Atlas M1-61 Arbor Support - Pictures Please

[DAT510]

I just pickup a cast reproduction of the M1-61 Arbor Support off eBay. It's a rough casting that needs to be finished machined.

Atlas Horizontal Milling Machine, M1-61 Support Casting | eBay

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It looks pretty nice. A slight bit of porosity, but that was disclosed in the ad.

Thanks to wa5cab having uploaded the drawing, I have the dimensions. I'd like to reproduce it as close to the original as I can. If someone has an original that they could share some pictures from multiple sides, it would be much appreciated.

 

[JPMacG]

I purchased one of his arbor support castings also. I have not machined it yet. I plan to take a light face cut on the boss that surrounds the slot, then reference that surface and bore the hole perpendicular. I plan to cut only the boss that goes against the arbor support. I don't see a need to do the surface that the bolt heads will be against.

The only mill I have is my Atlas. The Atlas's X-travel is just long enough to cut the boss if I remove the gear box and crank it by hand. I have made three blocks to use for mounting the casting to the table, but have not started to machine the casting yet.

Please post your work as you progress. I will do the same.

 

[CluelessNewB]

Here are some pictures of my original one. The middle 3 pictures are after painting. The first and last are before painting. You will need to play where's Waldo for the first one The "arbor support locks" are not original, the manual says the originals would have just been 3/8-16 x 1.25" hex cap screws.

 

[JPMacG]

I finished machining my casting. All the work was done on my Atlas itself. I was worried about the hard "skin" I've head about, but it was no problem at all. Other than making a big carbon mess, the cast iron machined very nicely.

 

[CluelessNewB]

I love machines making parts for themselves!

 

[ThinWoodsman]

Hundred bucks (with shipping) is a bit steep for just the casting. Any particular reason to use cast iron, instead of going the Kouhoupt and making one out of steel bar?

 

[JPMacG]

I was about to make my own from steel when the casting appeared on ebay. I went with the casting because I liked that it was a copy of the original Atlas part and preserved the original look of the mill. I don't know if a single cast iron part is any better or worse than a steel assembly like Rudy did.

 

[ThinWoodsman]

I suppose at this scale, it's moot. A casting might flex less than rolled/drawn steel, due to the grain structure. But the grains are elongated vertically, and the forces will likely be on the vertical axis ... *shrug*. Probably over-thinking it.

I am still planning to (some day) make one from steel. My Atlas is so beat-up and patched together, no-one will notice.

 

[JPMacG]

The fellow who had the castings sold out - he no longer has them listed on Ebay. The castings were some sort of school project with the proceeds going to support the educational program. I think it was a one-time thing - he is not in the business of making and selling castings. At least that is my understanding.