's right! It's a ring around tool!

[@SBSOLOCO]

Ring around the Rosie!