Shopsmith Forums

Can you use the 520 to do milling?

yes

I have a small amount of aluminum I need to mill. Suggestions how to do?

sabre saw with a metal cutting blade then a file

putttn wrote:Can you use the 520 to do milling?

This subject came up not long ago. Here is a link to the thread. Cross slide vise of table
If you try milling with the 520 please let us know how it works for you.

Ron

putttn wrote:I have a small amount of aluminum I need to mill. Suggestions how to do?

Sorry about all that computer crap 'over there'.

What are you needing to mill? What is the aluminum alloy? It needs to be fairly soft. What shape are you 'making'. Do you have milling cutters?

I have successfully 'milled' aluminum with a wood router bit *(not intentionally, but it did work well and the bit was not totally destroyed.

* The aluminum was embeded in a maple workpiece and I overlooked it's presence.

See the last pix in this post http://www.shopsmith.com/ss_forum/viewt ... 31#p177231 You will need to scroll down to '177231'.

Granted the amount of milling of aluminum was extremely small, but it shows it can be done.

I have used milling bits(on aluminum) but they were small and the speed range of a Mark 5/V is quite fast.

IMHO An x-y vise is required.

I need to mill a block of aluminum to create a spacer. I suppose I could accomplish the same with a hardwood/plywood but I'm mounting my Jessem Miter R Slide to my Incra LS Positioner router fence and since the Jessem Slide is truly a work of art i'd like to keep it looking that way. I figured since I Had the SS why not utilize that function if it was available.