Thread: Milling in the lathe

You asked for "enlightenment"

Originally Posted by sacc51

Lets see what comes to my mind:

Whenever I mill a slot the keys seem to fit pretty good, so good in fact I usually have to prise them out. Perhaps those with problems in this area should buy a better quality lathe, a better quality chuck or try a little maintenance.

Hi Sacc51.
If this line is directed at me I will clarify.
If milling a slot for a key, the key is then fitted to the machined slot.
Slots aren't milled for the sole use of a key by the way.
I would normally use a mill when cutting slots.
Instead of buying a better chuck I bought an ER chuck. It's made for the job.
Being a maintenance fitter, I do bucket loads of maintenance.
And, You did ask for enlightenment.

Phil

Originally Posted by sacc51

I’ve never had an endmill slip in a chuck yet, snip
I never tighten the chuck on an end mill any more than I do with work, can’t see the point as I’ve never had one slip.

Then it could be argued that you're tightening your 3 jaw far tighter than needed for normal turning...... but its your chuck.

Stuart

Nope, not aimed at you.
Collets are more accurate and secure - I am enlightened! The rest - I am amused.

Incidentally I used a drill chuck for years on my mill - never had a break, slip or a problem of any sort. I used the mill infrequently so sold it and purchased other stuff I use frequently. Better to buy tools you use than keep tools you don't.

Yes that could be argued Stustoys, it could also be argued that I just use a little common sense when tightening the chuck, after all I still have the same chuck that came with the lathe, have never had to regrind the jaws, the jaws are still parallel and the scroll and jaws are as good as new. How do I know? simple, I disassemble it, check it and maintain it at regular intervals, same as I do with every part of the lathe. And would you believe it, there is also not one stripped thread anywhere on my machine - amazing!

Originally Posted by DSEL74

Bob have you got a photo of your clarkson drawbar please.....

Here you go Dale.

DSCN1621 (Large).JPG DSCN1605 (Large).JPG DSCN1608 (Large).JPG

Originally Posted by sacc51

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I’ve never had an endmill slip in a chuck yet, never had one break either – ever, in either a mill or a lathe. No doubt some will probably think I’m doing something wrong!

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Congratulations. Not many machinists could claim to never have broken a mill. At least, I do not know any that could make such a claim...

I did almost 20 years all my milling in the lathe, before getting a mill. Lathes are not as rigid as mills, lots of flex and chatter. Epecially light bench lathes. Breaking mills in the lathe is not something shameful, it just happens if you do enough milling work. Some older lathes only hold down the front of the saddle by gravity and cutting forces. Fine for turning as the cutting forces always press the saddle onto the ways. But when milling this is not the case, the saddle can lift and the cutter catch and break. Also, when milling in the lathe by a vertical slide you advance the workpiece into the milling cutter with the leadscrew through the closed half nuts. Many older lathes have considerable backlash that way. The milling cutter tries to corkscrew itself into the workpiece, therby pulling the saddle towards itself within the said backlash. Especially when using an Aluminium cutter with tight helix into some materials. This is the reason it is usually not recommended to use carbide mills in the lathe, too brittle and fragile.

Thanks Bob, I have some railway bridge bolts that are probably large enough to make one from with a bit of machining.