Hi Bill, I don't use the method now but did for several years, I worked mainly on smallish components in different materials and found all was OK provided cut depths were not excessive and feedrate kept to suit the cutter, if excess of either the job may be damaged by shifting in the vice or clamps.
I never had enough spindle speed for very small cutters in aluminium so had to keep DOC and feedrate very low to suit.

Before the intro of low cost milling machines many models including exhibition examples were built using a lathe with vertical slide for milling.

Emgee

Bill,

I suggest you get a copy of 'Milling in the Lathe'

… a very informative little book.

MichaelG.

.

http://www.gandmtools.co.uk/shop/milling-in-the-lathe-edgar-t-westbury/

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 23/12/2018 11:15:46

I've done quite a bit of small milling the lathe, both the old Drummond M Type "Flagellator" and the ML7. It can be done, including milling 1" thick steel plate etc. Just takes a bit more time and fiddling about than a proper milling machine, and you tend to get a crick in your neck from working sideways all the time.

Unless you are going to do helical gear cutting etc, I'd recommend the fixed type vertical slide over the double swivel type. The double swivel type tends to move about a bit under heavy cuts.

I've been thinking about a Seig X3 or similar milling machine for a few years but for the bit of model making and vintage bike work I do, the lathe and vertical slide does the job. I have even cut a few gears quite successfully.

Despite what some find, I have had no trouble holding milling cutters in teh three jaw chuck. And cheap milling cutters from Aliexpress seem to do the job. Solid carbide jobs seem to work particularly well, probably because they hold a good sharp edge so well. I've found a 16mm end mill cutter works well in the Myford. Bigger cutters seem to cause more flexing of the cross slide and vertical slide, although I use up to 25mm for roughing. Also, basic fly cutter works well too.

It's definitely not as "nice" as having a dedicated mill, but with care and patience it gets the job done perfectly well. The fixed slides are not that expensive secondhand so you could buy one and give it a try.

Tubal Cain's milling operations in the lathe (Workshop Practice Series) is very good and (a bit) more up to date than the ETW one (much as I like ETW's writing).

Neil

Sorry to hear that Bill.

A plain vertical slide on a Myford will do you just fine. Plenty of people find the swivel slide too wobbly for use.

Dave

Hi Bill check out Steve Jordan on youtube he does a lot of milling on his lathe link

H

A step up from the vertical slide are the milling head attachments made to fit Myfords: try searching for 'Rodney' and 'Potts'. There may be others.

But be aware that even a baby Chinese milling machine would be more capable than any attachment you can put on a small lathe. Lathes aren't built to take milling stresses, there's very little room for the job, and you can only take tiny cuts. Although people can and do achieve miracles with slides I found using mine very frustrating. Don't think a vertical slide is a slightly inferior option – if you can squeeze one in a real mill is much better.

Dave