Workholding FAQ

No pre-indenting or other pre-machining operations are required! Mate DynoGrip vises deliver more holding force without the need to pre-indent your material.

Yes! Mate always recommends using torque wrenches with our DynoGrip vises and DynoLock bases. Torque wrenches ensure consistent, repeatable performance, delivering the optimum holding force every time. Torque wrenches prevent over- or under-torquing your lead screws. Excessive torque could lead to damage to the DynoLock bases or DynoGrip vises. Insufficient torque could lead to workpieces being ejected during the machining process.

Mate DynoGrip vises are well suited for various robot loading systems (Hermle HS Flex, AWR RCX Flex, RoboDrill) that load the entire vise and workpiece into the machine tool. Vise-loading systems provide superior flexibility by enabling a wider range of different workpieces to be machined using the same automation system.

It may be hard to believe, but Mate’s 100% customer satisfaction guarantee is real! It is not a warranty but a satisfaction guarantee.

Our 100% customer satisfaction guarantee means that if you are not fully satisfied with the product’s performance at any time, we will do whatever is necessary to address your concerns, including offering a full refund with no questions asked. There doesn’t need to be a quality issue with the product; there is no time limit, and the product can be (and should be) used.

Mate workholding is proudly manufactured in the USA in our 300,000 sq ft. manufacturing facility in Anoka, MN.

No! Quite the opposite. Thanks to the two-piece vise jaw and pusher design, Mate’s patented quick-change vise jaws utilize a geometry that counteracts jaw lift. Using the standard vise jaws, you can expect less than 0.002″ (.0508mm) of jaw lift at full clamping force.

Yes, you can span your DynoGrip vises across multiple DynoLock bases. Follow the process shown in this YouTube tutorial to complete a setup.

Yes, you can load multiple workpieces in a single DynoGrip vise. There are a few different ways to hold multiple parts, including using a center jaw or loading parts side by side in a vise. You can find the proper part loading procedure for holding multiple parts on page five of the Operators Manual.

Mate workholding is sold through our authorized distributor network. You can find your local distributor here. If you do not see your preferred distributor, please contact us here or by phone at 763-421-0230.

The Mate locking mechanism uses four yokes to encapsulate each of the four pull studs on the DynoGrip top tools and draws them down and to the center. The patented yoke mechanism contacts a large surface area, ensuring uniform force distribution along the pull studs. Other zero-point bases available today use wedges, resulting in minimal surface contact area, lower holding forces and inferior accuracy and repeatability.

The Mate DynoLock bases also feature superior materials utilizing A2, M2, and powdered tools steels to ensure a rigid, long-lasting solution. Adding this all up, Mate DynoLock bases deliver best-in-class repeatability (0.0002″/0.005mm) and holding force (52 Series: 5000lbs/22kN | 96 Series: 6000lbs/26kN) to eliminate chatter and quality defects while enabling you to machine parts faster.

Jaw lift is strongly dependent on the clamping height above the vise; the taller the jaw, the more jaw lift you can expect. Comparing the jaw lift of the soft jaw at the same height as our standard jaw, you can expect less than 0.002″ (.0508mm) for the standard jaws and less than 0.003″ (.0762mm) for the soft jaws. If you have an application where you will need to hold with tall soft jaws, please contact our application specialists who can advise jaw design options to minimize jaw lift.

Yes! Mate has several solutions for applications involving round workpieces or bar stock. Mate’s machinable soft and hard jaws are modifiable in several ways, including adding the specific diameter, using V-shaped jaws with our proprietary teeth, adding round inserts to hold the parts or using a custom prism jaw.

In addition to all the jaw options, Mate also offers DynoGrip ER Collet Chucks for holding round workpieces. Mate DynoGrip ER Collet Chucks utilize the industry standard ER-32 and ER-40 collets to accommodate diameters between 2mm-26mm (0.08″ -1.00″).

There are several different options to hold a workpiece with unique geometry. One method is to add the specific workpiece profile to the Mate machinable soft or hard jaws.

Another option is to use the pull studs to hold the workpiece on a Mate DynoLock base. First, machine the pull stud pocket geometry into the workpiece. Next, install the pull studs into the workpiece. Finally, machine the workpiece using the DynoLock base to retain it.

Lastly, you can use Mate DynoGrip Top Pallets to hold the workpiece. The top pallets can be configured with a wide variety of conventional fixturing options to hold complex and irregular workpieces.

Mate DynoGrip vises provide significant clamping force to securely hold any workpiece. The max clamping force for each of the different sizes of Mate vises is on page 4 of our workholding catalog.

We do not provide a maximum part size for a vise. There are many ways to hold a workpiece in our vises. Every application requires a different level of holding force to retain the workpiece firmly. Larger workpieces tend to require higher holding forces to eliminate chatter and vibration and ensure high-quality parts. The maximum opening on our largest vise is 355mm (13.98″), but you can hold even larger parts when using the dovetail portion of the vise jaws. If you have a large part you are interested in machining, contact our workholding application specialists who can help configure a setup for your application.

The maximum workpiece material hardness that can be clamped with the DynoGrip vises depends on how you choose to clamp the part. When using the precision teeth on the standard Mate DynoGrip vise jaw, a workpiece material hardness exceeding 45 HRC may result in less penetration and less holding force. If your workpiece hardness exceeds 45 HRC, using the dovetail portion of the vise jaws may be a better choice. If you are machining very hard materials, contact our workholding application specialists who can help you configure a workholding setup for your specific application.

All Mate DynoLock bases feature several ball lifters that ensure minimal delays in your setup and changeover times caused by vises sticking to your zero-point bases. The ball lifters ensure there is a separation between the DynoGrip top tools and the DynoLock base when loosening the base lead screw.

Please use our website’s “Find a Representative” tool to find your local distributor.

Please use our website’s “Find a Representative” tool to find your local representative.

Yes! To use workholding with different manufacturers, you must match the pull studs to the zero-point base you use. For example, you can use another manufacturer’s zero-point base with a Mate DynoGrip vise by installing the other manufacturer’s pull studs in our DynoGrip vise.

Yes! Mate DynoGrip vises all feature the mounting bore required to install the 40mm pin used for Schunk VeroS, Big Daishowa Unilock, SMW Autoblok APS and others. For more information, including kit part numbers and installation instructions, see page 83 of the workholding catalog.

Yes, CAD models can be found online in our Workholding iCatalog. You can also scan the QR code found on all Mate DynoGrip vises, DynoLock bases and DynoMounts to access the CAD data.

All Mate DynoGrip vises use tool steel. The DynoGrip vise body and lead screw are H13 tool steel. The DynoGrip pushers and standard vise jaws are S7 tool steel.

All Mate DynoLock bases use high-quality tool steel. The DynoLock base bodies are A2 tool steel. The internal locking mechanism uses premium, high-performance powdered tool steel; we do not disclose the specific tool steels used.

Our DynoMounts use materials that match the performance requirements with material properties. Tombstones and Dual Right Angles use Grey Cast Iron for its excellent vibration dampening and rigidity. Our DynoMount Pyramids are constructed from 6061 Aluminum to minimize weight for 5-axis machining applications. Our DynoMount Risers use the same A2 tool steel as our DynoLock bases for excellent rigidity.