Some Useful Milling Machine Tools

[Xiansheng]

? endmills and weldon flat endmill holders, various shapes and sizes.
? stub length drill bits
? hold down sets for mill
? dovetail cutters
? t-slot cutters
? horizontal/vertical rotary table
? tilting angle base compatable with rotary table, if it isn't built in.
? collets
? tailstock to go with rotary table
? milling vice - consider kurt as the chinese ones can leave a lot to be desired.
? swivel base for vice
? toolmakers insert vice
? clamp down sets
? boring head for mill and boring bar
? parallels for holding work up in the vice
? slitting saw arbor and blades
? fly cutter
? fishtail threading gage (for aligning tool to work) and an ACME screw thread gauge.
? metal, plastic to cut (online metals has some assortments but you will need some bigger stuff as well)
? reamers
? angle blocks for setting up work at an angle in vise, measuring, etc.
? spiral point (best for through holes) and/or spiral flute (blind holes or through holes) taps, tap wrench
? countersink bits
? transfer punches
? cam clamps or toe clamps
? machinists? parallel jaw clamps, c-clamps
? machinist squares
? right angle blocks
? 123 blocks, 246 blocks
? Machinists? jacks
? edge finder and/or wiggler
? gear cutters or free running hobs, or a fly cutter style
? deburring tool
? DRO (expensive, optional)
? radius turning attachment (optional)
? better drill chuck for mini-mill
? expanding mandrels or arbors
? vice work stop
? steel letter/number stamps sets
? v-blocks
? ring light for mill
? x-way cover for mill
? way lube/spindle lube
? tachometer
? horizontal bandsaw for cutting stock, bimetal blades. In a pinch, you can cut them on the mill

Some sources: Shars, Travers Tool, Enco, MSC, Grizzly Ind., Tools4cheap, CDCO, Little Machine Shop, Ebay, Machine Shop Discount Club, Reid Tool Supply, Anytimetools.

Please feel free to add to this list!

Best,

Nelson

 

[Xiansheng]

HI. Re the list of useful tools, is the list backed up with plans and the like, or just a wish list?

 

[RIMSPOKE]

HERE IS ONE THAT I HAVE FOUND USEFUL FOR THE MILL .

IT IS AN R-8 COLLET WITH A 3/8" HEX HOLE IN IT . I HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE ON THE MARKET .
IT WAS MADE FROM A NORMAL ROUND COLLET WITH A WIRE EDM BURNING THE HEX HOLE .

THIS MAKES IT EASY TO MOUNT TOOLS IN THE SPINDLE THAT NORMALLY USED IN A DRILL CHUCK .
IT WORKS WONDERFULLY WITH A SET OF LENNOX HOLE SAWS . NO SLIPPING !

 

[dlane]

T slot cleaner / chip brush , magnifying glass , squirt bottle for wd40, chip deflector , broom/dust pan.

 

[KBeitz]

The two piece milling vise is something I would not go without . Makes for holding BIG stuff easy.

 

[Eddyde]

Get the basics to start, then buy the more specialized tools as you need them.

 

[6061T6]

I'd say the first tool one needs is a precision level or possibly a precision square with level. Find one reference surface and level it near perfectly
Then take the next surface and if it isn't perfectly parallel or perpendicular, shim or move as appropriate.

I used to sweep over the surface etc with an indicator and fix that way. That is helpful but leveling is faster and easier.