Conversion bracket

Hi all, wonderd if any body has any idea how to connect (via bracket) Myford VM-A milling/drilling attachment to Myford Super 7 lathe. The mill came with a cast iron support but doesn’t match any of the pre drilled holes on the lathe. Is there a convertion plate or bracket that is available would be grateful for any advice. Lathe is on a Myford cabinet raised on bed raisers.

First time I’ve used the site I’m a new member so be gentle with me.

John

Hello John,

Welcome to the forum. Looks like you need to raise the lathe on blocks, you won't need Myford raising blocks, you can improvise your own.

Neil

Plus one for shop-made raising blocks. Tubal Cain gives a design for "jacking screws" in WPS 15.

See **LINK**for an excellent set of photos.

OP appears to already have the lathe on raising blocks since he says "Lathe is on a Myford cabinet raised on bed raisers.". These are necessary to ensure bottom of mill column clears the tray.

The existing holes on the rear of the bed are for the taper turning attachment, having determined where along the bed the column needs to be so as to end up wih the mill column midway between chuck and tailstock, make a drilling jig plate whch incorporates the horizontal pitch of the existing holes and align the four holes of the mill bracket as required using thread taping size drill.

Bolt dril plate to bed and pilot the four holes, tap as required.

Just a suggestion.

Sorry,

I should have added that the remaining 2 holes are for fixed studs to assist fitting the bracket.

Bracket fitted, thumb screws (on bracket) are tightened which hold bracket in place whilst placing the 4 holding screws on the rear face of the bed. Necessary if you are working from the lathe front at a later date to fit/replace the bracket. In the first instance you will already be working from the rear in order to drill and tap the holes.

Is the back of the bed flat enough to just bolt to? Neither Neil's or Kwil's similar links show the back.

Thanks all, as I said new to using the forum and the response has been gratifying..KWIL I like your idea had similar thoughts so will follow up with a back plate and let you know how it goes .

JasonB just put a straight edge on back of lathe seems to be quite flat.

When I work out how to insert pics I’ll send some on my progress.

Thanks. John.

JasonB:

It's a machined facing and, AFAIK, a standard feature.

I did not think the flat for the TTA was very deep on a S7 so you may get unwanted nodding, OK on a 254 where it is much deeper and has 4 holes

Good point. I confess I did not know that the VMA could be fitted to the Seven.

The flat is also used for the multistop (in conjunction with the capstan) which like the TTA involves light loads in line with the bed.

Edited By ega on 10/01/2019 18:28:20

If you look closely at the Lathes.co.uk photo where the girl is boring a casting you can see one or maybe two large rectangular items under the bed, maybe a plate and angle bracket that fitted to the stand as well as the rear of the bed which would have firmed things up a lot, you would need it raised up to get these in

Edited By JasonB on 10/01/2019 18:52:53

Hi I think what you have is a mounting bracket for the 254 lathe

It's worth looking across at the Rishton page: **LINK**

http://www.lathes.co.uk/rishton/

where some alternative mounts are shown.

Personally, I think it would be cruel to simply hang all that weight off the back of a Super 7

What about mounting both machines on a common block [of granite or such] ?

MichaelG.

Great for all the input. I was thinking of only using the existing tapped holes in the back of the 7 just to locate the mill not take the weight. The weight would be taken by the lathe cabinet and reiforced underneath with the rear of the mill supported on raised blocks. Yes the mill came of a 254 lathe.

Do you want to sell it?

Hi Alan as you probably sussed I’ve only just got the said mill and well on the way to fitting to my super 7 so the answer to your enquiry no but some time in the future who knows. I’ll keep you posted.

John

PS to my post:

The photograph on p33 of Ian Bradley's Manual shows a much deeper facing than that on my 1960s machine although there appears to be still just one row of tapped holes. If this was a production change then perhaps the reason was indeed to accommodate a milling attachment.

The same photo shows the tailstock barrel clamp in the early position which may give a clue as to the date of the machine concerned (I can't make out the serial number in the photo).

John,

How did you get on mounting the mill?

Looks like I am going to buy a super 7 and a Vma mill and will need to attach them as you needed to.

Any pics or help gratefully received !

Regards

Chris

Hi Chis, just about finished fitting mill will post pics as soon as I’ve uploaded them to my album..

John.

Chris just added 3 pics one showing 1/4 tapped bsf holes in rear of lathe bed which were existing. The second showing 1/2” thick plate drilled and counter sunk to take 1/4 screws and 4 tapped holes to match colum bracket. Third pic. shows colum bracket in place supported on 3” dia. Jack I made to adjust final position.

I will add further pics later to show how I finished the final fixings.

John