Abstract:
A multi-station machine vise that is disclosed herein that utilizes soft jaws, which are symmetrical and machineable on all four sides. The jaws being identical in size and configuration makes them interchangeable/usable on any vise station, which results in reduced operating costs. The movable jaws are precisely located and fastened to the vise utilizing a jaw carrier, which incorporates a pull-down action to eliminate jaw lift. The jaw carrier includes a downwardly positioned wedge design that engages a corresponding wedge on a slide that moves the jaw carrier and the jaw. Incorporating the pull-down mechanism into the jaw carrier disposed between and slide and the jaw allows for simplifying the design and manufacture of the jaws.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a vise used in precision machining processes. More specifically, the invention is directed to a multi-station machine vise that reduces or eliminates jaw lift without requiring intricately designed jaws. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Multi-station (e.g., dual-station) precision machining vises are known in the art. Typically, such multi-station machining vises include first and second movable jaws that are disposed on opposing sides of a stationary jaw. A drive mechanism advances each of the movable jaws to and/or away from the stationary jaw to clamp workpieces within the vise. 
     Often, it is desirable to hold irregular shaped workpieces within such a vise. Accordingly, many precision machining vises now utilized what may be termed ‘soft jaws’ which are adapted to that may be milled to conform to the surface of the workpiece that they are to hold. In this regard, after a soft jaw is milled for a particular workpiece, the jaw may not have functionality for use with other workpieces. That is, after milling for particular application, soft jaws are often replaced or stored for repeat use in the future. 
     For precision milling purposes, it is important that workpieces are maintained or repeatably located within strict tolerances. One complicating factor for maintaining such strict tolerances of the workpieces is a tendency for a movable jaw to lift as the jaw compresses a workpiece relative to the stationary jaw. Such ‘jaw-lift’ may result in, for example, a workpiece being slightly out of position relative to a known coordinate location of a CNC milling machine. 
     To counteract the effect of jaw lift, some prior art machining vises provide a hold-down or pull-down force to the forward edge of the movable jaw. However, the design of such prior art machining vises that provide such a pull-down force often require intricately designed jaws having specialized recessed lower surfaces. In addition, such specialized jaws often have a high profile, or in some instances, a relatively thin layer of metal over the recess, which restricts the depth of contouring that can be done for holding workpiece on the top of the movable jaw. 
     It is against this background that the present disclosure is provided. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Provided herein are multi-station machine vises that may utilize soft jaws, which in one aspect are symmetrical and machineable on all four sides. The jaws being identical in size and configuration makes them interchangeable/usable on any vise station, which results in reduced operating costs. In a further aspect, the movable jaws are precisely located and fastened to the vise utilizing a jaw carrier, which incorporates a pull-down action to eliminate jaw lift. The jaw carrier includes a downwardly positioned wedge design that engages a corresponding wedge on a slide that moves the jaw carrier and the jaw. Incorporating the pull-down mechanism into the jaw carrier disposed between the slide and the jaw allows for simplifying the design and manufacture of the jaws. 
     According to a first aspect of the invention, a machine vise is provided that allows for substantially eliminating jaw lift caused by tightening a movable jaw relative to a stationary jaw while an element is compressed between these jaws. Typically, the vise includes a base having recess that defines the longitudinal axis. The bottom surface of the base also defines a reference plane. A stationary jaw is removably mounted to the base. The stationary jaw is typically mounted relative to a top surface of the base above the recess. A first slide is disposed in the recess for selective movement along the longitudinal axis. A drive screw or other actuator may effect movement of the first slide. The slide is utilized to move a jaw to and away from the stationary jaw. More specifically, the slide includes a body and a slide carrier head that extends above the body. In this particular arrangement, the slide carrier head includes an undercut lip. A jaw carrier is also provided as a recess in its lower surface that is sized to receive the slide carrier head. This recess includes an overcut lip for complimentary engagement with the undercut lip of the slide carrier head. This first jaw carrier also includes an upper surface having an outside peripheral edge. A first jaw of the vise has a recess in its bottom surface that is sized to conformably receive the outside peripheral edge of an upper surface of the first jaw carrier. The complimentary engagement of the overcut lip with the undercut lip, which is sometimes defined as wedge surfaces, provides a pull-down effect between the slide and the jaw carrier as the vise is tightened. The conformal fit of the jaw carrier into the recess in the bottom surface of the first jaw transfers the pull-down effect from the jaw carrier to the jaw without the jaw requiring an undercut recess in its bottom surface. 
     In one arrangement, the inside edge surfaces of the recess in the bottom surface of the first jaw are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the first jaw. That is, they are free of any undercutting. In one arrangement, the outside peripheral edge of the jaw carrier is likewise substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the jaw when the jaw carrier is engaged with the jaw. In one arrangement, a tolerance between the outside peripheral edge of the upper surface of the jaw carrier and the mating inside portions of the recess of the jaw are about 1 mil. or 0.001 inches. In one arrangement, a fastener (e.g., bolt or screw) fixedly connects the jaw to the jaw carrier. 
     Due to the simplified nature of the recess in the bottom of the jaw, the jaws are very easy to manufacture. That is, unlike a jaw having an undercut recess in its bottom surface that requires more complex milling, the substantially perpendicular edge surfaces of the recess permit the jaws of the present aspect to be readily machined. This allows most machine shops to readily and efficiently produce their own replacement jaws for the vise. That is, unlike soft jaws that utilize specialized undercut recesses to provide pull-down effect, here the pull-down effect is provided between two parts of the vise. Specifically, the pull-down effect is provided between the slide and the intermediate jaw carrier. Accordingly, the slide and the jaw carrier may be made of very durable materials such as, for example, stainless steels. This permits the soft jaws to be produced of much softer materials such as aluminums and mild steels. 
     In one arrangement, the outside peripheral edge of the jaw carrier and the recess in the jaw permit the jaw to engage the carrier in multiple orientations. For instance, the jaw carrier may be rectangular. Correspondingly, the recess in the bottom of the jaw may be a cruciform recess that is operative to receive the rectangular/oblong jaw carrier along first and second axes. This may permit orienting different faces of the jaw towards the stationary jaw during use of the vise. It will be appreciated that the jaw carrier may also include, for example, a square peripheral edge (or other geometric shape—hexagonal, octagonal, etc.), and the jaw may have a correspondingly shaped recess that would likewise allow for engaging the jaw in different orientations relative to the slide carrier. 
     In one arrangement, the vise is a multiple station vise where first and second movable jaws move relative to the stationary jaw. These jaws may be disposed on opposing sides of the stationary jaw and may operate together to clamp one or more work pieces between the respective movable jaw and the stationary jaw. In such an arrangement, a second slide is disposed in the recess that engages a second jaw carrier that is received within a recess in the bottom of the second jaw. The second slide may include a head having an overcut lip that is received within a recess in the second jaw carrier having a complimentary undercut lip to provide pull-down effect for the second jaw. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a dual station machining vise is provided that permits the interchange of any of the jaws with any of the other jaws. That is, the movable jaws and the stationary jaw of the vise are interchangeable such that only a single jaw style need be produced and/or inventoried for the vise. 
     The dual station vise includes a base having a recess that defines a longitudinal axis. A stationary jaw is removably mounted to the base and disposed over a portion of the recess. First and second slides are movably disposed in the recess on opposing sides of the stationary jaw. Each slide includes a head portion having an undercut lip. The vise also includes first and second jaw carriers that include recessed lower surfaces for receiving the head portion of the slides. These recessed lower surfaces include a lip for complimentary engagement with a mating lip of the corresponding slide. First and second jaws are mounted to the first and second jaw carriers. In one arrangement, these jaws include recesses in their bottom surface for conformably receiving an outer periphery of a respective one of the jaw carriers. The recesses in the first and second jaws may include edge surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the bottom surface of the jaw and which are free of undercutting. 
     In one arrangement, the vise further includes a mounting element that is mounted to the base for locating the stationary jaw. In such an arrangement, the stationary jaw includes a recess in its bottom surface for conformably receiving the mounting element. In this arrangement, the mounting element may be sized identically to the size and shape of the first and second jaw carriers. In this regard, the recess in the bottom of the stationary jaw may be substantially identical to the recess in the bottom of the first and second movable jaws. Stated otherwise, all three jaws—the two movable jaws and the stationary jaw—may be identically configured in size, shape and include a common recess for receiving either a jaw carrier or the locating element for the stationary jaw. 
     In another aspect of the present invention, a dual station machining vise is provided that allows for selectively moving one of two movable jaws prior to initiating movement of the other jaw. The vise includes a base having a recess and a stationary jaw removably mounted to the base over a portion of the recess. First and second slides are mounted in the recess on opposing sides of the stationary jaw. A biasing block is disposed in the recess below the stationary jaw and between the first and second slides. Biasing elements are disposed between the biasing block and the first and second slides, respectively. A locating assembly allows for moving the biasing block towards one of the slides and maintaining the block in this location. This allows for compressing one of the biasing elements (e.g., springs) to a greater extent than the other biasing element. A drive screw extends through a first end of the base, passes through an aperture in the first slide and is received in a first threaded portion of the second slide. The drive screw typically does not engage the aperture of the first slide but rather, a head of the drive screw or bushing provides a contact interface between the drive screw and the first slide. When the drive screw is threaded into the second slide, the first and second slides are compressed towards one another. However, until the tension between the first and second biasing elements is equal, one of the slides and associated jaws will move before the other slide and jaw. 
     The selective movement of one of the jaws in relation to the other provides what may be termed as a “third hand.” That is, a user may selectively open one of the jaws prior to opening the other jaw to facilitate removal and/or engagement of elements within the machining vise. 
     The locating assembly for locating the biasing block in a position along the length of the recess may be any element or combination of elements that permits affixing the position of the biasing block. In one arrangement, an elongated aperture is disposed through a portion of the base that defines the recess and a threaded element such as a bolt or screw passes through this elongated aperture and engages a threaded aperture within the biasing block. Accordingly, by tightening the threaded element when the block is in a desired location (e.g., which may include compressing one of the biasing elements), the position of the biasing block can be affixed. 
     In a further arrangement, the use of the drive screw which passes through one of the slides without threaded engagement allows for fixing the position of the slide having the threaded aperture to transform the multi-station vise into a single station vise. For instance, in one arrangement a threaded element (e.g., bolt or screw) may extend through a second end of the vise and engage the slide that is in threaded engagement with the drive screw. Accordingly, this slide may be affixed relative to the base such that the subsequent turning of the drive screw only moves the slide with the non-threaded aperture. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present invention and further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective exploded view of a dual-station machining vise. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective partially exploded view of a multi-station machining vise. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates one embodiment of portion of the drive assembly that carries the jaws of the vise of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4A  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the vise of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4B  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the vise of  FIG. 1  with a biasing assembly selectively biasing one of the jaws. 
         FIG. 4C  illustrates a cross-sectional side view of the vise of  FIG. 1  the rear jaw affixed to make the vise a single-station vise. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates soft jaws of a multi-station vise machined to hold various workpieces. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a bottom perspective view of a soft jaw. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate perspective exploded views of a dual-station machine vise and a multi-station machine vise, respectively. It will be appreciated that the multi-station machine vise of  FIG. 2  effectively comprises four of the dual-station vises illustrated in  FIG. 1  mounted in parallel. However, the operative components of the internal drive assemblies of both of these devices are substantially identical. For purposes of discussion, the dual-station vise of  FIG. 1  is discussed, however, it will be appreciated that the discussion of the components of this dual-station vise are applicable to the multi station vise of  FIG. 2 . 
     As shown, the vise  100  has first and second movable jaws  130  and  140  that may be utilized to compress work pieces relative to a stationary central jaw  120 . As shown, the base  10  includes a drive assembly recess  12  that extends from near a front wall or end  16   a  of the base  10  to the near rear wall or end  16   b  of the base  10 . Of note, the drive assembly recess  12  does not extend through the floor of the base  10 . Rather, the bottom of the drive assembly recess  12  defines a floor that supports the first and second slide members  30 ,  40 , which support and controllably move the first and second movable jaws  130 ,  140 , respectively. 
     The base  10  is typically machined from a single piece of metal (e.g., anodized aluminum) to provide a rigid support for the moving components of the vise  100 . Generally, the drive assembly recess  12  is milled through a top surface  14  of the base and extends along the longitudinal length of the vise  100 . As shown, one on more apertures may be formed through the top surface  14  to secure the base  10  to an underlying structure (e.g., milling machine, etc.). The size and/or location of these apertures may vary. A top plate  90  overlays the drive assembly recess  12  when the vise is assembled. The plate  90  is conformably received in a second recess in the top surface of the base  10 . The depth of this second recess is substantially the same as the thickness of the top plate  90 . In this regard, when assembled, the top of the top plate  90  and the top surface of the base  10  may be substantially planar providing a surface on which the bottom of the movable jaws  130 ,  140  slide. In one specific embodiment, the top surface of the plate  90  extends slightly above the top surface  14  such that the movable jaws  130 ,  140  rest and move on the top plate  90 . In such an arrangement, the top plate  90  may be hardened (e.g., without hardening the entire base) providing improved wear characteristics for the vise  100 . The unitary design of the base is resistant to deformation caused by forces placed upon the machining vise during use. As such, the base and thus the vise may stand up to great forces encountered during the machining process and retain its shape to optimize movement of the drive assembly therein. 
     This drive assembly recess  12  houses the components of the vise  100  that effect the movement of the movable jaws. See  FIGS. 1 and 3 . More specifically this recess  12  houses and guides front and rear slides  30 ,  40  that are operatively connected to the movable jaws  130 ,  140 , respectively. The front slide  30  and rear slide  40  are disposed within front and rear compartments  22 ,  24  of the drive assembly recess  12 , respectively. That is, these front and rear compartments  22 ,  24  are sized to receive the main body of the front and rear slides  30 ,  40  and provide a guide over a portion of the longitudinal axis of the recess  12 . 
     The front and rear slides  30 ,  40  are connected by a drive screw  50  that operatively moves the slides  30 ,  40  in a controlled manner. As shown, the drive screw  50  includes an elongated shaft that, when the vise is assembled, passes through an opening  18  in the front wall  16   a  of the base  10 , passes through an aperture  32  in the main body of the front slide  30 , passes through a biasing block  70  and passes into a threaded aperture in the rear slide  40 . In the illustrated embodiment, the drive screw  50  is formed as a bolt having has a hex head  52  on a front end and a threaded portion  54  on its distal end. When tightened, the drive screw  50  compresses the slides  30 ,  40  together, which causes the jaws  130 ,  140  to move toward the centrally located stationary jaw  120 . When released, the drive screw allows the slides  30 ,  40  move away from one another permitting the jaws  130 ,  140  to retract from the centrally located stationary jaw  120 . 
     Referring to the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4A  in conjunction with  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the disposition of the drive screw  50  through the components of the vise  100  is better illustrated. As shown, the drive screw  50  passes through an aperture  32  in the front slide  30 , through a central aperture of the biasing block  70  (the function of which is discussed herein) and into an aperture  42  the rear slide  40 . More specifically, the threaded portion  54  of the drive screw  50  is received within a front threaded portion of the aperture  42  of the rear slide  40 . In contrast, the drive screw  50  passes through the aperture  32  of the front slide  30  free of threaded engagement. In order to apply a compressive force to this front slide  30  for compressing the slides together as the screw is tightened, an annular collar or spacer  56  is disposed on the drive screw  50  between the screw head  52  and the rearward end of the front slide  30 . In operation, tightening the drive screw  50  threads the threaded end  54  into the threaded portion of aperture  42  of the rear slide  40  until the annular collar  56  is compressed between the head  52  of the drive screw  50  and the rearward end of the front slide  30 . At this time, continued tightening of the drive screw  50  moves the front and rear jaws  130 ,  140 , supported by the front and rear slides  30 ,  40 , together towards the stationary center jaw  120 . 
     Such movement of the jaws is used to compress one or more work pieces between the movable jaws  130 ,  140  and the center jaw  120  or between the two movable jaws  130 ,  140 . Referring briefly to  FIG. 5 , a multi-station vise is illustrated that supports one or more work pieces between movable jaws  130 ,  140  and/or between a movable jaw  130  or  140  and the stationary jaw  120 . As will be appreciated, the use of the soft jaws allows for machining various work piece holding contours into the surfaces of the jaws  120 ,  130 ,  140 . For instance, a trough may be machined through the center/stationary jaw  120  to allow a part  170  to be compressed between the movable jaws  130 ,  140 . Alternatively, each movable jaw  130 ,  140  may be utilized to compress a part  150  against the center/stationary jaw  120 . 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 1 ,  3  and  4 A, it is noted that as the front slide  30  is not engaged to the drive screw  50  in a threaded interface, the front slide  30  and jaw  130  do not necessarily retract upon loosening the threaded drive screw  50  from a rear slide  40 . That is, as there is not a threaded engagement (e.g., reverse thread) between the front and rear slides  30 ,  40 , it is necessary to use a biasing force to spread these slides  30 ,  40  and their associated jaws  130 ,  140  upon opening the vise  100  (e.g., retracting the threaded drive screw). In the present embodiment, this biasing force is provided by a biasing assembly which includes a biasing block  70  and first and second biasing elements, which in the present embodiment are first and second coil springs  74 ,  76 . As shown in  FIG. 4A , when the vise  100  is assembled, the drive screw  50  passes through the front and rear coil springs  74 ,  76 , as well as the central aperture of the biasing block  70 . As shown, the springs  74 ,  76  are compressed between the facing ends (e.g., forward ends) of the first and second slides  30 ,  40  and the respective ends of the biasing block  70 . Accordingly, when the vise  100  is opened by retracting the drive screw  50 , the springs  74 ,  76  expand and provide a biasing force that spreads apart the first and second slides  30 ,  40  and their respective jaws  130 ,  140 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the biasing block  70  is disposable within a neck  26  portion of the drive assembly recess  12  between the first and second compartments  24 ,  26  that receive the front and rear slides  30 ,  40 . This neck  26  provides a guide for a biasing block  70 . 
     The slip fit arrangement between the front slide  30  and the drive screw  50  provides another benefit for the vise  100 . Specifically, the lack of a threaded engagement between the front and the rear slides  30 ,  40  allows for fixing the rear slide  40  and jaw  140  such that only the front slide and associated jaw  130  move. As illustrated in  FIG. 4C , a maintaining bolt or screw  58  may pass through an aperture in the rear wall  16   b  of the base  10  and engage a second threaded or rearward portion of the aperture  42  in the rear slide  40 . This may allow for locking the rear slide  40  against the back wall  16   b  of the base. In such an arrangement, advancement or retraction of the drive screw  50  results only in the movement of the front slide  30  and its associated jaw  130 . This effectively transforms the multi-station vise into a single station vise. 
     The biasing assembly also provides an additional function for the vise  100 . Specifically, the biasing assembly allows for selectively initiating movement of one of the slides and supported jaws prior to initiating movement of the other slide and supported jaw. As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the length of the biasing block  70  is less than the length of the neck  26  of the recess  12 . By moving this block  70  towards one of the slides  30  or  40 , the spring between that slide  30  or  40  and the biasing block  70  experiences a greater compression than the other spring. For instance, by moving the biasing block  70  towards the rear slide  40 , the second spring  76  experiences more compression than the first spring  74  (See  FIG. 4B ). The result of this increased compression of one spring in relation to the other spring is that upon tightening the drive screw  50 , the lesser compressed spring will compress until the compression between the springs  74  and  76  is substantially equal. In the present case where the second spring  76  is initially more compressed, drive screw tightening results in the first spring  74  compressing and the first slide  30  and jaw  130  moving before the second slide  40  and jaw  140  begin moving. Once the compression of the springs equalizes, both slides and jaws move at an equal rate. Upon loosening the drive screw  50 , the movement of the two jaws is also different. That is, the jaw having a more compressed spring between its slide and the biasing block will move prior to movement of the other jaw. 
     To permit the selective adjustment of the tension between the first and second (e.g., front and rear) springs  74 ,  76 , the biasing block  70  includes a locking assembly. In the present embodiment, the locking assembly includes a threaded screw or bolt  78  that may be selectively engaged into a threaded aperture  80  in the biasing block  70 . This threaded element  78  extends through an elongated slot  88  in the top plate  90 , which overlays the drive assembly recess  12 . See  FIG. 1 . Accordingly, the threaded element  78  may be loosened and moved along the length of the elongated aperture  88  within the top plate  90 . When the threaded element  78  is disposed within the threaded aperture  80  of the biasing block  70 , moving the threaded element along the elongated aperture  88  moves block  70  along the longitudinal axis of the neck  26  portion of the of the drive assembly recess  12 . That is, the biasing block  70  may be moved along the neck  26  of the recess  12  to a desired position to apply a greater compressive force against either one of the slides  30 ,  40 . When positioned in a desired location, the threaded element  78  may be tightened and thereby maintain the biasing block  70  in a desired location. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the top plate  90  is received in a plate recess that surrounds the drive assembly recess  12  in the top surface of the base  10 . One purpose of the plate  90  is to prevent particulates from entering into the drive assembly. However, it will be appreciated that in order for the slides  30 ,  40  to engage the movable jaws  130 ,  140 , a portion of these slides must extend through the top plate  90 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4A , each slide  30 ,  40  includes a head portion  34 ,  44  that extends above the main body of each respective slide. Further, this head portion engages a jaw carrier  60  that extends above slide apertures  94 ,  96  in the top plate  90 . 
     In the disclosed vise  100 , each slide  30 ,  40  engages a jaw carrier  60   a ,  60   b  (hereafter  60  unless specifically identified), which are each received in recess in a bottom surface of the movable jaws  130 ,  140 . Importantly, the interface between the head portion of the slide and a bottom recess of the jaw carrier provides a pull-down effect for the jaw. It will be appreciated that the front and rear slides  30 ,  40  and their jaw carriers  60   a ,  60   b  are mirror copies. Accordingly, for purposes of discussion herein, the pull-down effect provided by the interface between the slide and jaw carrier is limited to discussion of the front slide assembly. However, it will be appreciated that discussion is equally applicable to the rear slide assembly. 
     Referring again to  FIGS. 3 and 4A , the interface between the slide  30  and the jaw carrier  60  is discussed. As shown, the jaw carrier  60  includes a recess  62  in its bottom surface that is shaped to receive the head section  34  of the slide  30 . The head section  34  includes an undercut lip  36  that, in operation, complimentarily engages an overcut lip  66  of the jaw carrier  60 . These lips  36 ,  66  generally form mating wedge surfaces that extend across the width of the slide  30  and jaw carrier  60 . These mating lips  36 ,  66  are formed such that, when the slide  30  and the supported jaw  130  are advanced towards the stationary center jaw  120 , the wedge surfaces of these mating lips engage and provide a pull-down effect for the moving jaw  130 . 
     It will be appreciated that during operation of the vise when a work piece is disposed between the jaws  130 ,  120  and the drive screw  50  is advanced a clamping force is applied to the work piece and a reactionary outward force is applied to the jaws  130 ,  120 . Generally, the fixed interconnection of the stationary jaw  120  to the base  10  effectively counteracts the reactionary force and prevents movement of the stationary jaw. However, due to the movable interconnection of the slide  30 , the reactionary force as applied to the moving jaw  130  (e.g., applied a counterclockwise torsional force) tends to lift the moving jaw  130 . The lifting force applied to the moving jaw can, in some instances, result in a work piece moving slightly from a desired location such that precision milling of that work piece may be compromised. 
     This jaw lift is counteracted by the pull-down engagement of the mating lips  36 ,  66  of the slide  30  and the jaw carrier  60 . That is, upon tightening the drive screw  50  the downwardly angled wedge design of the slide lip  36  works to apply a downward force (e.g., a clockwise torsionary force) to the mating lip  66  of the jaw carrier  60  which is transferred to the moving jaw  130 . This force counteracts the lifting force applied to the moving jaw  130  that is caused by clamping a work piece between the moving jaw  130  and the stationary jaw  120 . That is, the mating angled wedge surfaces of the lips  36 ,  66  apply a counteractive force to the moving jaw  130  that works to eliminate the jaw lift caused by compressing a work piece between the moving jaw  130  and the stationary jaw  120 . The same is true for the second moving jaw  140  and the stationary jaw  120 . 
     As shown, the recess in the jaw carrier  60  is sized to conformably receive the head section  34  of the slide  30 . Specifically, the jaw carrier  60  is engaged with the slide  30  during assembly of the vise  100  where the jaw carrier  60  is engaged from a lateral side of the slide  30  such that the head portion of the slide  30  is received within the bottom recess of the jaw carrier  60 . Once disposed within the jaw carrier  60 , the engaged jaw carrier  60  and slide  30  are disposed within the recess  12  of the base  10  and the top plate  90  is connected to the base  10 . The jaw carrier  60  extends through the top plate aperture  94 . When the top plate  90  engages the base  10 , the jaw carrier  60  is prevented from moving laterally such that the jaw carrier  60  may not be removed from the slide  30 . That is, upon assembly of the vise  100  these elements  30 ,  60  remain engaged even though they are not directly mechanically connected using, for example a fastener such as a bolt. Stated otherwise, other than the slip fit engagement between the recess of the jaw carrier  60  and the head portion  34  of the slide  30 , there is no direct physical interconnection between these members. 
     The jaw carrier  60  is receivable in a recess in the bottom of the jaw  130 . To provide a conformal fit for effectively transferring the pull down force to the jaw  130 , the outside perimeter (e.g., peripheral edge) of the upper surface of the jaw carrier  60  is correspondingly shaped with at least the forward and rearward ends of the recess in the jaw  130 . When disposed in the recess, the top surface of the jaw carrier  60  is typically in direct contact with the bottom surface of the recess. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , the recess  132  in the bottom surface of the jaw  130  is a cruciform recess  132 . However, it will be appreciated that in other embodiments a single recess may be utilized. In the present embodiment, each arm of the cruciform recess  132  is shaped to complimentarily receive the forward and rearward ends of the jaw carrier  60 . The recess may be machined to have a tolerance of about 0.001 of an inch between the outside periphery of the jaw carrier  60  and the inside edges of the recess. That is, the jaw carrier  60  and recess  132  are precisely machined such that there is little or no movement between the jaw carrier  60  and the jaw  130 . Further, as illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the jaw includes a central aperture  134  that is sized to receive a threaded bolt  8  that engages a corresponding aperture  64  on the jaw carrier  60 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , when the bolt  8  is disposed within these apertures, the jaw  130  and jaw carrier  60  are mechanically coupled. Of note, the bolt  8  that couples the jaw  130  and the jaw carrier  60  does not physically interconnect with the slide  30 . In this regard, the jaw  130  is not fixedly interconnected to the slide  30 . That is, the interface between these elements allows for some movement between the slide  30  and the jaw carrier  60  to affect the desired pull-down effect. 
     As the jaw carrier  60 , which is disposed between the slide  30  and the jaw  130 , provides the pull-down effect for the jaw  130 , the manufacture of the jaw may be simplified. That is, previous jaws have often included complex structures such as undercut and/or overcut lips to provide a pull-down effect for the jaw. Incorporation of such structures (e.g., lips, etc.) into a jaw significantly increases the complexity of producing such jaws, which by their nature are made for periodic replacement. That is, each time a jaw is replaced, the recess formed in the new jaw requires milling of a specialized structure or feature to provide the desired pull-down effect. In the present vise  100 , the pull-down effect is provided by the interface between the jaw carrier  60  and the slide  30 . These parts do not need replacement when a new jaw  130  is needed. 
     In the presented embodiment, the interface between the peripheral edge surfaces of the jaw carrier  60  and the peripheral edges of the recess  132  are perpendicular relative to the to the planar bottom surface of the jaw  130 . That is, outside peripheral edges of the jaw carrier  60  are substantially vertical. By utilizing such vertical sidewalls for the peripheral edge of the jaw carrier, the recess formed in the bottom of the soft jaw  130  may include vertical sidewalls free of any undercuts or other specialized structures thereby simplifying the machining required for such a jaw. Through a locking lip engagement between the jaw carrier and the jaw, the conformal recess fit between these elements transfers the pull-down from the jaw carrier to the jaw. 
     Use of the cruciform recess  132  in the bottom surface of the jaw  130  provides an additional benefit, namely, the ability to utilize each face of the jaw. As shown, both arms of the cruciform recess  132  are equally sized and may be selectively utilized to receive the jaw carrier  60 . This allows for turning the jaw  130  such that any of the four faces thereof may be disposed toward the stationary jaw  120 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , soft jaws are often specially milled to hold one or more work pieces between the movable jaw  130  and the stationary jaw  120 . The ability to use each face of the jaw  130  allows a jaw to be reused for multiple different applications or stored for repeat use in the future. This reduces the replacement frequency for the jaws. 
     A further advantage of the vise  100  is that all three jaws  120 ,  130  and  140  (i.e., both movable jaws and the stationary jaw) are identical. That is, the stationary jaw  120  is identical to each of the moving jaws  130 ,  140 . This provides a benefit that only one jaw need to be produced for use with all three locations on the vise  100 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the stationary jaw  120  is mounted to a mid portion of the vise  100 . More particularly, a locator  98  having the same outside periphery as the jaw carrier(s)  60  is mounted near a center point of the vise  100 . More specifically, this locator is mounted to the base  10  through apertures in the top plate  90  via first and second bolts  99 . This locator  98  includes a threaded central aperture for receiving a threaded element (e.g., bolt or screw) to mechanically attach the stationary jaw  120  to the base  10 . As all three jaws are identical, a machine shop need only produce or inventory a single jaw style. 
     The foregoing description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Furthermore, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, and skill and knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain best modes known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such, or other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application(s) or use(s) of the present invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.