Fractal Vice: High-Precision Conformal Gripper

Fully Articulated Fractal Vise

Overview Welcome to my custom-engineered Fractal Vise! Unlike a standard bench vise with flat jaws, a fractal vise features a series of nested, semi-circular segments that articulate independently. This allows the jaws to perfectly conform to complex, curved, or irregular shapes, giving you a rock-solid grip on almost any workpiece without damaging it.

I designed this completely from scratch, moving from basic 2D geometric curves to a fully functional 3D mechanical assembly with real-world kinematics.

Key Features

• Conforming Jaws: Nested fractal segments with integrated alignment pegs and textured gripping faces for maximum hold.

• Heavy-Duty Base: Designed with integrated mounting points for M10 bolts to secure the vise firmly to your workbench.

• Smooth Linear Motion: Utilizes dual 30 mm tubular rails to ensure the jaws stay perfectly aligned under pressure.

• Robust Drive Mechanism: Custom handle assembly designed to house a heavy-duty M16 nut and threaded rod.

• Optimized for Printing: Designed with minimal part count and integrated spacers to make printing and assembly as seamless as possible.

Bill of Materials (Hardware) Note: A complete .csv file containing every individual 3D printed part, spacer, mount, and hardware piece is included in the project files. Below is the list of external hardware you will need to complete the assembly:

Rods & Pins

• 2x 30x866mm Rods (for the linear guide rails)

• 1x M16 1100mm Threaded Rod

• 16x Parallel pin 6 x 26

M5 Hardware

• 44x M5x0.8 Hex Nut

• 16x M5x0.80 x 20 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

• 16x M5x0.80 x 45 x 22 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

• 4x M5x0.80 x 60 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

• 4x M5x0.80 x 80 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

• 4x M5x0.80 x 100 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

M8 Hardware

• 5x M8x1.25 Hex Nut

• 3x M8x1.25 x 60 x 28 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

• 2x M8x1.25 x 120 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

M10 Hardware

• 14x M10x1.5 Hex Nut

• 5x M10x1.50 x 65 x 32 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

• 4x M10x1.50 x 90 x 32 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

• 5x M10x1.50 x 100 x 32 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

M20 Hardware

• 2x M20x2.5 Hex Nut

• 1x M20x2.50 x 220 Hex Socket Head Cap Screw

• 2x M20 Plain Washer (Normal Grade A)

Assembly Notes Take care when assembling the nested jaw tiers. The jaw segments utilize the 6x26mm parallel pins and various M5 bolts as alignment mechanisms to ensure they stay properly registered during operation. Please reference the included .csv BOM for the exact breakdown of which screws and printed plastics belong to each numbered Jaw tier!

Happy printing, and please post your makes! I'd love to see this vise at work in your shops.