WO2025017214A1

WO2025017214A1 - Workholding device

Info

Publication number: WO2025017214A1
Application number: PCT/EP2024/070775
Authority: WO
Inventors: Neil Adrian BUDGEN
Original assignee: Budgen Neil Adrian
Priority date: 2023-07-20
Filing date: 2024-07-22
Publication date: 2025-01-23
Also published as: GB202311120D0

Abstract

A jaw liner for installing on a jaw of a cooperating workholding device is described comprising: a body having a proximal and distal sides, and upper and lower surfaces, and left and right ends; a contact or gripping surface on the proximal side of the body; and means on the distal side of the body for mounting the jaw liner on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device, wherein the means for mounting the jaw liner on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device comprises a shaft mounted on the distal side of the body with a member distally attached thereto or mounted distally thereon wherein the member is of greater width or radius than the cross section of the shaft. Also, a cooperating workholding device comprising one or more jaws for holding a product, is described wherein at least one jaw comprises: a proximal face comprising means mounted on or within the proximal face for installing a cooperating vice jaw liner on the jaw of the workholding device; and upper and lower surfaces, wherein the mounting means comprises a recess in the jaw of the cooperating workholding device for accommodating the mounting means of the jaw liner. An apparatus comprising said jaw liner installed on said cooperating workholding device is also described. A method for installation and uninstallation of said jaw liner installed on said cooperating workholding device without additional tools is also described.

Description

Workholdinq Device

The present invention relates to work holding (“workholding”) devices and jigs, in particular vices (vises) for hand or machine tool use. The invention further relates to replaceable vice (vise) jaw components (“liners”) for mounting and optionally dismounting from vices. The invention further relates to vices specifically constructed to allow the mounting and dismounting of replaceable vice jaw components.

Work holding, i.e. locating and securing a workpiece in a jig or vice so that it can be machined is a necessary part of manufacturing parts precisely. Various techniques have been developed for accurate workholding means. The simpler systems are effectively bolting or securing the work piece to a surface before machining it. Further developed systems involve vices, grips, or other workholding means wherein the jaws of the vice or grip are shaped or deform to accommodate the work being gripped by the work holding means. However, typically tools or other means are required to install or uninstall (mount or demount) the jaws from the work holding means.

The problem that this presents to the skilled worker is that a significant amount of time is required simply to install the workplace in the machining rig with enough security that it can be machined to the desired tolerances. Necessarily, “play” in the system has a negative effect on the degree of accuracy achievable during machining.

While machinable jaws are known for holding such materials accurately, and, similarly, soft jaws are also known for vices and machine vices to hold products in precise and repeatable locations, there is also a need for specialised vice jaws to be interchangeable. Necessarily machine vice jaws are for specific functions only and limiting a vice to being for manufacture of only one particular item is necessarily, generally, inefficient. Thus there is a further need for a system by which the vice jaws can be interchanged. Known systems of interchangeable vice jaws are all limited by the replaceable vice jaw portion, the “liner” of the vice jaw, needing to be attached or otherwise held in position via bolts or other means that require tools to locate and secure the replaceable vice jaw portion, the “liner”, to the body of the vice itself.

Necessarily, a system that requires tools for interchange of the vice jaws or liners mounted on vice jaws is less convenient and likely slower, and therefore less efficient, regarding the manufacturing process. Machine shop parallels are used extensively in manufacturing, primarily on vertical milling machines and machining centres. Typically they are used to enable workpieces to be raised above, but parallel with, the bed of machine vices and similar clamping devices. This is often necessary to facilitate machining operations that would otherwise damage either, or both, the tooling used (drills, milling cutters, boring heads, etc.) or the bed of the equipment. Other uses include raising a section of the workpiece above the clamping jaws to facilitate machining operations across the workpiece where the clamping jaws would otherwise impede or prevent this operation.

Existing parallels are typically tall and thin: typically, 150mm long, 10mm to 40mm in height and 3mm or 4mm wide.

Thus an object of the invention is to provide a work holding means that allows the work piece to be held securely, and preferably repeatably, in a vice jig or other work holding means. There is a further need for the working holding means to be interchangeable so that multiple different parts can be similarly accurately held in the machining station or other shaping machine. In addition, there is a further need for a system of toolless interchange of vice jaws.

A particular design problem addressed by the present invention is the provision of a modular system enabling the clamping elements (liners or vice jaw component) of a clamping system (e.g. a vice (vise) or other workholding apparatus) to be conveniently swapped out (i.e. a previous clamping element unmounted, and a new clamping element mounted in its place) without requiring any tools. Preferably this swapping would be rapid and convenient yet yielding positional accuracy, repeatability, and security of positioning the clamping elements during the installation process. Furthermore, the clamping elements would be adaptable for a number of applications as determined by the workpieces held and specified engineering characteristics required.

An object of the invention is to provide a modular system for a work holding means that enables machine shop parallels to be secured in place without being affected by external pressures, such as high pressure air blasts, and exchangeable in the work holding means without requiring any tools. This exchange may be capable of being carried out within a timeframe of seconds. This exchange would be capable of being carried out with assured positional accuracy, repeatability, and security of the set up. A further object of the invention is to ameliorate or eliminate the disadvantages of existing machine shop parallels whereby tall and thin parallels, such as those described above, tend to fall over as workpieces are removed from the machine vice. This causes the attendant difficulty to the user that the workholding means then requires cleansing of swarf along with the jaw liner faces and bed of the workholding means to ensure the installation or set up of the workpiece is fit for the intended machining operation or other purpose.

A further object of the invention is to provide parallels for a workholding apparatus such as a vice, wherein the machine shop parallels are to be secured in place without the size or form of the parallels being limited by the means used to secure them. For example, previous versions of machine shop parallels can be prevented from falling over by making the parallels wider than the vice jaws with holes and making holes in the protruding ends of the parallels so that the parallels can be supported by rods or tubes to be passed through the holes. However, this arrangement has the disadvantage of allowing swarf to get behind the parallel of the moving vice jaw when the vice is opened. As another example, springs have been placed between opposing pairs of parallels to hold them in place. However, the use of such springs requires them to be smaller in diameter than the height of the parallel used. Furthermore, once the gap between the parallels is significantly wider than the diameter of the spring, the spring is liable to become unstable, bend at the centre of its length, and release itself from the set up. Flat springs might be used but are of limited use because they tend to be less resilient and as the width between the parallels increases more spring sections are required to compensate for the limited spring characteristics of the flat spring.

Adhesives, fixatives (e.g. plasticine, chewing gum and/or Blu® Tack) and magnets are known to have been used to temporarily install machine shop parallels. However, substances such as plasticine, chewing gum, and/or Blu® Tack are known to fail when exposed to air blasts or coolant flooding of a workpiece. Magnets prevent the technician from confirming the workpiece is fully seated as the force required to move magnetised parallels is greater than that which would indicate the workpiece is not fully seated. That is, the technician may be prevented from detecting the “play” in the position of the parallel or workpiece, and thus be prevented from detecting that the workpiece is not fully seated. A further object of the invention is to ameliorate or eliminate the disadvantages of vice jaw liners that are taller than the body they are mounted on. Loading a vice jaw liner at a point (illustrated as F in Fig. 13) above the top face of the vice body (illustrated as T in Fig. 13) causes the load to be taken by the top edge (illustrated as P in Fig. 13) of the vice body which acts as a pivot.

Thus an object of the invention is to overcome the technical constraints and known disadvantages as discussed herein.

The invention provides a jaw liner for installing on a jaw of a cooperating workholding device comprising: a body having a proximal and distal sides, and upper and lower surfaces, and left and right ends; a contact or gripping surface on the proximal side of the body; and means on the distal side of the body for mounting the jaw liner on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device, wherein the means for mounting the jaw liner on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device comprises a shaft mounted on the distal side of the body with a member distally attached thereto or mounted distally thereon wherein the member is of greater width or radius than the cross section of the shaft. The member may thus comprise a head portion and associated shaft.

The invention also provides a jaw liner for installing on a jaw of a cooperating workholding device comprising: a body having a proximal and distal sides and upper and lower surfaces; a contact or gripping surface on the proximal side of the body; and means on the distal side of the body for mounting the jaw liner on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device. wherein the means for mounting the jaw liner on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device comprises a shaft mounted on the distal side of the body with a member of greater width or radius than the cross section of the shaft. The member may thus comprise a head portion and associated shaft. The invention also provides a workholding device comprising one or more jaws for holding a product, wherein at least one jaw comprises: a proximal face comprising means mounted on or within the proximal face for installing a cooperating vice jaw liner as described herein on the jaw of the workholding device; and upper and lower surfaces, wherein the mounting means comprises a recess in the jaw of the cooperating workholding device for accommodating the mounting means of the jaw liner.

The invention further provides an apparatus comprising a workholding device as described herein and one or more jaw liners as described herein, wherein the workholding device and jaw liner are cooperating components and the jaw liner is mounted on the proximal face of the workholding device, or on a component mounted on the proximal face of the workholding device.

In the present context a vice or vise is a workholding device, preferably having two jaws, that is for holding a workpiece, wherein the means of closure of the jaws is achieved using force generated from a screw, lever, cam, or piston. Preferably a vice comprises means separate from the jaws for fixing the vice to a further surface or object. Similarly, in the present context a clamp may be any of various tools, preferably having two jaws, that is for holding a workpiece, wherein the means of closure of the jaws is achieved using force generated from a screw, lever, cam, or piston.

In the context of the present disclosure a jig is a workholding device used to maintain mechanically the correct positional relationship between a piece of work and the tool or between parts of work during assembly. Thus a jig is a device that holds a piece of work at it becomes, or progresses towards being, the product of that work.

In the context of the present disclosure the term contoured means to construct an object such that its shape or form is in conformity to a contour, wherein a contour may be an outline, optionally the outline of a curving or irregular shape.

The structure may have mounting points attached thereto or installed thereon or therein. The mounting points may be adapted to provide a temporary means of attachment or fixation. The advantage of such attachment means is that the product can be conveniently yet securely attached to the jig so that its location is simply and reliably replicated and thus application of the substance to the product can be simply and reliably replicated. A simple reversible connection to the structure means that change of parts on the jig and manufacturing speed can be improved.

The head portion may be attached to or mounted on the shaft of the mounting means. This has the advantage of using alternative head portions with a standard shaft, or alternative shafts with a standard head portion. In addition, this has the advantage of using alternative materials for the head and shaft portions, e.g. when differing engineering characteristics are required.

The member or head portion may be suitable for fitting into an accommodating recess in the jaw of the cooperating workholding device. Preferably the recess is a channel or slot.

The means for mounting the component on the jaw of the cooperating vice may comprise a member that fits into a cooperating recess in the jaw of the cooperating workholding device. The recess may be a slot. All or part of the length of the slot may have a T-shaped cross section wherein the upright of the T forms a passage from the proximal face of the vice jaw that leads to a slot formed by the cross-piece of the T (a “T”-slot). Thus, preferably, the volume of the member is shaped to match the negative volume of the cooperating recess. Preferably the cross section of the member matches the negative cross section of the recess. This offers the advantage of the member being installable in the recess by being slid therein. Preferably the member only fills part of the volume of the cooperating recess.

The means for mounting the component on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device may comprise a shaft on which is mounted a member or head portion, or which is linked or attached to a member or head portion, wherein the member or head portion may be of greater width or radius than the cross section of the shaft. Thus the mounting means may be a bolt, or screw, preferably comprising a head of greater radius than the shaft thereof.

The means for mounting the component on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device may comprise a shaft linked to a head portion on which a further member is mounted. The head portion may be of the same or lesser width with than the cross section of the shaft. The further member may extend outwardly or radially from the shaft so that the further member extends to a greater width or radius than the cross section of the shaft. The radial extent of the further member mounted on the head portion may be circular, elliptical, linear, or may subtend one or more circular or elliptical sectors. The further member may be a bar, ring, or washer. The further member is preferably made of metal. The further member may comprise bends, creases, and/or folds allowing the member to deform under pressure. Accordingly, such a member supplies a contrary restoring force when under pressure, i.e. to form a spring having a biasing force. The further member may be a bar, ring, or washer comprising bends, creases, and/or folds allowing the bar, ring, or washer to deform under pressure. Accordingly, such a bar, ring, or washer comprising bends, creases, and/or folds supplies a contrary restoring force when under pressure, i.e. to form a spring. Thus the member may be biased towards the distal side of the body. Preferably the biasing force of such a biased member acts substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft. Most preferably the biasing force of such a biased member acts substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the shaft in a proximal direction.

When using a parallel or parallels for high precision outcomes it is important that a user can confirm that the workpiece is “set down” or well seated in the intended, stable position with respect to four corners of the parallels. For standard parallels this is typically achieved by the user applying finger pressure to each end of each parallel to detect if the parallel will move in the “y” axis (i.e. away from the vice jaw). Even if this movement is visually imperceptible it may be detected by touch.

However, when the technician is using parallels that are held in place using means that exert a variable force on the parallels (e.g. springs, rods or magnets acting to hold the position of the parallel) a method relying on detection of slight movement by the user’s sense of touch may be rendered unreliable or unavailable because the force required to test for slight movement in this way may be overwhelmed or swamped by the force of the additional retaining means (e.g. springs, rods or magnets).

The problem noted above of a user being unable to tell whether a parallel is correctly “set down” because the parallel being tested is held securely by other means may be overcome by using a parallel (e.g. 710) and biasing means (e.g. spring 907) whose engineering characteristics are set mutually and/or separately to both retain the parallel against the proximal face of the liner (701 , 900) and to allow the parallel to be moved in the y-axis. The biasing means (e.g. spring) used in the solution of this particular technical problem is typically weaker, preferably slightly weaker, than the other springs used.

Further, in order to aid this feature one or both of the flanking outer ends of the parallels may have recesses on the distal surface of the parallel (711 ). Advantageously, this enables the user to test for movement of the parallel in the y-axis. This is achieved by providing a surface for a fingernail of the user, or equivalent means, to gain purchase on the parallel, preferably in the volume provided by the recess, and thus to apply a testing force to the parallel to confirm that the parallel, and/or the workpiece, is fully seated.

The shaft may be mounted or installed perpendicularly to the distal side of the component. The shaft may be round, circular, elliptical, or square in cross section.

The length of the shaft may be modified using a shim or spacer.

The head portion may be round, circular, elliptical, hexagonal, octagonal, or square in 2D shape. Thus the head portion may have a cylindrical form in 3D. The head portion may have the form of a circular convex body (e.g. a “button”). Alternatively or in addition the sides of the head portion may be curved in shape. Such shaping yields the advantage of the fixing means self-centring when passing into a slot and selflocating when being admitted to the jaws or passage of a leaf spring (as described below).

The distal side of the body may be shaped to match the contour of a jaw of a cooperating workholding device. Preferably the distal side of the body is installed on the jaw of a cooperating workholding device to match the contour of the cooperating jaw.

The upper surface may be substantially perpendicular to the proximal side/and or proximal surface. The lower surface may be substantially perpendicular to the proximal side/and or proximal surface. Preferably both upper and lower surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the proximal side/and or proximal surface.

The upper surface may be substantially perpendicular to the distal side/and or distal surface. The lower surface may be substantially perpendicular to the distal side/and or distal surface. Preferably both upper and lower surfaces are substantially perpendicular to the distal side/and or distal surface.

The distal surface may be angled such that the distal surface and the upper surface form an obtuse angle. Similarly, the distal surface may be angled such that the distal surface and lower surface form an acute angle. An advantage of this form is that a force transmitted from the proximal to distal direction through the body will cause the replaceable vice jaw to be forced downwards and therefore to be more securely held by the vice. An advantage of this form is that a force transmitted from the proximal to distal direction through the body will prevent the vice jaw from lifting while under compression and thus reliably hold objects securely and stationary. A further advantage of this shape is that it is relatively simple to manufacture accurately, reproducibly, and at scale.

The contoured surface that defines the junction (e.g. a mating surface) between the cooperating vice jaw and the distal surface of the body may be planar or contoured. The contour may be a three-dimensional curve. Alternatively, the contour may be a more complex pattern, e.g. ridged, sawtooth, or wave pattern. Such patterns have the advantage of guiding the replaceable jaws into position and causing them to be secured in place.

The distal side of the body may have a protrusion, shoulder, or ridge that projects from the distal side of the body. The protrusion, shoulder, or ridge may fit into a cooperating recess in the face of the jaw of the workholding device. This has the advantage of spatially locating the jaw liner accurately and reproducibly. A further advantage is of more securely holding the vice jaw in position when external forces are applied to it, e.g. the workpiece being held is worked, manipulated, struck, or otherwise has force applied thereto.

The protrusion, shoulder, or ridge may be located in line with the lower surface of the jaw liner. Advantageously, manufacturing the protrusion, shoulder, or ridge and is simplified by defining its location in conjunction with an edge of the lower surface. A further advantage is offered because the protrusion, shoulder, or ridge may also provide a “stopper” in the form of the lower surface of the jaw liner being installed to abut a surface of a recess in the jaw of the workholding device. This recess may be in the face and/or base of the jaw of the workholding device. This has the advantage of combining the functions of more secure installation with the advantages of the stopper yielding more accurate installation. Thus yielding a synergistic advantage in construction and/or use of components and apparatuses of the invention.

The lower surface of the body may have a protrusion, shoulder, or ridge that projects from the body for fitting into a cooperating recess in the jaw of the workholding device. The protrusion, shoulder, or ridge may project or extend downwards from the distal side of the body. The protrusion, shoulder, or ridge may be for accommodation in a cooperating recess or space in the jaw of the workholding device.

The lower surface of the body may have a recess, wherein a protrusion, shoulder, or ridge that projects from the jaw of the workholding device fits into the cooperating recess.

As noted above, vice jaw liners may be taller than the body they are mounted on. Indeed, some machine shop practices entail vices loading the jaw liner at a point (illustrated as F in Fig. 13) above the top face of the vice body (illustrated as T in Fig. 13). This situation can occur when using parallel, stepped and/or extended-height jaws to accommodate tall components or when machining two to five faces of components from solid stock material in a single machining set up. Loading a vice jaw liner at a point (illustrated as F in Fig. 13) above the top face of the vice body (illustrated as T in Fig. 13) causes the load to be exerted on the top edge of the vice body (illustrated as P in Fig. 13) which acts as a pivot. A conventional jaw liner bears similar loads but is prevented from moving by virtue of being screwed to the body of the workholding device. Such a force on a separate jaw liner can therefore cause the jaw liner to tilt with respect to the pivot point due to the clearance between the shoulder screw and the wings of the T slot when the load is increased in order to grip an object in the workholding device.

This pivoting movement may be ameliorated or eliminated by a protrusion, shoulder, or ridge (“key”) 1302 1303 on the jaw liner, preferably on the lower surface of the jaw liner, that acts to prevent or limit the jaw liner pivoting or otherwise lifting from its installed position under pressure. Thus the keyway 1301 accommodating the key 1302 1303 may be incorporated into the body of the vice and the key in the jaw liner. Alternatively, the keyway accommodating the key may be incorporated into the jaw liner (e.g. 1307 and 1307.1 ) and the key in the body of the vice (e.g. 1306). A combination of these alternatives may be used. The key may be integral to the jaw liner 1302 or one or more separate components 1303 installed set into the liner, e.g. screw heads or dowels. A combination of these alternatives may be used.

The jaw liner may be configured to be seated on one face only when installed on a workholding device and clearance allowed on all other horizontal faces. This is illustrated in Fig. 13 wherein the angled distal face of the jaw liner is utilised as one active face of the key, with the attendant advantage that the key may be produced in concert with the distal face by a single machining operation. Other configurations may be used and the proximal (inside) of the key face may be configured to allow clearance (1300, Fig 13) to cause the jaw liner to be fully seated, i.e. correctly located vertically along the full width of its distal face. Such configurations to allow clearance are illustrated in Fig. 13 wherein relief to acute corners 1304, 1305, 1306 is provided such that small volumes of debris, contaminants, or swarf may be accommodated that may not be removed by some jaw cleaning techniques (e.g. manual removal with an operator’s fingers, wiping the surface with a rag).

The upper and lower surfaces may be substantially perpendicular to the proximal side of the body. Thus the overall form of the workholding device conforms with the normal standards of the jaws being at right angles and thus delivering force substantially at right angles.

The jaw liner is preferably mountable and demountable. That is the jaw liner may be installed and then removed, or uninstalled. Thus, in the present context the jaw liner being mountable or demountable is equivalent to the jaw liner being installable and un-installable, respectively, from a larger product. While there is the option of the vice jaw being permanently installable on the larger product it is preferred that the vice jaw can be installed and removed, most preferably multiple times. Thus, advantageously, a vice jaw liner of a specific configuration, e.g. for gripping or holding a specific product or apparatus, can be moved between different workholding devices capable of cooperating with the mounting means of the jaw liner. Thus, advantageously, jaw liners can be easily removed and replaced. A further advantage is that this removal and replacement may be achieved without the use of additional tools.

Preferably, the body is substantially solid. The body may be made of metal. The metal may be steel, aluminium (aluminum), cast iron, brass, bronze, or alloy.

The body may be made of a hard plastic, for example, typically, but not limited to, high- density polyethylene (HDPE).

The body may be made of a composite material. For example polyurethane-base material bonded onto an aluminium base, or HDPE bonded onto an aluminium base.

The jaw liner may be treated to be hardened. Alternatively, the material may remain untreated and thus be of a relatively softer material. Preferably the hardened material is a metal.

A body manufactured from unhardened material, preferably unhardened metal, (i.e. a relatively softer metal material) has the advantage of enabling operations that would otherwise damage front end tooling such as drills and milling cutters. Thus it may be used in combination with other bodies and jaw liners disclosed herein.

The contact or gripping surface may be made of machinable material. Preferably the contact or gripping surface has been machined or otherwise shaped or moulded to accommodate or hold a specific component or apparatus.

Preferably the body of the jaw liner is produced by methods resulting in the cross section along a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the jaw liner may of a constant form e.g. extrusion, hot or cold rolling, or drawing. Production of the jaw liner in this form and then cutting the product to length yields significant advantages in terms of the efficiency of manufacture of jaw liners, which can accordingly be manufactured at significantly less cost.

Additionally, production of the body of the jaw liners by such methods yields the advantage of requiring less modification or adaptation of the distal side of the jaw to mount or otherwise attach the fixtures required for the jaw liner to be mounted on the proximal side of the cooperating workholding device. In an example of the invention, a threaded hole can be machined in the distal side of the jaw liner body and a bolt or shoulder screw installed therein. Thus the mounting means can be provided on the distal side of the body efficiently in terms of the additional metalworking steps required. The upper surface of the jaw liner may comprise one or more areas sloping towards the left or right ends. The upper surface of the jaw liner may be perpendicular to the proximal face of the jaw liner. The upper surface of the jaw liner may comprise one contiguous and linear area sloping towards the left or right ends. Thus the jaw liner may have the form of a triangle or trapezium. The upper surface of the jaw liner may comprise two or more linear areas sloping towards the left or right ends. Thus the jaw liner may have the form of a polygon. The upper surface of the jaw liner may also comprise one or more linear areas parallel to the lower surface of the jaw liner.

The workholding device may be a vice (vise). The workholding device may be a clamp.

The workholding device may comprise two or more jaws, preferably two jaws. Preferably all or both jaws of the vice comprise means mounted on or within the proximal face of the jaw for mounting a vice jaw liner on the jaws of the cooperating vice.

Preferably the jaw liner is installed on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device with the distal side of the jaw liner abutting the proximal face of a jaw of the workholding device. Most preferably the majority or all of the surface area of the distal side of the jaw liner contacts the proximal face of a jaw of the workholding device.

Preferably the recess in the jaw of the cooperating workholding device is a channel or slot. The slot is preferably for accommodating a member that is mounted on or part of the body of the vice jaw liner.

The slot may be parallel to the proximal face.

Preferably the edges that the upper and lower surfaces share with the proximal face are parallel. Accordingly, preferably, the slot is perpendicular to the edges of the upper and lower surfaces.

The slot may be recessed into the proximal face of the vice jaw perpendicular to the face of the vice jaw.

Multiple vice jaw components may be installed on a single jaw of a workholding device. This may be facilitated by installation of multiple components by sliding their mounting member into a single channel or slot. Thus multiple vice jaw components may be stacked together during the process of installation so that they can operated together. In this way components can be installed in cooperating configurations to yield assemblies providing various heights and/or angle configurations of the vice jaw components. Cooperating components may be installed on the opposing jaw of the workholding device. Preferably the components on either jaw of the workholding device complement one another across the central space between the jaws. When multiple vice jaw components are installed together, e.g. as a stack, faces or surfaces of the components necessarily abut. Therefore it is advantageous that the contact between the components be between consistent surfaces to provide uniform and reliable contact surfaces. This in turn provides the advantage of consistent dimensions and measurement. Thus it is advantageous that surfaces of the components be marked to denote which surfaces should contact each other. This is particularly advantageous with respect to “soft” or machinable parallels where different surfaces are measured to different tolerances.

The slot is preferably of a “T slot” type, i.e. it has a “T-shaped” cross-section when viewed from a point of view in line with its longitudinal axis. An advantage of the slot having a “T-shaped” cross-section this shape is that it is relatively simple to manufacture accurately, reproducibly and at scale.

The means mounted on the proximal face for installing a cooperating vice jaw liner may be a component demountable from the proximal face that comprises one or more magnets. Preferably the demountable component comprises two magnets. Use of magnets comprised in the demountable component yields the advantage of convenient mounting or attachment of the component on the cooperating jaw of the workholding device. The use of multiple magnets further constrains the movement of the component mounted on the workholding device. The one or more magnets may be positioned to avoid the lateral centre line of the vice jaw liner. The two or more magnets may be positioned in or near two or more comers of the jaw liner. This is advantageous with respect to placement of sub-components because subcomponents of the jaw liner are set into the finite volume of the jaw liner. Subcomponents of the jaw liner should not coincide or clash when installed in the jaw liner. It is particularly advantageous that a magnet(s) is not located on, or near, the centre line of the jaw liner as this is the location that is most advantageous for other fixing means (e.g. T-slot channels) to be incorporated into the jaw liner. Therefore, it is advantageous for magnets set into the jaw liner to be located towards the comers of the jaw liner.

In concert with the magnets comprised in the demountable component, one or more magnets may be installed in cooperating positions in the jaw of the workholding device. Such an arrangement has the advantage of automatically locating the mountable component by the interaction of mutually attracting magnets between the workholding device and the demountable component.

A proximal face of the workholding device may be angled such that the proximal surface and the upper surface form an acute angle.

Similarly, a proximal face of the workholding device may be angled such that the proximal surface and the lower surface form an obtuse angle.

Advantageously, the planar surface that defines the junction between the proximal side of the jaw of the workholding device and the distal side of the vice jaw liner being angled in concert causes a force transmitted from the proximal to distal direction through the body and the planar junction will cause the replaceable vice jaw to be forced downwards and therefore to be more securely held by the vice. Movement of the jaw liner with respect to the workholding device will be further guided by the direction of the slot and the impediment to it being guided in this direction will be minimised by the plane and the slot being aligned in the same direction. An advantage of the junction between the proximal side of the vice jaw and the distal side of the vice jaw liner being planar is that this is relatively simple to manufacture accurately, reproducibly, and at scale.

The proximal surface of the workholding device may have an additional protrusion, shoulder, or ridge is located in line with the lower surface of the jaw liner. Advantageously, manufacturing the protrusion, shoulder, or ridge is simplified by defining its location in conjunction with an edge of the lower surface. A further advantage is offered because the protrusion, shoulder, or ridge may also provide a “stopper” in the form of the lower surface of the jaw liner being installed to abut a surface of the protrusion, shoulder, or ridge, preferably the upper surface of the mating protrusion, shoulder, or ridge. This has the advantage of combining the functions of more secure installation with the advantages of the stopper yielding more accurate installation. Thus this form yields an efficient method of manufacture and a synergistic advantage in construction and/or use of components and apparatuses of the invention.

Alternatively, or in addition, the proximal surface of the workholding device may have an additional recess, groove, or trench therein. This recess or indentation may accommodate a cooperating protrusion, shoulder, or ridge that projects from the distal side of a cooperating vice jaw liner.

Preferably, a member or fixture is installed in the slot in order to prevent further movement along the slot. This has the advantage of defining the point at which the vice jaw liner installed on the vice jaw is in the correct position. Use of such a stopping fixture (“stopper”) has the advantage of installation of the vice jaw component reliably and reproducibly in the intended position.

A leaf spring may be located in the slots formed by the cross piece of the “T- section” and mounted on the back, distal wall of the slot out of view (that is, not in alignment with the part of the slot running to the proximal face of the vice jaw. The open mouth of the leaf spring formed by the distal wall of the slot and the body of the leaf spring may open towards the upper surface. Preferably the leaf spring is mounted parallel to the longitudinal axis of the slot. Accordingly, mounting point of the leaf spring is preferably towards the lower surface. The use of such a leaf spring has the advantage of admitting the head portion of the securing member and holding it in position. This has the advantage of installation of the vice jaw component reliably and reproducibly in the intended position and more securely because of the force applied by the leaf spring.

Preferably, two leaf springs are installed as a pair in parallel positions in either “wing” of the T-slot. This has the advantage of installation of the vice jaw component reliably and reproducibly in the intended position and, further, more securely because of the balanced forces applied by the leaf spring to the member installed in the slot.

The leaf spring may be “U-shaped” in that the two leaf spring members may be installed in the slot extend from a base portion that is mounted transverse to the slot. This offers the advantage of manufacturing both leaf springs simultaneously, preferably as a single component, and ensuring that the paired leaf springs are parallel and of similar or equal spring constant. A further advantage is offered because mounting a “U”-shaped leaf spring assembly in the slot may also provide a “stopper” in the form of the installation member being installed to abut the base of the “U.” This has the advantage of combining the functions of the leaf spring in terms of more secure installation with the advantages of the stopper located in the slot yielding more accurate installation. Thus manufacturing the leaf springs in this “U” form yields an efficient method of manufacture and a synergistic advantage in construction and/or use of components and apparatuses of the invention.

A jaw liner as described herein may be installed on a workholding device as described herein, wherein the installation process is carried out without the use of additional tools.

The installation method may comprise the step of sliding the head portion of the installation member 107 of the liner into slot 105 of the workholding device until the lower surface abuts a stopping fixture, e.g. ledge 114.

Preferably the stopping fixture is shaped to cooperate with the stopping member, e.g. by being of matching shapes and/or dimensions. This has the advantage of accurate and convenient placement of the jaw liner during installation.

A jaw liner as described herein may be uninstalled from a workholding device as described herein, wherein the uninstallation process is carried out without the use of additional tools.

The installation and/or uninstallation (mounting and/or demounting) of a jaw liner as described herein being carried out without the use of additional tools (i.e. tool-less installation or uninstallation) is advantageous because of the increase in efficiency of working provided by increased speed of installation, uninstallation, and/or exchange of jaw liner components on a cooperating workholding means.

The uninstallation method may comprise the step of sliding the head portion of the installation member 107 of the jaw liner out of slot 105 of the workholding device.

The invention further provides products obtainable according to a method of the invention. Examples and Drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the following drawings and examples in which:

Fig. 1 a shows a cutaway side view of a vice jaw 101 with the vice jaw liner 103 separate (unmounted) therefrom. Fig. 1 b shows a cutaway side view of a vice jaw with the vice jaw component mounted thereon. The vice jaw component is installed by sliding the fixing member into the slot 105 such that the head of the fixing member 107 contacts the lip 109 of the leaf spring 113 and the installation force bends the leaf spring against its biasing force to allow passage of the fixing member into the space between the wall of the slot and the arm of the leaf spring. The shaft of the fixing member (provided by the shoulder of the shoulder screw 111 ) preferably rests at the base of the “U” of the paired leaf springs (as shown in Figure 3A and Figure 3B). The U-shaped component comprising the leaf springs is held in position by a screw or rivet. The head of the fixing member is held in position by the friction generated by the pressure from the leaf spring caused by extension of the spring due to passage of the head of the fixing member. The interface or mating surface between the proximal face of the vice jaw and the distal face of the vice jaw component is planar and angled to the vertical. Accordingly, the vice jaw component is not installed directly vertically but at a slight angle to the vertical. Notwithstanding this installation direction the face of the vice jaw component is substantially vertical with respect to the body of the vice.

Fig. 2a shows an exploded diagram of the components of the fixing member in which a stud 201 has a shaft 202 on which is installed a spring washer 203, Shim 205, washer 207, and shoulder nut 209. Fig. 2b shows the assembled fixing member 210.

Fig. 3a and Fig. 3b are diagrams of front and side views of two different versions of the “U” shaped leaf spring component that can be installed in the slot of the vice jaw. The version shown in Figure 3a is shown as leaf spring 113 in Figs. 1a and 1 b.

Fig. 4 shows a diagram of components used in a vice jaw system further illustrated in the examples herein.

Fig. 5 shows diagrams of examples of front and side views of different contact or gripping surfaces that might form the proximal side of a jaw liner. These are intended to illustrate examples of such contact or gripping surfaces rather than representing a definitive list.

Fig. 6a shows diagrams of sectional side views of different versions of the cooperating jaw liners and workholding devices of the invention in paired diagrams showing the installed state (right side) and uninstalled state (left side) for each example. Fig. 6b shows a magnified sectional side view of the uninstalled state of device 606. Fig. 6c shows a sectional top view of the apparatus of 606 so with the locating pins 424 retracted and the slide plate 419 shifted left. Fig. 6d shows a magnified sectional side view of the installed state of device 606. Fig. 6e shows a sectional top view of the apparatus of Fig. 6d with the slide plate 419 shifted right so that the cam surface of slide plate 419 pushes locating pins 424 to extend into the aperture in 409.

Fig. 7 shows a rear view of a component 701 for mounting on the proximal face of a workholding device, e.g. a vice. Magnets 702 are set into the component rear as shown in the cutaway views 701 , 702.2. Fig. 7 also shows top, rear, and side views of a vice jaw component 710

Fig. 8 shows mounting component 701 , 900 mounted to the proximal face for workholding device 610, 611 . Also shown in diagrams left - right (800.1 - 800.4) is the process of inserting vice jaw components to be secured in T slot 701.1 by member 1006, 1007 being inserted in the T slot and securing the body of the vice jaw 611 by mounting component 900 . Thus, shown in the two right-hand diagrams are examples wherein multiple vice jaw components are installed on a single workholding device.

Fig. 9 shows a diagram of components used in a vice jaw system further illustrated in the examples herein.

Fig. 10 shows a diagram of the further parallel and angled components of the vice jaw apparatus and system further illustrated in the examples herein.

Fig. 11 shows top, rear, and side views of an angled vice jaw component 1100. Also shown on the right is a front-view diagram of the angled vice jaw component installed in the T-slot of a compatible vice jaw or vice jaw component 701 . The central diagram illustrated that the thickness of the further parallel and angled components of the vice jaw apparatus and system can be varied as required. Fig. 12 shows three examples of front views of angled vice jaw components installed in the T slot of a component for mounting on the proximal face of a workholding device (1200, 1201 , 1202). Also shown in the lower right is 1202.1 , which is a side view of a dual and opposed/facing installation of the angled vice jaw components of 1202 with dowels extending between the two angled vice jaw components.

Fig. 13 shows exploded cross-sectional views of three versions of removable vice jaw components having a key or tooth section 1302 1303 protruding from the lower surface of the body of the vice jaw. The assembled views show the key or tooth section fitting into a corresponding recess (keyway) 1301 in the jaw of the vice or workholding device.

Fig. 14 shows exploded cross-sectional views of two versions of removable vice jaw components having a recess (keyway) 1301 incorporated into both the workholding device 1306 and jaw liner 1307, 1307.1 and the key fitted in the body of the vice 1306. The assembled views show the key section fitting into the corresponding keyway in the jaw liner. Fig. 14 also shows assembled views of two versions of removable vice jaw components having a keyway incorporated into both the workholding device and jaw liner and the key 1302.1 fitted in the body of the vice. The assembled views show the key section 1302.1 fitting into the corresponding keyway in the jaw liner. Thus the keyway accommodating the key may be incorporated into the body of the vice and the key in the jaw liner. Alternatively, the keyway accommodating the key may be incorporated into the jaw liner and the key in the body of the vice.

Example 1

The components are described with reference to names and associated codes that are shown in Fig. 4.

The system comprises primarily of a range of master jaws with a central “T” slot housing a retaining spring. These master jaws accommodate liners fitted with a shoulder screw and shim washer

The engagement of the shoulder screw in the T slot provides positional accuracy and manufacturing tolerances determining the level of accuracy The liners are retained primarily by the spring retainer with the clamping pressure controlled and adjusted by varying the thickness of the shim washer(s) allowing the assembly to be rotated 360° in a vertical plane while maintaining the liners in position.

As operational conditions dictate, the positional secureness of a liner can be increased as required by:

Attaching the anti-lift attachment wherein moving the slide plate 419 (Figs. 6b-6d) by hand pushes the pins into the tapped holes of the liner while moving the slide plate 419 back to rest enables the springs 425 to retract the pins 424; and/or

Utilising precision workholders or adaptors 607, 611 , 403, and angled liners 404. Advantageously, precision quick change achieves a higher degree of jaw security and positional accuracy by virtue of the mechanics of the matching taper of the abutting surfaces of both master jaw and liner. This interaction renders vertical movement effectively impossible once clamping forces are applied. To achieve this, Shoulder Screw (107, 210) is attached to the liner (402 (402.1 front view, 402.2 and 402.3 sectional side views), 404 (404.1 front view, 404.2. sectional side view)) with one or more shims (409, 205) between the liner and the screw forming a Standard Liner 402, Precision Liner 404, or Narrow Liner (608, 609).

The shims used are between 0.05mm and 1 mm thick. The shim or shims used may be selected from one or more shims of 0.05, 0.1 , 0.2, 0.3 and/or 0.5mm in thickness. The number and combination of shims used advantageously allowing the user to adapt the apparatus to determine the holding force on the assembly as required.

The T slot is machined vertically about the centre of the quick-change (“QC") Bracket (401 (401 .1 top view, 401 .2 front view, and 401 .3 sectional side view), 403 (403.1 top view, 403.2 front view, and 403.3 sectional side view)) or vice head (605, 607, 611 ). A screw, 408 may be used in concert with shim 409 when installing the jaw liner.

Additionally this T slot is preferably raked at an angle of 5° on bracket 403 and vice heads (607, 611 ) in order to minimise loss of vice capacity. Bespoke high precision vices and other applications may require larger angles to achieve design application requirements. The quick-change operation is performed by centring (centering) the QC Liner with the T slot and pushing the QC liner down into the T Slot until it bottoms out (reaches the lower limit of movement).

Once pressure is applied along the Y axis, the QC Liner is secure and prevented from moving in X, Y or Z planes.

The spring (410, 411 , 203) retains the QC Liner from accidental movement particularly in the case of revolving head vices when rotated past 180° when no workpiece is held between the liners. A screw 408, 413 may be used in concert with shim 409, 205.

Tightening the vice prevents Basic QC liners from moving under light to medium duty conditions.

When heavy duty performance is required that may cause the jaws to lift in Z+ (i.e. in the Z-plane), e.g. hammering/wrenching component in Z+, the vice may be fitted with an Anti-Lift Kit, which works by enabling Pins (424) to locate in the threaded holes of the Standard Liners (409)

The Slide Plate (419) is retained to the vice head by Studs (423) and Nuts (422).

The Nuts, preferably Nylock® type, are tightened to allow the Slide Plate (419) to move laterally with minimal force on the operating knob Screw (420).

Slide Plate (419) movement is controlled by the enclosed slot that one of the Studs (423) passes through the Slide Plate (419) and is operated by the knob provided by the head of Screw (420).

The pins are actuated by moving the Slide Plate (419) from limit to limit with the Spring (425) forcing the Pins (424) in and out of the QC Liners.

The Slide Plate (419) has a recess allowing the rounded head of the pin to retract into the open position.

This recess may have a 90° countersunk form with a hole at its base providing both a positive stop for the Pins (424) and minimum resistance when moving Slide Plate (419).

The configurations (607, 611 ) represent the most robust revisions of the invention since the QC jaw/liner once fitted and under load is restrained from movement in any axis by both the T Slot I Shoulder Screw feature described above, and furthermore by the truncated triangular geometry that prevents the workpiece from moving in the Z axis, i.e. upwards.

Springs (410, 411 ) are fixed to either QC Brackets (401 , 403) or vice heads (605, 607, 611 ) as applicable with Screw or Rivet (412).

Where these cannot be utilised due to the size of the jaw/liners the Shoulder Screw Assembly (210) is used where Spring washer (203) is sandwiched between the head of T Screw (201 ) and Shoulder Nut (209) with Shim (205) between Spring Washer (203) and Washer (207).

As noted above, the shim or shims used may be between 0.05mm and 1 mm thick. The shim or shims used may be selected from one or more shims of 0.05, 0.1 , 0.2, 0.3, and/or 0.5mm in thickness. The number and combination of shims used advantageously allows the user to determine the pre-load on the Spring Washer (203) as required due to variations in tolerance from parts 203, 207, 209.

The QC Brackets (401 , 403) for narrow jaw/liners may have an approximate 60° lead generated at the top of the T Slot to ease the edge of Washer (416) on assembly.

Example 2

As shown in Figure 11 , A Parallel assembly 710, 1100 comprises a Spring Retainer Assembly (1006, 1007) attached to a Parallel (710, 901 , 1008, 1009) with one or more shims (909) as required between the Parallel (710, 901 , 1008, 1009) and the Spacer (908).

The shims used may be between 0.05mm and 1 mm thick. The shim or shims used may be selected from one or more shims of 0.05, 0.1 , 0.2, 0.3 and/or 0.5mm in thickness. The number and combination of shims used advantageously allowing the user to adapt the apparatus to determine the holding force on the assembly as required.

Parallels (1008, 1009) of varying thickness (1101 ) may incorporate features such as:

(1012) a series of tapped holes to accept Retainer Assembly Screw (1001 ) and/or

(1011 ) a tapped hole to accept a work stop Shoulder Screw (1004) and/or (1010) slot for facilitate Retainer Assembly (1007) to enable fast positioning/location of Parallel and I or (1013) precision reamed hole to accept standard commercial precision Dowel (1005) of various length to provide extended workpiece support.

When Parallels (901 ) are used in a set of 4 sizes e.g. having a height (h) = 10, 13, 15, 19 mm these can be stacked vertically in either Jaw Liner (701 ) as shown in (800.3, 800.4) creating 15 different height combinations from 10 to 57 mm in this example. Adding another Parallel of height of, for example 8 mm increases this to a total of 29 different height combinations from 8 to 65 mm.

Parallels as described may be treated to be hardened or may remain untreated and thus be of a relatively softer material.

A Parallel manufactured from this relatively softer material enables operations that would otherwise damage front end tooling such as drills and milling cutters. As such it can be used to complement all types of Parallel in this system (710, 901 , 1008, 1009).

This is best enabled where the Spacer (908) is of circular form allowing the Parallel to rotate about the axis of the spacer.

As with the parallel insert with parallel faces angled “parallels” are also made to be installed in the workholding device in a similar way. Thus angled “parallels” can be stacked to generate intermediate angles.

Where a full set of Parallels consists of both one or more of single angle of 1°, 2°, 3°, 4°, and/or 5° (1008) and one or more of double angle of 15°+20°, 30°+60° (1009) bespoke angle Parallels can be formed easily by using these in combination.

The Spacer (908) is smaller in diameter than the width of the slot by a margin (typically 2mm).

Should the workpiece not be fully seated the operator will be able to push one or more of the Parallels in the X axis (toward the slot from one end or the other), or one of the four corners of the parallels in the Y axis, away from the front face of the mounting jaw (701 , 900) When the Parallels do not move with relevant pressure the machinist can be confident that the workpiece is fully seated on the Parallels. A Mag Jaw Liner (701 ) incorporates two pot Magnets (702) retained by either (i) a Screw (902) or (ii) Glue or a knurled surface on the exterior of the magnet providing an interference fit when installed in the jaw liner (702.1 , 702.2) and a vertical T Slot (as 401 ), and may have the provision of two threaded holes to accommodate height adjustment via Screws (904) and Spacers (905).

A Quick Change (QC) Parallels Jaw Liner (900) is constructed as previously described (404) but incorporating a vertical T Slot as previously detailed (401.2) machined vertically about the centre of the Liner on the proximal face.

Both Liners (701 , 900) may incorporate a lead typically 45° I 60° to assist assembly. Either Jaw (701 , 900) will accept Standard Liners (501 -510) or any Parallel Assembly (710, 901 , 1008, 1009) fitted with Retainer Assembly (408, 210, 1006, 1007). As illustrated in Fig. 11 , one or more Parallel assemblies attaches to either a Mag Jaw (701 ) or a Jaw Liner (900) as the work demands (1200, 1201 , 1202).

Thus the invention is particularly well suited for producing components for inclusion in workholding apparatuses, such as vices, clamps, or jigs, that meet and/or can be adapted to meet specific engineering, design, and/or aesthetic parameters. In particular the invention yields improved methods of producing and installing such products and the intermediate products useful in their production.

Claims

1 . A jaw liner for installing on a jaw of a cooperating workholding device comprising: a body having a proximal and distal sides, upper and lower surfaces, and left and right ends; a contact or gripping surface on the proximal side of the body; and means on the distal side of the body for mounting the jaw liner on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device, wherein the means for mounting the jaw liner on the jaw of the cooperating workholding device comprises a shaft mounted on the distal side of the body with a member distally attached thereto or mounted distally thereon wherein the member is of greater width or radius than the cross section of the shaft.

2. A jaw liner according to claim 1 , wherein the member is for fitting into an accommodating recess in the jaw of the cooperating workholding device, preferably the recess is a channel or slot.

3. A jaw liner according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the member is biased towards the distal side of the body.

4. A jaw liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the member is a bar, ring, or washer.

5. A jaw liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the head portion is substantially disc shaped, preferably the central axis of rotation of the disc is aligned longitudinally with the shaft of the mounting means.

6. A jaw liner according to claim 5, wherein the shaft is preferably mounted perpendicularly to the distal side of the component.

7. A jaw liner according to any of claims 5 or 6, wherein the shaft comprises a shim or spacer to define its length.

8. A jaw liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the distal side of the body is shaped to match the contour of the cooperating vice jaw.

9. A jaw liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the distal surface is angled such that the distal face and the upper surface form an obtuse angle.

10. A jaw liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the distal side of the body has a protrusion, shoulder, or ridge that projects from the distal side of the body, for fitting into a cooperating recess in the face of the jaw of the workholding device.

11 .A jaw liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower surface of the body has a protrusion, shoulder, or ridge that projects from the body for fitting into a cooperating recess in the jaw of the workholding device.

12. A jaw liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the lower surface of the body has a recess, and wherein a protrusion, shoulder, or ridge that projects from the jaw of the workholding device fits into the cooperating recess.

13. A jaw liner according to any preceding claim, wherein the contact or gripping surface is machined or otherwise shaped or moulded to accommodate or hold a specific component or apparatus.

14. A jaw liner according to any preceding claim, wherein part or all of the upper surface of the jaw liner comprises one or more areas sloping towards the left or right ends.

15. A workholding device comprising one or more jaws for holding a product, wherein at least one jaw comprises: a proximal face comprising means mounted on or within the proximal face for installing a cooperating vice jaw liner of any of claims 1 to 13 on the jaw of the workholding device; and upper and lower surfaces, wherein the mounting means comprises a recess in the jaw of the cooperating workholding device for accommodating the mounting means of the jaw liner.

16. A workholding device according to claim 15, wherein the workholding device is a vice (vise) or clamp.

17. A workholding device according to claim 15 or claim 16, wherein the means mounted on the proximal face for installing a cooperating vice jaw liner is a component demountable from the proximal face that comprises one or more magnets.

18. A workholding device according to any of claims 15 to 17, wherein the proximal surface is angled such that the proximal surface and the upper surface form an acute angle.

19. A workholding device according to any of claims 15 to 18, wherein the recess is a channel or slot.

20. A workholding device according to claim 19, wherein the slot is for accommodating a member that is mounted on or part of the body of the vice jaw liner.

21 .A workholding device according to claim 19 or claim 20, wherein the slot is of a “T slot” type, i.e. it has a “T-shaped” cross-section when viewed from a point of view in line with its longitudinal axis.

22. A workholding device according to any of claims 19 to 21 , wherein a member or fixture is installed in the channel or slot in order to prevent further movement along the channel or slot.

23. A workholding device according to any of claims 19 to 22, wherein a leaf spring is located in the slot or channel.

24. A workholding device according to any of claims 15 to 23, wherein the proximal surface has an additional recess, groove, or trench therein for accommodating a cooperating protrusion, shoulder, or ridge that projects from the distal side of a cooperating vice jaw liner.

25. An apparatus comprising a workholding device of claim 15 to 24 and one or more jaw liners of any of claims 1 to 13, wherein the workholding device and jaw liner are cooperating components and the jaw liner is mounted on the proximal face of the workholding device, or on a component mounted on the proximal face of the workholding device.

26. A method of installing a jaw liner of any of claims 1 to 13 on a workholding device of any of claims 15 to 24, wherein the installation process is carried out without the use of additional tools.