Is lathe milling attachment worth making

[f350ca]

Like your work bench, from the surface up it looks just like mine.

Greg

 

[GoceKU]

This workbench is in my big garage, and with the amount of work in short time i do is hard to keep it clean, but here are pictures when i build it.

 

[GoceKU]

Today i had some time so i continued on this project, i totally abused my 4" angle grinder by cutting the excess material but i was successful also i'm confident it is steel and i can weld to it, more to come.

 

[AlFiallos]

I have only a lathe very heavy duty lathe, i've seen couple pictures of lathe milling attachment but don't know is this a useful tool, can i get any accuracy with this attachment ?

Hi. For what it's worth, I have a Harbor Freight 8x12 mini-lathe. I needed to cut key ways in a powered wheelchair axel shaft. My homemade milling attachement worked to perfection. I believe that you can get acceptalbe results milling with your lathe. Just my experience.

 

[GoceKU]

I've decided to try it, there no going back now, only problem is i'm pretty busy so progress on this project will be slow.

 

[rock_breaker]

I inherited a milling attachment for my Clausing MK3 and have used it on many occasions. Works really well to make hexagon shapes. Used keyway cutters as cutting tools. It led to my acquiring a mill drill, and never got into making complex shapes. Lite cuts and plan your project should lead to an excellent tool.
Have a good day
Ray

P. S. If made accurately you should get acceptable results.

 

[GoceKU]

Ray, i appreciate the advice, tell me which cutters are you using and how are you holding them ?

 

[epanzella]

I make mild steel holders for my most used end mills. The setscrew locks onto the endmill flat and the soft steel allows me to use a 3 or 4 jaw chuck to hold them.

 

[q20v]

My setup uses 5C collets to hold the end mill (in conjunction with a draw bar). Holding small stock in the QCTP works well. I have a milling attachment but haven't used it yet.

Roughing end mill with some 1/2" brass. Just testing out the new setup.


3/4" 4-flute end mill for milling little flats on some replica valve spindles I'm working on.


Using the QCTP was ideal for this application because I could quickly pull the tool holder and bring it to the work bench, reset the work piece in a new orientation, drop it back on the tool post and mill the next flat. I had 80 flats to machine

 

[GoceKU]

Two very different solutions of holding end mills in a lathe i like the collets solution better but knowing my spindle has an morse 6 taper, i won't be able to found an collet holder, and making one takes lots of time and effort, plus my lathe is very close to the wall and i'll have to install the draw bar from outside mu garage thru the hole in the wall.