PROPER DOVETAIL SUPPORTING

MATERIAL
! common mistakes
REMOVED
MATERIAL
Dovetail width should be 1. DOVETAIL TOO DEEP
MATERIAL SHOULD REST ON TOP OF THE JAW / FIXTURE
narrow enough to support
AND ON THE 45° FACE. Clamping with a dovetail should never cause the material
the part after material to locate on the bottom step of the jaw.
CLAMPING
is removed.
FORCE
CLEARANCE CLEARANCE
CLEARANCE IN CLEARANCE IN
AT TOP AT TOP
CORNERS CORNERS THERE IS NO SIMPLE ANSWER TO
HOW MUCH SUPPORT IS NEEDED.

REMOVED
REMOVED MATERIAL
MATERIAL CONTACT

CLEARANCE AT BOTTOM

Locating on bottom step causes

When a proper dovetail is used, material to become a wedge
jaw/dovetail fixture acts as a wedge SUPPORTING MATERIAL trying to split the jaw. WEDGE
trying to split the material in the corner. If more support is needed, This can break the jaw!
WEDGE Decrease dovetail width or increase tab thickness CLAMPING

Material is clamped only CLAMPING FORCE

once or twice and is therefore
resistant to fracturing. FORCE

REMOVED REMOVED
150mm MATERIAL MATERIAL
2. FINISHED PART UNSUPPORTED

We recommend dovetail width

should not be less than REMOVED
MATERIAL
75% of the width of the stock.
THIN TAB A thin tab and/or insufficient
This is a general ratio, not a rule. WILL BEND! material on the top locating
If in doubt, stick to 75%. surface will allow the part
to move during machining.
For narrow parts, position the dovetail as close as possible
CLAMPING
to the finished part’s center of mass.
112.5mm
FORCE
(75%)

1 2 3
 3. OVERSIZED CORNER RADIUS 4. EXCESSIVELY WIDE DOVETAIL

CLEARANCE
CONTACTING
RADIUS REMOVED REMOVED
MATERIAL MATERIAL

CLEARANCE

An overly wide inside corner radius allows material

° it

to contact the corner of the jaw, preventing
from locating correctly.
This will call excessive vibration during machining.
DOVETAIL
Even though this part has tabs thick enough to prevent breaking,
the dovetail is not properly positioned under the part.
This may result in excessive vertical vibration.

This issue is caused when

dovetail cutter inserts / flutes
are worn or broken.
5. EXCESSIVELY NARROW DOVETAIL
TROUBLESHOOTING
WORN EDGE
GUIDE
Excessively narrow dovetail will concentrate support
The information in this document is applicable to ALL
at the center of the stock and potentially cause chatter.
5th AxisTM products with a dovetail feature.
Keep in mind how and where force is applied to stock
during machining. Both vises AND dovetail fixtures should follow these rules.

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