Milling attachment for the engineers metal lathe and how it is mounted using a spigot
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 ก.ย. 2024
- I bought a small cheap milling attachment from China. Now I can move the work in 3 dimensions instead of two. I removed the compound slide and made an adapter called a spigot so that the milling vertical slide could be mounted instead of the compound slide. This eliminates any movement that might come from the compound slide and its mount. Locking the carriage also helps when you are not moving the work in that direction.
Eliminating the compound slide means that the only way to move the work longitudinally (ie towards or away from the chuck) is to use the big wheel on the carriage apron, making fine movements more difficult. Using a DRO (digital read out system) helps considerably but is an added expense.
This works well for small jobs with light cuts. Mounting the work in the tiny 'vice' can be a challenge and much more robust and expensive attachments are available.
The video includes the addition of an adjustable ring to assist in adjusting the angle of the milling attachment using the degree calibrations marked on the cross slide.
Similar methods can be used for various brands of engineers metal lathes including this Boxford lathe, South Bend, Myford, Logan etc.
ALTERNATIVE METHOD:
I have a piece of L-shaped angle iron about 12 mm thick steel and 150mm along each edge. I could mount a spigot on one face. Then mount it on the cross slide and put a fly-cutter in the chuck to bore a hole the right size to take the spigot of the compound slide, so that it can be mounted vertically on the angle iron. Then the work can be mounted on the T-slot of the compound slide - one day...
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Thanks for the video Evan. I have an old South Bend Heavy 10 that utilizes a very similar tapered spigot system for the compound rest swivel. Your video does an exceptionally good job of addressing this type of classic mount. Also, your findings and comments regarding your Chinese milling attachment will undoubtedly be appreciated by anyone purchasing one.
S. Florida
Chris
Thank you for the feedback.
Nice video, I think that the milling attachment will be very useful and the lathe looks great.
Thanks for the complement.
It works OK for light cuts but it is best to make sure that the milling tool is always trying to roll up onto the top of the work. ie the milling tool is like a wheel rolling in the direction of travel while cutting. Also if there is any backlash in the cross slide it can cause the milling tool to suddenly dig in uncontrollably, grab the work and throw it out off the vice. This is a bit scary. It usually happens at the beginning or end of a cut or in attempts to change cutting direction.
I just picked up a heavy angle bracket that could be used as a milling attachment. It is like a piece of huge angle iron in the shape of an L with each arm about 4" (100mm) long and 3/8" (10mm) thick. If I can machine the faces flat and cut a hole to accept the tapered spigot of the compound slide on the vertical part, it would allow me to position the original compound slide vertically. Then I wouldn't need to use the Chinese attachment, as long as I can bolt the work directly to the T-slot on the compound slide.
Parting tools, they tended to depart quickly, due to my ignorance on using them. Found cutting up tungsten tipped wood saws, welding them to bar stock made them more easily used and easier disposal.
That is a very interesting tip.
Boxford made a milling attachment for their lathes.
Yes I have seen photos of the Boxford milling attachment on the Boxford Users Group site and they look really solid. Today I am mounting a DC motor on the cross slide with a collet holder so that I can use grinding wheels and milling tools. I probably don't need it but had the spare treadmill motor and just did it. That will be a TH-cam video one day.
Very nice work my friend , cheers
Hi Evan, we have emailed before many times when I 1st got my lathe last year.
Hope you're well.
Fantastic information and video....Thank you.
I'm just in the process of machining this same part up myself...May I ask what size chuck you have on your lathe please? Kind regards.
Ian
The dreadful quality of that Chinese milling attachment would make me want to bin it. Sorry that is a waste of $167 in my book. My mate has just bought a Boxford AUD with genuine Boxford milling attachment so I am looking forward to seeing what wee can do with that.
Yeah Mark, I am inclined to agree. I talked to a friend about getting some parts to build my own, and he thinks he might have a spare milling attachment - so all fingers crossed!
Yes he gave me a Myford milling attachment. How did the original Boxford one work out? I think they are pretty rare.
Mate Mate Mate , Evan I wont your Lathe can I come and get it ? Please
Maybe when I fall off my perch Mate, but I'm not expecting that for a few years yet! Glad you like it!
@@Evan-e-cent Your not going to beleave me But I just bought a Vintage Lathe I pick it up on Tuseday , it's not as fancy as yours and there is less of it and it's 2" belt drive 3 speeds it dose come with a 3 & 4 jaw a surface plate , I'm over the moon so you can keep your for now , and all this because of you thanks Mate
@@spiderbrandt4066 Congratulations! That sounds great! My Boxford was made in December 1955, and has V-belt drive. If yours has 2 inch flat belt drive it may be pre-WW2. Look it up on Lathes.co.uk. That site may even list serial numbers and dates of manufacture. If it doesn't have a gearbox for cutting threads make sure you get as many gear train wheels as you can.All the tools you can get! Then you can use my online program for calculating gear trains: RideTheGearTrain dot com. My email address is at the top of that site. I would love to know more about your lathe...eg brand name! Are you in NZ? I am a Kiwi.
@@Evan-e-cent Sorry Your Email dose not work , Spider here I got my lathe today all I could find was 2 sets of numbers one is near the left spindle Oiler and it is 155 , the other is just above the left end of the feed screw there is a gear change F/R I think there the number is 24124 , I have photos but my phone wont take to my PC , it came with lots of stuff And Most important Gears
@@spiderbrandt4066 Try AEDLewis at gmail dot com. If it IS a Boxford, that number corresponds with Early 1969 manufacture. But Boxford usually print the serial number on top of the ways/bed under the tailstock, so you have to move the tailstock towards the chuck to see it. But with flat belt drive it would be much earlier than 1969, so it doesn't fit. Tell me more about it when you find out. You only got it today!