Adapting an Atlas milling attachment to a Logan lathe

[T. J.]

I’ll preface what I’m about to say with the fact that I’ve never used a milling attachment, but I see a major issue with your plan

Since the Atlas milling attachment is intended to replace the compound rather than mounting to it, it doesn’t travel below the level of its base. Compare that to the Palmgren unit, which overhangs the side of the compound. By mounting the Atlas to the top of the compound, you won’t have much useful Y-axis travel (most of it will be way above the spindle axis).

 

[savarin]

I made my milling attachment to bolt onto the cross slide.
Its effective but I would prefer a real mill.
It may give you some ideas.

A Vertical Slide For A 9x20 Lathe

My first vertical slide was a bit small in what it could hold so I have decided to build a larger one. It should look something like this (but not in these colours:grin big:) I faced and edged a chunk of hot rolled scrap for the front plate. I will drill and thread a matrix of holes in this for...

www.hobby-machinist.com

 

[Manual Mac]

This is how I mounted an Atlas 10”-12” milling attach ro my SB9.
a simple double ended male spigot, small end into the SB cross slide, big end into the milling attachment.
would something similar work on your Logan?
To be honest, this is slow & suffers from too much overhang & loss of rigidity but it kinda works for keyways & was cheap 40 yrs ago.

 

[rickw55]

Thanks for the replies. I appreciate them!
T.J, your point is taken. The milling vise does travel below its base, but it may not clear the compound. I'll have to wait until I mount it to find out.
Savarin, thanks for posting the link to your poat on your milling vise. I haven't read the whole thing, but there's a lot of good info there.
Manual Mac, the Logan doesn't have a dovetail on the compound, just a straight spigot.
What is the angle of the dovetail of your adapter that fits in to the Atlas milling vise?
Thanks,
Rick

 

[Manual Mac]

The dovetail appear to be 60deg on both the Atlas & the SB.
the recess on bottom of the Atlas milling attachment is 1.500 diam. & .640 dep.
I not familiar with the Logan, maybe the cross slide is more robust than the SB, so won’t be so lacking in rigidity, dunno.
both the Atlas & Palmgren are very well made.