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Introduction

Soft jaws are a type of workholding device used in machining processes where a delicate grip is required. They are typically made of a softer material than ‘hard jaws’, such as aluminum or mild steel. In addition, soft jaws can be 3D printed with the help of continuous fiber reinforcement; this versatility makes them a valuable tool in a variety of machining contexts.

Essentially, you use the Soft Jaw Designer (available from the CAM Assist panel) to create an inverted version of your part within the jaws of a vice. You can then use the machined Soft Jaw you’ve designed to clamp the part down. This makes soft jaws a common solution for holding parts that would be difficult to fixture with standard, flat-vice jaws during machining.