Shopsmith Forums

Hi All

After a long break, I have returned to the SS forums. Looks like the admin did some cleaning up of accounts, because mine was gone and I had to start a new one... First world problem.

I would like to use my 510 to do some very light milling and am thinking of adding a cross slide vise or X-Y table to use in Vertical Drill Press mode.

Have any of you guys done this? Any tips? Pros?cons?

Thanks in advance!
Geo

Bill Mayo has, but he uses a modified quill(triple bearings) and a clone cast iron table.

I think the key word here is "light" milling.

I have considered(and thought out) making an x-y table for routing.

I would not expect precision with the standard parts, but would be 'good enough' for wood working(IMHO).

Aluminum milling could be possible, but steel may be a challenge.

thanks JPG. I really want to have the ability to have x-y travel...for accurate hole placement.

I also want to mill a slot .293 wide x .750 long in .125 aluminum...
I don't need incredible accuracy for this, but better than holding on by hand.

I have the SS vise, but it is almost next to useless IMO. I have to install it backwards to get it to even line up to the chuck.

I am considering mounting the x-y table to a piece of 3/4 ply, then using the miter slot clamps from the shopsmith vise to secure it to the table.

Got any other ideas or think thatll work?

thanks!
Geo

eagletattwo wrote:Hi All

After a long break, I have returned to the SS forums. Looks like the admin did some cleaning up of accounts, because mine was gone and I had to start a new one... First world problem.

I would like to use my 510 to do some very light milling and am thinking of adding a cross slide vise or X-Y table to use in Vertical Drill Press mode.

Have any of you guys done this? Any tips? Pros?cons?

Thanks in advance!
Geo

Welcome back.
I think you original account is still good, it shows up in the members list. eagleta2
This thread shows holsgos Mark 5 upgraded for light milling. Upgrades
And here is an article from the Yahoo 10erusers forum showing a 10er converted to a metal mill.

Ron, after looking over the ER conversion, he had to do NOTHING to the actual
machine, as far as upgrading the bearings or worrying about tolerances.

Wonder why?

I also wonder why Shopsmith is STILL using Model 10 machines, to build Mark 7
machines. (Can a Mark 7,{VII} of either era, build a Model 10?) Don't think so.

Yes, the Model 10 was overbuilt. Takes 2 grown men, AND a small boy, to lift
it into drill-press mode! But, you can tip it over, onto a concrete floor and damage
nothing! Except the concrete floor!

Sorry to get so "antique," but sometimes, the best is made early. (Thanks, Hans!)
Hans, did you REALLY invent Thermite? (Look it up, guys.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite Did it for you.

steve

skou wrote:Ron, after looking over the ER conversion, he had to do NOTHING to the actual
machine, as far as upgrading the bearings or worrying about tolerances.

Wonder why?

I also wonder why Shopsmith is STILL using Model 10 machines, to build Mark 7
machines. (Can a Mark 7,{VII} of either era, build a Model 10?) Don't think so.

Yes, the Model 10 was overbuilt. Takes 2 grown men, AND a small boy, to lift
it into drill-press mode! But, you can tip it over, onto a concrete floor and damage
nothing! Except the concrete floor!

Sorry to get so "antique," but sometimes, the best is made early. (Thanks, Hans!)
Hans, did you REALLY invent Thermite? (Look it up, guys.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite Did it for you.

steve

"Invented" in 1895. A different Hans methinks.

Hi Guys

After reading your responses I decided to pull the trigger

I ordered the 5.5" x 12" compound slide table and the improved 4" vise. Oh, and the t-slot nuts to bolt the vise to the table.

To mount it on the 510 I plan on using a sheet of 3/4 plywood. Mounting the base of the table to that. Then I will probably secure the plywood to the SS table by using 2 Shopsmith T-slot nuts that came with the Shopsmith vise. I wish I had 2 more of these. Can they be had anywhere other than Shopsmith?

Also, would anyone be interested in picking up a shopsmith vise that was used 2 times?

Thanks for your help!
Geo

Kinda late reading this post, but here is more on cross-slides: Might be some mounting ideas.....I'd like to build one of these!
If anyone needs a pdf of this article, send me your email addy to pmerriam at eastlink.ca.

Just noticed this thread...for what its worth, I've done some light milling in 7075 aluminum with my 520. I used a 5"cross slide vise off ebay mounted to 3/4 plywood, butted against the tubes and clamped. Worked okay. Biggest problem for me was the quill depth stop on the SS. Great for woodworking but very finicky and tedious for milling.

Milling Machines for Milling...and...Wood Working Machines for Wood Working

Right Tool for the job.

Not exactly and old adage but IMHO still appropriate.

BTW...Did early advertisements for the 10/10E not advertise it as a tool for light milling. Maybe that is why it is a bit better for milling than the Mark 5/V.