South Bend Lathe Milling attachment - any use??

[kcameron]

I have a SB 10L and in the other parts I've found it included the milling attachment. It will need some cleanup from storage, a little rust and fair amount of the box stuck to the surfaces. But I have the following questions:

1. Is it any good?? I don't have a mill (at least now, someday however...)
2. How do I know if I've got all the parts??
3. How do I install it??
4. Anybody got links to a manual about it??

I suspect from looking at the size that things about the same as the swing on the lathe is the limit for this thing. But if anyone has used it and can provide guidance I'd like to hear your views and experiences.

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

the SBL milling attachment is typical of such attachments. Their
working envelope is quite small and their rigidity is not the best.
They are more novelty than anything else.

The SBL milling attachment fits on the cross slide in place of the
compound. The compound is removed and the milling attachment
is put in its place.

Having said that, they have a certain amount of collector appeal on
eBay. I would suggest selling it and using the money to buy something
more capable. Even a simple mill/drill has many times the usefulness
of a milling attachment.

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb

[Mr Ron]

I have a SB 10L and in the other parts I've found it included the milling attachment. It will need some cleanup from storage, a little rust and fair amount of the box stuck to the surfaces. But I have the following questions:

1. Is it any good?? I don't have a mill (at least now, someday however...)
2. How do I know if I've got all the parts??
3. How do I install it??
4. Anybody got links to a manual about it??

I suspect from looking at the size that things about the same as the swing on the lathe is the limit for this thing. But if anyone has used it and can provide guidance I'd like to hear your views and experiences.

The base fits over the toolpost on the compound and is held in place with a piece of steel bar where the tool holder goes. It can be useful for small work, especially if you don't have a mill. One of it's best uses is for cutting key seats in round shafts.

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

The base fits over the toolpost on the compound and is held in place with a piece of steel bar where the tool holder goes. It can be useful for small work, especially if you don't have a mill. One of it's best uses is for cutting key seats in round shafts.

This is the way the Palmgren milling attachment attaches.
The SBL milling attachment has a an inverted cone spigot
on the bottom just like the compound uses for mounting
to the cross slide directly.

If the original poster would post a picture, we could tell
which type he have.

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb

[kcameron]

I'm 99% that it's the SBL version. I'll have pictures later. But the part number on it is MLA-101NK. Also a SBL box that says 'Milling Att Eccentric' IAB100NK.

This whole setup was passed down from my wife's grandfather. The lathe 10L, bench top drill press (anyone have data on them), and a wood crate full of SBL boxes with different things in them, except for some parts that were on the lathe.

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

I'm 99% that it's the SBL version. I'll have pictures later. But the part number on it is MLA-101NK. Also a SBL box that says 'Milling Att Eccentric' IAB100NK.

You definitely have a South Bend Lathe milling attachment.
The unit code of: MLA-101NK makes it for a 9" or 10K lathe.
It will be too small to fit your 10L.

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb

[SteveM]

Do you have a milling machine?

If so, then you have something that will always work better. Your best bet is to clean it up, take lots of good pictures, write some good ad copy and get a bundle of money from a collector on ebay.

Then put that money to better use in the shop.

If you don't have a milling machine, then you do now, but a very small one with, as Webb says, limited envelope and performance. But if it's the only milling machine you have, it's better than nothing.

LBSC did a lot of milling on a small lathe using not much more than some angle iron and bolts.

Steve

[Patio]

I ended up with an Atlas milling attachment with my lathe. I ended up making the eccentric to mount in on my SB 10L.
Here is the thread were I posted that process. There are lots of picture, so you can compare it to what you have.
http://www.chaski.org/homemachinist/vie ... 4&start=60

I hope that helps.

[OlderNewbie]

I got one of these attachments with a nice Logan 200. I don't recall who made it. For small pieces and light cuts it works great. Having the ability to mill at all beats the snot out of not being able to mill. But of course it's been on the shelf under that lathe since I got the mill...

John

[kcameron]

Ok, here is a picture of the device.

SBL Milling attachment

I don't have a mill in the shop now, someday I will. But I do have access via a friend or two. I also have access to one at the club, but with the winter weather getting out there or working in the shop is limited.

Having some details about the device and how to correctly mount and dismount would make me think more about using it. Right now the worry about possibly messing up the compound would be top in my mind since all that works now.

[wlw-19958]

Hi There,

You have a very complete looking SBL milling attachment.
The plate with the hole in it is a new one on me but I think
I know what it could be. It looks like some kind of adapter
plate. I see the big hole for the inverted conical spigot on
the bottom of the milling vise base. There are two "shoes"
that come in from the side to lock the spigot onto the plate.

I also see the 2 bolt holes for extra hold down for the vise
(A bolt will go through the arched slot in the base of the
milling vise into the plate).

Is there another perhaps larger spigot on the other side of
the plate? If so, this plate is to be mounted to the cross slide
in place of the compound.

A couple more pics of the plate (showing both sides) will help
me to be sure of my summation.

Good Luck!
-Blue Chips-
Webb

[earlgo]

If I were to guess, then I'd guess that the adapter plate is there so that when the vise is turned parallel to the ways, the vise jaws would still be in range of the cutter.

The Atlas milling fixture that I am acquainted with mounts directly over the cross feed rotary dovetail and it is still limited in travel when turned parallel to the ways. As an aside, the Atlas Milling fixture model 500A cost $39.75 in 1958.

--earlgo