Hi All :)

[Gary LynchParticipant @garylynch39491]

Hi all

Just wondering what other peoples experiences are of milling attachments on mini lathes and 'milling' steel?

[Gary LynchParticipant @garylynch39491]

Mini lathe Milling attachments

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Welcome to the forum Gary.

People experience of milling attachments that fit to the rear of the bed doesn't seem to be hugely positive, in that it really doesn't create a machine with the same capabilities as a proper mill and you only save the cost of the X-Y bed..

On the other hand, using a cutter in the lathe spindle in conjunction with a vertical slide is as effective as with other bench lathes. It's what I did until I got a milling machine.

Neil

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Frustrating!

Milling on a mini-lathe works but space is limited and X,Y travel is tiny. Lack of rigidity is a major problem because lathes just aren't designed to take milling forces; any decent cut is liable to twist and lift the saddle on the bed. A delicate slow approach is essential. It is possible to mill steel. Easier on big lathes than small ones because big means more rigid, but the arrangement doesn't compare well with a real milling machine. Combination machines aren't popular either. Better than nothing in a crowded workshop but still markedly restrictive.

In the good old days most people milled on their lathes and much excellent work was done. But it takes a lot of care and patience getting the work-holding as solid as possible and then cutting within the limits of the set-up. Jobs that took me an hour or more on a mini-lathe take minutes on my milling machine, plus milling machines can handle much bigger lumps of metal and rotary tables etc. Fair bit of filing done in my workshop because the hassle and limitations of milling on a mini-lathe made many small jobs quicker by hand, even though I'm rotten at filing.

Dave

 

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 04/06/2020 13:14:24

[Lee RogersParticipant @leerogers95060]

Take a look at using a collet chuck for tool holding. It's one of those jobs that exposes the lathe to forces you may not anticipate. A 3 jaw scroll chuck may struggle to hold an endmill.

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