what's this thing?

[jack620]

I got an email from LPR Toolamakers advertising their latest sale. They are selling this lathe attachment:

VERTICAL SLIDE WITH VICE SUIT SMALL LATHES - LPR Toolmakers (http://lprtoolmakers.auctivacommerce.com/VERTICAL-SLIDE-WITH-VICE-SUIT-SMALL-LATHES-P2145977.aspx)

I assume it's a milling attachment, but it's not clear from the description. I can't enlarge the photo either to help get an idea of how it attaches. Do any of you guys wan't to hazard a guess what this thing is?

Chris

[Dave J]

Hi Chris,
Your right, it's a milling attachment like the one in the link below
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/L277

You can also make one up yourself by mounting you compound to an angle plate.

Dave

[jack620]

Thanks Dave,
It seems the LPR one is a half-size version of the H&F one. In fact, the H&F one is 8 times heavier. It's not clear to me which one (if any) is suited to the Hercus 260. The LPR one looks a bit small, but the H&F one is advertised as being suitable for lathes with a 300mm swing.
Chris

[Steamwhisperer]

http://img.tapatalk.com/7cb581df-829d-7078.jpg
Hi Chris
This is the H&F one mounted to a 300mm swing lathe

Phil

[Anorak Bob]

And here is the Hercus milling attachment. This is from a 260 mounted on a 9". http://www.woodworkforums.com/f189/hercus-vertical-milling-attachment-137797/

BT

[jack620]

Thanks both.

The Hercus milling attachment is beautiful, but I gather they are like hen's teeth and very expensive. I'm not up to the task of making one from castings either.

[Bryan]

Are you up to welding some plates together?

[19brendan81]

Hey Bryan,

How do you ensure the plates are perfectly 90 degrees when you weld them together? Do they move when welded?

I would like to either make or buy a milling attachement for my lathe..not sure which i'll do yet. Most of the H and F stuff is available overseas at a fraction of the price....has anyone found cheap milling slides overseas that would suit an AL340?

[Bryan]

Brendan, you can only set them up as close as you can before welding, then machine afterwards. I sent it out to be trued up on a mill. Now I would do it on the shaper. I did alternating welds, inside then outside, to try and equalise the distortion. And I put the braces in early. It came out not bad - he didn't have to take much off. But it wouldn't have worked without machining. I tried but it was flexing the cross slide and binding when I tightened the bolts.

In fact, I still might give it a lick on the shaper. Been thinking about setting up the small lathe for milling again, since I don't use it for anything else.

[19brendan81]

Cheers Bryan. In lieu of getting it machined on a mill could have you machined it in situ by using a fly cutter in your lathe headstock?

[Bryan]

Maybe. Not something I've tried.

Edit: I think I would have run out of travel to cover the full width. But you wouldn't have to make it that wide.

[Stustoys]

Cheers Bryan. In lieu of getting it machined on a mill could have you machined it in situ by using a fly cutter in your lathe headstock?
Not likely. It depends on how big your bracket is of course but you likely wont have enough crossfeed. When I made mine I had to set it up in the 4 jaw, which is a little tricky, I havent checked it but it came out close enough to do the jobs I needed at the time.

Stuart