Machsupport Forum

Mach Discussion => General Mach Discussion => Topic started by: GRAYHIL on September 13, 2011, 07:27:21 AM

Title: Lathe as mill
Post by: GRAYHIL on September 13, 2011, 07:27:21 AM

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« Reply #1259 on: September 13, 2011, 03:15:40 AM »   

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Hello
I have been getting interested in CNC machining and am considering converting my Colchester Master to a cnc mill as follows.
X axis cross slide
Y axis vertical slide vice held where toolpost fits on top slide
Z axis top slide
All tools to be held in headstock chuck
Any thoughts? and is it possible?
Graham
 

Title: Re: Lathe as mill
Post by: Tweakie.CNC on September 13, 2011, 08:42:13 AM

H Graham,

I am sure anything is possible and this would make a very interesting project.

Tweakie.

Title: Re: Lathe as mill
Post by: derekbpcnc on September 13, 2011, 02:09:29 PM

Another option is to keep it as a "lathe" but fit a Y axis onto the cross slide ( X axis).

The spindle would be a C axis + live tooling.
You would keep your lathe functionality but now with milling.

ATB
Derek.

Title: Re: Lathe as mill
Post by: Hood on September 13, 2011, 02:34:21 PM

It is possible and has been done in home workshops on small manual hobby machines for 50 or more years  but it is not the best, in fact it is rather poor.
The lathes axis were designed for the direction of  forces involved in turning.
Hood