On Mon, 28 Nov 2011 19:21:40 -0800 (PST), "
wrote:

I acquired a piece of precission machined cast aluminum tooling plate
and wonder if others have used this type of material and for what.
The piece I have is 5/8 inch thick and about a foot square.

Looks like it would be good for vise jaws, but think there might be
some better use for it.

Dan
Greetings Dan,
Cast tooling plate is good for stability. So it won't move like a
similar wrought plate made from 6061. Threads pull out easier than
6061 so inserts are comminly used. The "precision machined" surface
actually isn't unless someone machined it after buying the plate. The
surface looks machined because the aluminum is cast against a machined
surface. I used to wonder how the factory got that shiny machined
surface when I never could quite match it myself. I figured they maybe
used diamond cutters running dry at very high speeds to save time.
Then I found out the stuff isn't machined afterall.
Eric