The milling table
The milling table will mount to an extra cross slide that I picked up on eBay. The table will bolt to the cross slide, and left there permanently. It takes less than a minute to switch between the cross slide that is used for lathe work and the one used for milling.
Because the column sits just a few inches behind the ways, the tail end of the cross slide needs to be chopped off for clearance. This tail end of the cross slide has no structural purpose, but serves only to keep swarf off of the cross slide screw. I cut the tail off by hand with a hacksaw, and used a belt sander to smooth out the cut.
Marking cross slide for cutting.
Cross slide cut and cleaned up.
Before mounting the table to the cross slide, the I trammed the head to the cross slide (tramming is the process ordeal of adjusting the head to be perpendicular to a reference surface in all directions).
Not being a machinist by trade, and not having a full arsenal of indicators at my disposal, I used the setup shown below. It sweeps a 3″ diameter circle.
Indicator setup.
Adjustment of the head is made in two planes. The first is from front to back, and is made with a screw that bears against the bottom of the front rail. Advancing the screw tilts the head downward and forward.
Adjustment screw for tramming the head.
The second adjustment is made at 90 degrees to the first, and is achieved by rotating the mounting vise. This is done by loosening the mounting screw and rotating the vise.
Mounting/adjustment bolt for the vise and milling head.
Tramming the head took the better part of the morning, but I was able to get it within about +/-0.0005″ over the range of travel. The table is now mounted to the cross slide. After the motor is in place, the table will be milled in place to give a true surface.
Milling table attached to cross slide.
Hello,
I have a 9×20 lathe, and I am thinking since a long time to a milling head.
I would like to make something very similar to yours : strong column, and spindle, + dedicated table, in order to get a milling head as rigid as possible.
Would you accept to give me a little bit more informations on your’s, like additional pictures, plan, or hand made sketchs, for the main dimensions ?
I would also appreciate if you can tell me how satisfied you are of the results you obtain when using it ? (A friend of me bought a Sieg SC4 with milling head option, and it is difficult to use for milling, due to low power of motor, plastic gear brake, and lot of vibrations generated when trying to mill, even with very thin passes).
Bests regards.
Yves
Yves, I sent you an email with further information. Let me know if you do not receive it.
Regards,
Isaac