Milling Machine: Build Your Own Metal Working Shop from Scratch, Book Four

The design is especially planned for the developing home shop with limited equipment. There is still no need to look for help in custom machine work. The charcoal foundry will furnish the castings, and you can machine them on your home made lathe and metal shaper. The miller itself will do some of the machine work on its own parts. Extremely rigid in construction, its lathe like characteristics make it very versatile. Included accessories make it possible to do large diameter turning, boring, and facing operations, and it can make its own cutters and holders. The work table is 2 3/8 inch x 12 inch, with a 3/8 inch "t" slot, and it travels a full 12 inches. The carriage travels 6 1/2 inch in line with the spindle with the tail stand in use, and 8 1/2 inches with it cleared away. The spindle center can be raised as much as 6 inches above the work table, and the transmission is designed to follow the vertical travel of the spindle without changing the belt tension. There are eight speeds in two ranges, from 43 RPM to 2430 RPM. There is more detail then the lathe and shaper, but we are still using the same simple methods. All of the castings are within the capacity of the charcoal foundry, using the one quart pot, and there are detailed instructions for machining the parts. Additional discussion on patterns and molding bring the project within the ability of a novice. You really can build it in your own shop at home.