ML7

Out of interest how many good people are milling on there ml7 lathes or other type,did have a play with mine ahead of getting the collet holder here ,and yes l should not have used a end mill in the chuck,but looking at it l can se it will be good for small parts to be milled,as my mill is on the large size,so any pros an cons on this one please.

john

I have used a vertical slide and a Rodney attachment on my Myford, both methods spurred me to get a milling machine. The Myford cross slide is rather light for milling but it has been used by many people and done good work. The vertical slide must have been one of the most common Myford accessories and can be used to hold an auxiliary spindle to mill a job without taking it from the chuck. I much prefer the milling machine now I have one.

Mike

Hi John

I do all my milling on my S7 as I don't have a miller, I use a standard vertical slide also the type with the double swivel. If I have a lot of milling to do I use a collet to hole the cutter but for the quick one off I have been known to hold cutter in the chuck. I only do small parts so for me the biggest draw back is setup time .

H

Like Mike Poole, my experience of a vertical slide, and a Rodney milling attachment, caused me to buy a mill.

IMO, the ML7 is not rigid enough to be used for milling.

Howard

If you have a large mill you'll quickly realise I think if you try it that it's much easier doing small work on a large mill than trying to cope with the Myford limitations!

Can se where you are coming from with the myford an milling ,mind l did try a bit of slitting saw work in it and it was great,just took my time etc,but will be more happy when have collet to hold the tool.

john

I've done some milling in my ML7 using the vertical slide. I managed, with care, to achieve quite acceptable results.

The main draw-back to that method is that setting up can be difficult because gravity pulls the work-piece 'sideways' .

Best regards,

Swarf, Mostly!

Done a bit of milling on my ML7 and my old Drummond M-type. I only ever hold my end mill cutters in the standard three jaw lathe chuck. Never had a problem with that.

There is a fair bit of dancing around of the carriage and cross slide and vertical slide though. Locking all slides that are not required to move helps.

If I had a proper milling machine I would use that.

Done a bit of milling on my ML7 and my old Drummond M-type. I only ever hold my end mill cutters in the standard three jaw lathe chuck. Never had a problem with that.

There is a fair bit of dancing around of the carriage and cross slide and vertical slide though. Locking all slides that are not required to move helps.

If I had a proper milling machine I would use that.

+1 for milling with the ML7. It was all I had available over 30 years ago. Had no issues at all with finish or accuracy on an old tired 1949 model. Mainly using gunmetal and cast iron though.

Then again, I was still green and self-teaching at the time, so cautious with the speeds, feeds and d.o.c .

If large area work in steel, I imagine it would struggle.

Still use it to mill, even though I have an old light duty Mill (wm16). I toggle between the two.