Does anyone do millwork on thier drill press? I always have some little project happening that would require some millwork. (I hope someday to have my own Bridgeport) My main question is what do you use for work holding? I am considering a cross vise, but would prefer a compound table, I think it would be more versatile.
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Mill work
- Thread starter smallie9
- Start date
Griff93
Well-known member
Bad idea. The chuck is held it by a taper only. There's no drawbar on most drill presses. The cutting forces of an endmill can knock them loose. Most drill presses aren't nearly ridgid enough for any sort of side cutting anyway. A small mill/drill would probably be cheaper than a bridgeport and take up less room. They also run on single phase usually.
There's probably a member close to you with some machinery that would be willing to do a quick mill job for a small fee. You should list your location or put it in your post for this.
There's probably a member close to you with some machinery that would be willing to do a quick mill job for a small fee. You should list your location or put it in your post for this.
Harvey Melvin Richards
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2011
- Messages
- 406
I have an old Delta drill press that has a JT-33C chuck. The chuck is held on by the JT-33 taper and the C refers to the locking collar. You can pull the chuck off by unscrewing the locking collar. There was a shaper attachment available for this drill press that allowed you to run shaper bits. Never the less, with all of this I would never attempt to mill or shape anything in this drill press. Even on a mill, with a drill chuck in the spindle, it's hard on the chuck to run an endmill in it.
Bob-B
Well-known member
Typical drill chucks are not designed for side loads. Even in a real mill, you hold milling cutters either in a collet or end mill holder.
YMMV
YMMV
Harvey Melvin Richards
Well-known member
- Joined
- Mar 17, 2011
- Messages
- 406
Most of the "milling" being done is on Delrin or other soft materials, with little load on the spindle. The chuck on my press is a four jaw and holds well.
Unless you have something other than a tapered shaft holding your chuck on, you will still have a side load issue on the chuck taper. You may be OK taking a light cut, but a chuck coming off under load isn't pleasant.
zuk123
Well-known member
How much milling are you talking about?
As many have noted, it's not really the right tool for the job. If the chuck or mill cutter comes loose, you'll damage your work, and possibly other things (like your underpants if it's a big cutter running fast!)
I used a DP to mill a flat spot on a gun stock once. It was only about 1.5" with a 1/2 inch cutter, and I took light passes. It got the job done, but I wouldn't recommend it.
What are you cutting? Is there a way to jig it up inverted and use a router table? Short piece or long piece? Tight tolerances? Deep groove?
Post it up, there are lots of creative people on here who might have an alternative method of work for you...
zuk
As many have noted, it's not really the right tool for the job. If the chuck or mill cutter comes loose, you'll damage your work, and possibly other things (like your underpants if it's a big cutter running fast!)
I used a DP to mill a flat spot on a gun stock once. It was only about 1.5" with a 1/2 inch cutter, and I took light passes. It got the job done, but I wouldn't recommend it.
What are you cutting? Is there a way to jig it up inverted and use a router table? Short piece or long piece? Tight tolerances? Deep groove?
Post it up, there are lots of creative people on here who might have an alternative method of work for you...
zuk