Question About An Atlas Mf Horizontal Mill

[T Bredehoft]

I ran a horizontal (don't remember it's name) for years, converted to CNC. I had a 12" angle plate which I used much of the time. In use the operator stood behind the table to the machine's left, facing the table. (wish I could remember what it was called, I'd only seen that one machine. It had been modified extensively, once had two spindles, side by side, operated independently, with a provision to move from one to the other. That was before I was put on it.

In any case, it was far more stable than any Bridgeport type machine, capable of the same sort of work, and you could watch the tooling 100%.

 

[JPMacG]

Steve,
Bring a good flashlight and thoroughly inspect the machine for hidden damage. Ask to see it run. Run through all the speeds, run the table feed through all its speeds, and run the back gear. Run the table feed in both directions. Feel inside the spindle for damage to the Morse taper surface. Make sure the bull gear pin engages properly. Inspect the spindle gears and pulley for damage. Move the three axes through their travel range. Atlas parts are horrendously expensive. You could easily spend another $500, even $1000 on replacement parts. If you know anyone who has experience with an Atlas mill, take them along.

 

[Andre]

Is there a (free) manual or book that explains the workings and use of a horizontal mill ? I have never seen one and just going by pictures of them on this group I don't have a clue how you would do anything but face or cut slots. I have only seen pictures of them with large disk shaped cutters or things that look like a planer blade. Do they in fact use end mills ? I will probably never own one but you never know, I didn't plan on any metal tools but now have 3 lathes and a mill.
WH

As long as your spindle has a drawbar for a collet or endmill holder, they absolutely can use endmills, drill holes, etc.

 

[wa5cab]

Harold,

Other than what little Atlas and others published on what the various controls do or what you do with them, I've not come across to anything for horizontal mills equivalent to the Atlas MOLO or the South Bend How To Run A Lathe.

Basically, in Horizontal mode, a horizontal mill runs a long solid round bar or shaft called the "arbor". The arbor is supported at one end by the spindle and at the other by the arbor support (block) with is in turn supported by the overarm (another larger solid round bar) which is mounted above and parallel to the spindle. The arbor has a nearly full length square key and keyway to drive the cutters. The cutters look like small saw blades and come in various thicknesses. They all have a center hole to match the arbor and a key slot to match the arbor key. To position the cutters, there are hollow keyed spacers of various thicknesses. To cut a long slot, you would use a smooth sided cutter of the same thickness as the slot width. If you wanted to cut two parallel slots, or cut something like a T-nut, you would use two cutters properly spaced and of the proper width or thickness and make both cuts at the same time. For facing, you would use a cutter or stack of cutters a little wider than the part. Etc.

Atlas originally supplied the mill with either a 7/8" diameter or 1" diameter arbor. There are some after-market 1-1/4" diameter ones available today.

With the arbor and arbor support removed, you can use end mills, face mills and key seat cutters in the spindle. Operations would be about like using a milling attachment on a lathe.

 

[Wierd Harold]

With the arbor and arbor support removed, you can use end mills, face mills and key seat cutters in the spindle. Operations would be about like using a milling attachment on a lathe.

Thank you.
WH

 

[CluelessNewB]

Is there a (free) manual or book that explains the workings and use of a horizontal mill ?


There are several articles in old Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines and annual "shop notes" from the 1950s that have content specific to the Atlas horizontal mills. There are several links on this page you will find interesting: http://www.petealbrecht.com/atlasmillshaper/atlasmillshaper.htm

There may be more not listed on that page. There are also articles and videos by Rudy Kouhoupt available you may find interesting.

 

[Wierd Harold]

Is there a (free) manual or book that explains the workings and use of a horizontal mill ?


There are several articles in old Popular Science and Popular Mechanics magazines and annual "shop notes" from the 1950s that have content specific to the Atlas horizontal mills. There are several links on this page you will find interesting: http://www.petealbrecht.com/atlasmillshaper/atlasmillshaper.htm

There may be more not listed on that page. There are also articles and videos by Rudy Kouhoupt available you may find interesting.

Thank You
WH

 

[spongerich]

Is that a dividing head I spy on the floor? Small-ish ones sell for large-ish sums.

The table power feed does seem to be a bit of a weak spot with these. Replacements are pricey and getting hard to find.

 

[gramps1951]

I have the best of both worlds with my little MFB Ser#006652. I have 7/8", 1", and 1 1/4" arbors and a vertical head. I can use the horizontal arbors without removing the vertical head and it is extremely rigid. I have it on a decent cabinet now with lots of tooling storage. Would I like a Bridgeport? Definitely! But can I do what I need to do with this little Atlas? Yup!

 

[rick9345]

They were the go to machines WWII for a gazillion small parts, as a hobby to keep one out of the kitchen excellant choice, but if the bug bites bigger shop and bigger machines will be forth coming. Small Atlas stuff seems to a;ways hold value.
Welcome to addiction central inhabited by tool junkies.