Milling Spindles for Small Lathes

[Meldonmech]

Hi Guys
              First Pic shows a small milling spindle I built some time ago. It was made to be used fitted to a Myford vertical slide, in conjunction with a belt drive from an electric motor clamped the lathe bed. This spindle can be used for a mini lathe upwards. At the time finances were tight, and the spindle was constructed using a bicycle wheel hub. The hub selected must be in good condition and smooth running. The hub was completely stripped cleaned,  re greased and adjusted. Before re assembly a portion of the actual spindle was turned down to 1/4 inch dia. to take the bore size of my cutters, then threaded 1/4 BSF for the clamping nut.
           

[Meldonmech]

This little milling spindle is still working well after years of use, and among other things has cut many gears. Due to me requiring a range of speeds I designed a slightly larger spindle, using conventional bearings, a No1 Morse taper, and a three stepped pulley. This has further uses and can be used on heavier work. A small taper shank 1/4 inch Jacobs chuck, and No 1 taper shank drills, enable milling and drilling operations. I have been impressed by its versatility.

[Meldonmech]

These little milling spindles are well worth making for anyone with only a small lathe, and with a small outlay for an ebay vertical slide, milling operations can be carried out. They have really extended my own capabilities.

                                       Cheers David

[PekkaNF]

They look very nice. Good job.

Do you have any pictures of them in use?

How did you made the spindle of the MT1 model? I have seen documented turning outside between centres and then mounted on four jaw chuck and supported with fixed steady from the other end for drilling and reaming. Some used collet chuck to turn inside features?

Did you step drilled the MT taper and then used MT taper reamer?

Pekka

[vtsteam]

Cool! -- I'm bookmarking this -- definitely will be coming back when I make one....

[Meldonmech]

Hi Pekka

               Unfortunately I don't  have any pics of the spindles in use.
The spindle was centered then reversed and the other end turned down to suit the pulley. This was then held in the collet chuck,  to turn the outside. The fixed steady was used when machining the MT. The bore was drilled to the minor MT 1 dia. and then taper bored with a special tiny boring bar that I ground from a solid HSS square lathe tool blank. I only managed half depth then step drilled ,and finished with a taper reamer.
                                           Cheers David

[DavidA]

Harold Hall presented a nifty spindle in MEW a while back.

I have most of it somewhere .

Dave.