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What are magnetic V blocks and when are they usually used?
In the metal fabrication industry, technicians regularly have to shape pieces of metal to purpose them for various applications. For example, some metalworking facilities produce metal parts for automobiles, machines or buildings. Working with large pieces of metal, though, can be dangerous and inefficient without the proper tools.
That’s where these devices prove to be highly useful. They are capable of pulling and securing pieces of iron and steel, keeping them from moving while they are being shaped. This is necessary for grinding, spark erosion, marking or just measuring the metal. Because they are secured tightly in place, there is no fear of the metal moving around and throwing off measuring or fabricating.
How do magnetic V blocks work?
These devices are jigs that are built out of a heavy block of metal. A large channel is cut out on the top of the clamp, which is where the jig gets its name. This channel makes handling tubes, rods and other curved pieces much easier. Standard models combine the gripping power of a clamp to secure the metal in place, but standard models are not as adept as magnetic clamps when it comes to securing ferrous metals like iron or steel. These are built with a large hole in the middle of the block, like a tunnel running from one end to the other. The block itself is usually made with three layers of material. The outside layers are made from iron while the inside layer is made from non-ferrous metal like aluminum.
A sizeable permanent magnet shaped like a rod is placed inside the hole and attached to a switch that makes it easy to shift from the on and off positions. When switched on, the opposing poles of the inserted rod are aligned with either slab of iron, amplifying the attractive range. Any piece of iron or steel placed in the channel is pulled in by this field, producing a strong gripping effect without the need of a physical clamp.
What makes magnetic V blocks a safer option when handling ferrous metals?
Because these devices don’t rely on physical clamping methods, they are less likely to fail while in operation. Metalworkers often work with pieces that could cause significant injury if allowed to come loose, so this is an important consideration.
Also, physical clamping can damage the metal, causing small flaws that are often undetectable to the naked eye. Many metalworkers have to handle pieces every day and maintain excellent quality while doing so, so a physical clamp can be a liability in some situations. Fortunately, this isn’t a problem with a vice that uses an attractive force instead.
How powerful are these devices?
There are a few patterns available, all of them with the same design, just scaled up or down for different pieces of metal. Smaller models can exert about 150 pounds of force while the larger models can create about 250 pounds of force. Both are strong enough for nearly any piece a technician would encounter.
With their low maintenance, reliability and safety, these devices are mainstays in many metalworking facilities, helping technicians improve their precision and working speed.
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