O/T Using a Vertical Mill as a Vertical Lathe

[MetalMarvels]

I have done some searching through the threads on this topic, but didn't isolate anything pertinent. Has anyone out there attempted to use their vertical mill as a "lathe". Presumably, one could hold the cutting tools on the table at various places on the table (at some height above the table). Then hold the stock in a tool holder in the spindle.

 

Granted that this is an idle curiosity question - but why wouldn't it work for "light-duty" types of "lathe" work? The "logic" is a little weird, but it seems to work - just cutting air at eh moment tho...

 

Any thoughts.....

[gcode]

It can and does work.

I've done exactly as you suggest to machine

the finish diameter on a custom shell mill holder

so it would run "dead true"

[Thad]

I've never seen it done, but I've seen parts that were made that way. I would imagine that it could get confusing trying to drive the part around a stationary tool.

 

I also saw a guy cut a round boss on a square part on a Bridgeport by pointing the cutting edge inward and "closing in" on the diameter with a boring bar.

 

Thad

[Andy]

Ive done it in a bridgeport before. A CNC mill would do just as well I would think.

[Parallel]

How about cutting a thread in the same way using multiple tapping cycles... each one moving in x or y further into the cutter for depth cuts.

 

Anyone tried that?

 

TJ

[gcode]

quote:

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How about cutting a thread in the same way using multiple tapping cycles... each one moving in x or y further into the cutter for depth cuts

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That sounds like a good way to thump a spindle

 

I can't think of any reason why it couldn't be done though.

[cadcam]

It will work I have done this to.

So I would say have at it.

[gcode]

Jay,

check your email

[crazy^millman]

I have also done this and there was a thread about 7 months ago where a person talked about the very thing. He use to make these little pins. I put my tool in a vice then just postion the tool relative to center where you need it to do this correctly. I could see you doing this with 4 fixture offset and 4 vices with 4 tools to do many thing you could do the threading but would be kind of tricky. I think the thing here would be as a one or two part thing. I have relivied tools like this and put more clearence this way also. I have also made parts round in a 4th axis usign a ball endmill like a came driver shaft that was not really round but was not really square either.

[TheePres]

Have done the custom tool holder diam with a lathe bit in a vise.

 

Hello all out there!!!!

[MetalMarvels]

Sounds good - I think maybe I will give it a "whirl" since I am lathe poor at the moment. Should be interesting. I will post any "positive" results. Of course I will deny having ever tried it if I turn my spindle into a pretzel.

[Jimmy Wakeford from Barefoot CNC]

Metal,

 

In front cplane, draw profile upside down and extend ends a little

 

close it in so you can do a pocket toolpath-rough zig-zag

 

watch your backplot very carefully and adj your retracts as ness

 

Let us know how it turns out

 

or

[Jack Mitchell]

I have done this lots of times.

Profile turning with an 80 deg tool and grooving as well; all manual part programming without the use of Mastercam.

 

The tricky part is the radial/diametral consideration regarding the math; this really comes down to how bad you want to work it in order to overcome the problem at hand.

 

Look at it this way - If I physically toppled the machining center then I would have a three axis lathe.

 

 

Regards, Jack

[MetalMarvels]

IT WORKS!!!!!! It really works!!!! However, it is REALLY strange getting the right orientation of the artwork. Very easy to make a wrong move too.

 

But, IT WORKS!!!!! Definitely a lot slower than a "real" lathe.

[Midwest]

Just read the posts above. I've done this several times, Core pins and electrodes. I just help a fellow worker program a core pin yesterday on a mill. (his first time) We bought an extended holder a while back for long core pins.

[jrykrl]

Damn I love this place

[Jack Mitchell]

Gary,

 

We’re happy that this worked out for you – just think of all the money saved as opposed to the sub contract; soon you will have the money for that Mazak lathe that you’ve been lusting for. J/K

 

Granted that you followed Jimmy’s advise; I am of the older school regarding programming, math, and the like – hence the way that I approach things.

 

You could also program Mastercam lathe and simply flip the numbers to suit a manual part program switching the X & Z axis of a lathe to the X & Z axis of a machining centre – but you would still need to use radial values.

 

Perhaps I will upload a picture and small solution for consideration – how about one from you as well.

 

 

Regards, Jack

[Eric S.]

I've been wanting to try this for a while now..just have not run into the right job for it yet I thought it would be realy cool if I could put a part in each of the machines tools push the go button and it would run thru all the parts, sounds like fun...in theory!

[rob@fain]

Several times I've converted a lathes into a mill, but never the other way around, but I know of people that have done it with good results.

rob

[Thad]

quote:

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Perhaps I will upload a picture and small solution for consideration – how about one from you as well.

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Yeah, show us some pics!

 

Thad

[TheePres]

Congratulations on not spinning tool in opposite direction.

[Fig sign]

I found out that now ,when we can do surface contour and pocket with undercut with a slot mill and lollipop ,for example, the need of this trick for me is less then ever .

I think the need for this is very limitied .

I `ve done with undercutting toolpathes a lot of works to be considered as lathe work ,and in the times of ver7 and 8 too (when I used tricky ways to get what I want )

And in any case real lathe work will be radically faster(setup is simpler and work faster )

:grin: