VEE BLOCKS AND CLAMPS

Vee Blocks are manufactured from cast iron and accurately machined to produce
precise surfaces. Small vee blocks are sometimes manufactured from mild steel and case
hardened. They are manufactured in pairs (which are numbered), and should be kept
together, as they are identical. Usually, one vee block has a clamp, allowing round
section materials to be clamp in place. The other vee block acts as a support (see the
diagram below). The clamp supplied with the vee block, has a knurled head with a hole
through it, for a tommy bar.

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Vee blocks are ideal for marking round section material. In the diagram below a ‘key
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seat rule’, sits on the round section metal, making it easier to mark out.
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Some vee blocks are capable of holding square section material, as seen below. In this
case, the thread is fed at a 45-degree angle, on to the surface of the material. The square
section fits perfectly into the vee blocks own section.
The diagrams below, show how vee blocks can be used to secure material in place,
whilst being drilled. Notice, how the block is fixed to the drill table, by bolt clamps.

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Two vee blocks have been used to clamp round section steel, to the table of a drilling
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machine. The U-shaped clamp, is ideal for holding the round section in place. Notice the
position of the vee blocks. Before drilling, a centre punch is used to put an indentation in
the surface of the round section. This helps prevent the drill bit slipping on the surface,
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ensuring accuracy.
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