I need a PCB vise. Recommendations?

[Grant Gunderson]

I got a bunch of small PCBs to work on as well as small connectors to de/ re pin. I got a ton of high quality vises ranging from a Wilton 3C, 5” dawn offset and a 4” Starrett and Reed 3C. But none of them are the correct tool for this job. What’s the best option for doing PCB work and holding connectors to re-pin? This will be a dedicated work station as I have a lot to do. Quality matters.


That’s 13mm wide, so it’s tiny.

The boards are mostly 1x3 to 4x4” or so. Here is a few examples.




Thanks in ahead for the recommendations !

 

[PCustoms]

Panavise for the cables?

Can't recall ever seeing a vise used on a PCBA. Well, one time, but that was a *********** hail Mary repair and I can't believe any of them worked after

How many are you doing of each type? Maybe some static dissipating material, a few standoff and some screws to make a mounting point. I suppose you could then clamp that in a vise if needed.

 

[inphx]

If you sift through these offerings... https://www.temu.com/search_result.html?search_key=pcb holder

 

[WildBill]

I like the ones like this that lay flat on the desk, the ones that hold it in the air all seem unstable to me.

https://www.amazon.com/Stickvise-Vise-Standard-Nylon-Jaws/dp/B01LJO45W4?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[RTM]

I’ve got one of these, would not recommend for anything that small. But might be nice for holding the other gizmos holding your PCB, showN above,up off the deck.

 

[PCustoms]

The boards are mostly 1x3 to 4x4” or so. Here is a few examples.




Thanks in ahead for the recommendations !

Also, professional peeve of mine, those are PCBA.

 

[Cruzan80]

Also, professional peeve of mine, those are PCBA.

@PCustoms Fixed your username for you...

 

[Grant Gunderson]

@PCustoms Fixed your username for you...

LMAO

 

[Grant Gunderson]

After a bit more thought I think I’ll machine a fixture jig to hold the connector but still looking for a great small work vise. For electrical stuff.

 

[Tactile]

Are you doing a heap of those PCBs? Ongoing work? Might be worth a look if you are...

 

[duneslider]

I have the Hakko Omnivise, a panavise, and one of those magnetic helping hands with a bunch of different options for holding things as well as a few others and I wouldn't say any one "the one". But, I do probably use the magnetic helping hands one the most because it is so flexible in what it can do. I also use the Hakko omnivise a lot because it is so compact and easy to use. I leave the hakko in the garage on my work bench for the general junk I do out there. The others are all for my inside workbench (which doesn't exist right now so everything is in totes).

I used to use the panavise a lot and still really like it but the magnetic helping hands has kind of taken over for me.

 

[whateg01]

Also, professional peeve of mine, those are PCBA.

@PCustoms Fixed your username for you...

shouldn't it be PCBACustoms?

 

[PCustoms]

shouldn't it be PCBACustoms?

Serkut berds

Either way I'll just start keeping my knowledge about these to myself

 

[rlitman]

I like the ones like this that lay flat on the desk, the ones that hold it in the air all seem unstable to me.

https://www.amazon.com/Stickvise-Vise-Standard-Nylon-Jaws/dp/B01LJO45W4?tag=atomicindus08-20

Agreed, but they're mainly suited to rectangular boards. I've used my Panavise for some board work, but mainly place boards on a silicone mat. On similar work where standoffs are called for, Cleco makes clamps that work well. I'm not sure a Cleco would hold safely in the drill holes, but the clamp style can be pinched onto carefully chosen spots around the edges and used as temporary standoff feet.

 

[whateg01]

Agreed, but they're mainly suited to rectangular boards.

Main thing is picking 3 points of contact. It should be fine then.

 

[tarbellb]

GRS 3rd hand stations are top notch

Not a vise but a excellent 3rd hand

 

[tool_scrounge]

Pavavise 315 or 316 circuit board holder. Shown below with the vacuum base

 

[Superdavey]

I have a little record vise like this one for circuit board work. Made in England , although the one I bought looks to be one of their later productions considering the jaws don’t line up fully parallel … but holds circuit boards well, front jaws can be moved to the rear for greater width

 

[AdAstra]

PCBite is great https://sensepeek.com/pcbite-kit-l-insulated they also make kits with probe holders, recommended for troubleshooting.

For holding connectors and such, Omnifixo is great too https://omnifixo.com/en-us

For larger connectors, Panavise has a good range.

 

[banditbigdog]

Those boards look pretty small.
Fabricating something like this would probalbly be too large.

Take a rubber finger lab clamp:



Remove one of the the fingers:



Attach it to a NOGA arm, does not necessarily need to be the on pictured, you could fab something else to hold the clamp a bit more securely.
Use 2 of those and make a 3rd fixed hard point.
Or just make 3 of them.


Cons:
Not inexpensive to make 2 or 3 of these.
May require repositioning 1 or 2 of the arms when removing / installing a board.
May be too large for your purpose.