Hi all. I have been contemplating for a while now the build of a new spindle for my Tom Senior M1 mill. Reasons as follows
1. Current knuckle head configuration utilizes a 45 degree helix gear set, the teeth on my set are worn sharp and dont like high speed or mild steel at all. Lots of noise gets generated
2. Head hight with the current head is very limited
3. High spindle speeds for very small end mills are impossible due to machine construction
4. Very limited angular movement of current head.
5. I would like to preserve the current knuckle head
in a working condition, thus need a replacement spindle before this one gives up the ghost.
After trolling the internet for ideas i saw some people fitted Bridgeport M heads to their TS mills. Bridgeports are extremely scarce in my neck of the woods, let alone parts or something as exotic as a M head. So i decided i will take the plunge and build my own spindle.
The spindle needed to be belt driven and not break the bank
I decided to use angular contact bearings for the spindle bottom and a deep groove ball bearing for the top. Will see to arrangement as i go along. Any suggestions?
Well i started to machine my spindle to be out of EN19T and it is slow going on my ML7!!

