How Does a Lathe Milling Attachment Work?

[FortyFivePalms]

Hello folks,

I fear the answer to the this question will make me slap my head, but here goes...

In my quest for a starter lathe, I've seen many ads for 'milling attachments' for use with a lathe. I can't seem to wrap my head around how something like this would work. Is it an x-y table that attaches to the bed way, to be used in conjunction with a cutting bit somehow attached to the lathe spindle? That's the only scenario I can conjure up.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DavidR8]

A milling attachment for a lathe typically attaches to the cross slide.
The cross slide allows for movement across the X axis and the attachment will allow for movement in the Y axis.

 

[MrWhoopee]

A milling attachment for a lathe typically attaches to the cross slide.
The cross slide allows for movement across the X axis and the attachment will allow for movement in the Y axis.

^^^This^^^
and the carriage provides Z axis. A drill or endmill would be held in the spindle, preferably in a collet.

A milling attachment will get the job done, but is a poor sustitute for a real mill.

 

[matthewsx]

Lots of good work has been done in small shops with just a lathe and milling attachment. Also, with a 4 jaw chuck you can accomplish things like turning a round rod into a cube and more.

However, the primary function of a milling attachment in my experience is to solidify the desire to own a vertical milling machine

John

 

[matthewsx]

So, to be a little less cheeky....

I'd say it's good advice to get the best, most rigid, and capable lathe that you can afford/fit. The lathe as a first tool in your machine shop will serve you well as it can do many operations that might not be obvious and it provides a good learning environment to understand materials, feeds and speeds, tool cutter geometry, and many other things which apply to other machine tools.

I made my own milling attachment for my Seneca Falls Star lathe and it wasn't great. But, I got experience making an accessory for the machine and built confidence that I could make more.

Cheers,

John

 

[pdentrem]

Some photos here to help clarify the answers.

T

Thread 'What success and failure have you had with a lathe milling attachment?'

Apr 2, 2020

Don't really have the room or available funds for a milling machine. I have a Craftex CX706 lathe its a 10X22. Looks like the precision Mathews 10x22. I would like to hear both the good and the bad about one of the lathe milling attachments. I was thinking of using it to put a flat spot on a piece of round stock or put in a small keyway. Pictures are great. thanks in advance!

• Thriller
• Replies: 28
• Forum: GENERAL HOME MACHINE SHOP DISCUSSIONS

 

[whitmore]

One approach is simply a Z axis (vertical) mover attached to the compound, with the cutter being the spindle.
This old Stark add-on does attach to the bed, with the spindle reversed so a horizontal mill operation is achieved,

It's kind of an old idea...]

 

[RJSakowski]

One approach is simply a Z axis (vertical) mover attached to the compound, with the cutter being the spindle.

To clarify, z axis on a lathe is the direction the carriage travels. A y axis would be perpendicular to the ways.

 

[markba633csi]

Some lathe models have a milling head and column mounted to the rear of the bed- another type of "milling attachment"
but really more like a combination machine. Better, but still limited compared to a dedicated milling machine

 

[Jim F]

To clarify, z axis on a lathe is the direction the carriage travels. A y axis would be perpendicular to the ways.

That is the X axis, Y is vertical to the ways.