Ball mount for vice

thingiverse

A secure platform (dubbed "Ball Mount") - devised by cgongora69 and featured on Thingiverse under #186545 - ensures stability for a variety of clamps or vises, can be adapted to hold small cameras too. This 3-part setup minimizes the need for supports during printing and makes assembly much easier. The ideal material is ABS. To print: Disable the raft and supports for all three pieces. Set infill levels at 30% for both the base and vice mount, and 60% for the Ball Clamp part. Then print each piece individually. After that: Drill 6-32 screws into the bottom of your chosen clamp or vice's surface, using a spacing of 10mm x 30mm between holes on center. Fasten the "vice mount" securely with 6-32 screws. You may need to gently smooth out any slight bumps on the base-mounted ball with some light sanding; excessive will weaken the grip, so take care. Place the Ball Clamp component onto this prepared ball, making adjustments smoother using a few drops of isopropyl alcohol. Finally: Attach an oversized washer and thread in a 6-32 screw of length 1.25", then push it into the Ball Clamp to prepare for its cap. Then tighten by way of installing an undersized washer atop another washer as well before sealing this assembly. As the drying hour elapses - glue firmly down on center at peak level. Mounts easily either via a single board bolt system on a flat work desk with some slight gluing in, ensuring no-slip effect guaranteed or install directly on the existing clamped structure's faceboard; securing with screws or sealing permanently using some sturdy backing of durable material, such as that one particular heavy gasket pad, placed underneath as protection from wear or slip, but to make any use on a desk last quite awhile.