Small size metal/piecework drilling

[abdulbadii]

How do we clamp or hold quite (very) small size dimension of a metal piece to be drilled as correctly and precisely as the large one easily clamped being so sturdy (as only have 4 inch drill vise with wide hollow in center) ?

[thm_w]

You get a small vice, and hold it in the larger vice.
If its an oddly shaped part you may need to use various strategies or a specific jig which is designed for that part.

https://www.google.com/search?q=clamping+small+parts+vice

[beanflying]

Highly recommend you have a good watch of some of Stefan's videos https://www.youtube.com/@StefanGotteswinter/videos

Some of his work is sub mm holes in hardened steel with very high degrees of accuracy.

Other than that Collet chucks or custom softjaws (Lathe Chucks or Vise) are used depending on the shape.

There is also some more expensive solutions including speciality jaws, vacuum or magnetic so perhaps look at https://www.miteebite.com/ or https://piersonworkholding.com/

[Overspeed]

Hello

depend of the raw material , on metal parts gluing works nice , after drilling , acetone bath to dissolve the glue even some glue are sensitive to hot water , in jewellery they use a special wax







Regards
OS

[jpanhalt]

@Overspeed
A precursor of hot melt was solid shellac sticks.  Those were used by jewelers since very long ago.  That is what I learned from an uncle in the early 1950's.  Shellac can also be used on a faceplate for lathe work.

[Infraviolet]

I don't know precisely the application, but IF (and it is a very big IF) the forces involved are not too big you might consider 3d printing a special jig in two halves to hold the small thing you want to drill in to, making a jig in two halves which can be tightened together with some inserted screws and nuts to clamp the metal part.

[matskatsaba]

As overspeed mentioned, CA glue the part to a larger workpiece and clamp that. Acetone or gas torch to remove.
If not a one-off then it might be worthy to make a specific holder.
Do avoid hotsnot.