Warco 9551 Vertical milling slide – tool post

[Hamish McNabParticipant @hamishmcnab62554]

[Hamish McNabParticipant @hamishmcnab62554]

Considering purchasing the above to allow me to mill on the lathe. Reading the spec I am put off by the sizes given. The travel of the guide is given as 17.5mm which appears very small. Warco indicates the sizes in their listing are accurate.

Due to my inexperience I my be wrong in assuming this is incorrect and hopefully some actual users can give some feedback on the product.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Personally that looks so flimsy mounted in the toolpost that even if it did have decent travel I would not bother.

You would be better off getting a larger one that can be bolted directly to the cross slide once the topslide has been removed. The 9024 Myford copy could be adapted quite easily, infact I have used a myford one on my 280 lathe before.

Details here for anyone else to see, picture of it in the toolpost half way down the page

Edited By JasonB on 10/12/2014 13:25:43

[Nick_GParticipant @nick_g]

.

I am far from an experienced machinist but I do recall a thread on here not so long ago concerning similar slides from a number of sources. The general conclusion was that they were at best sub standard ranging up to a total wast of money.

I considered one. But after so much negativity regarding them I bailed out on the idea.

Nick

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

That may be the travel with the slides fully overlapping – my vertical slide (Taig/Peatol type) has just over 18mm travel by that calculation. You can probably get more by allowing the slide to move far enough to expose some dovetail.

When milling in the lathe try to arrange it so the big movements are across the bed using the cross-slide.

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I would not rule out a half decent one if you can't stretch to a mill, that Minnie in my avitar had all its milling done on a myford slide mounted to an EMCO 8" swing lathe as well as a few stationary engines.

I'm not keen on the ones with a built in vice/clamp though.

J

[Michael Cox 1Participant @michaelcox1]

I agree with the previous posts regarding the size and rigidity. I would recommend that you read this article from andysmachines website:

http://andysmachines.weebly.com/the-vertical-milling-slide—criticisms.html

Mike

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

I have used a myford one on my Drummond but they are sub standard unless you plan on milling wax

If you want to mill steel you need to have a good solid lathe cross slide

The t-slot pin on the slide base should be replaced with a beefier one piece t-bolt (ie make one)

A locking bolt should be made for the side of the slide

You should also use clamps bolted onto the lathe cross slide which have lugs to bear on the milling slide edges to stop it twisting under milling type loads

It's all a bit of a fiddle, so I got a shaper and only mill a section when there is no other option

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by JasonB on 10/12/2014 13:22:53:

Details here for anyone else to see, picture of it in the toolpost half way down the page

.

Quite frankly; I am struggling to think of any situation in which that would be worthwhile.

MichaelG.

[Hamish McNabParticipant @hamishmcnab62554]

We'll thanks all for the very informative feedback. Its an old Colchester 6" Student I have and intend building a Stuart V10 engine so at moment getting all the bits and pieces together. I have made an adapter plate and attached a small 4 jaw chuck and then attached this to a Colchester slotted drive plate. I have just this minute taken delivery of a shinny new 125mm, 3 jaw and will attach this to another drive plate so bring the old lathe back into life.

Thanks again.

Edited By Hamish McNab on 10/12/2014 14:47:09

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Hamish,

Might I suggest you get hold of a copy of the excellent little book "Milling in the Lathe".

… Read it thoroughly before buying anything.

Best wishes for your project.

MichaelG.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Just looked at the pictures!

That is my vertical slide, just a modified fitting…

It is made of aluminium alloy, not steel or cast iron, which may put you off.

Practical travel is well over 40mm.

It's very small, the slots suit 2BA/M5 fixings.

Mine is actually quite rigid – the body is a solid block, not as this one, so I don't have that 50-60mm of overhang….

To use it properly on a mini-lathe means using a raising block, but until I got a mill, I subjected it to a fair degree of abuse.

Bottom, line, I'd get a cross slide mounted one in preference.

Neil

[DMBParticipant @dmb]

Hamish,

Rigidity for milling is everything.

I find that piccy on Warco`s site unbelievable – they must be having a laugh.

The vert. slide must be securely bolted directly to the cross-side and even then only light cuts can be made.

Whilst we are about milling in the lathe, DONT try holding slotters or end mills in the usual 3-jaw chuck – they work their way out and break themselves and or the job. Preferably use a collet system. If cost is a problem, maybe you could get the necessary collet chuck + 1 or 2 collets of the sizes you kow that you need and get further collets and cutters to match later, when funds permit.

John.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by DMB on 10/12/2014 16:27:19:

Whilst we are about milling in the lathe, DONT try holding slotters or end mills in the usual 3-jaw chuck – they work their way out and break themselves and or the job. Preferably use a collet system.

.

Alternatively [when you have a proper vertical slide], make or buy a milling spindle for the slide, and hold the workpiece in the lathe chuck, or on the faceplate.

… It's all in Westbury's book.

MichaelG.

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