I would like to ask those that have (or had) a shaping head attachment for their (universal) milling machines. How often do you use them and for what tasks? What cool stuff can be done using one that woukd be a lot harder without?
I'm asking, because a number of years ago I came across a shaping head for a universal mill of another make, but it looked like I could adapt it fairly easily to my mill (a German Heckert Fw250). I bought it for the cost of scrap. So now I'm trying to judge if its worth investing the time to adapt it, or will it spend all time sitting unused in a corner.
I have a vertical milling head for my mill and I do use it occasionally, but it's a third of the weight of the shaping head. I have a small wheeled platform it stays on when not in use. When I want to put it on I bring it next to the machine, I hoist it to a wooden beam above. I lift it, then I drive the table underneath and lower it. It weights about 40kg (88lbs) and it's about maximum weight I'm comfortable handling with just a rope and my own strength.
If I make an adapter plate for the shaping head it will weight 120kg (260lbs). I have an engine hoist for working on cars, but getting it into my cramped workshop is a pain. (likewise an A frame crane). So it will be a major endeavour to install that shaping head. Possibly not worth it to cut a single keyway. I might as well file it, or shape manually on a lathe (as shown on YouTube).
Therefore I decided to start this thread. What cool stuff do you use your shaping head for other than cutting a simple keyway? (this head has a stroke length of 5in).
I'm asking, because a number of years ago I came across a shaping head for a universal mill of another make, but it looked like I could adapt it fairly easily to my mill (a German Heckert Fw250). I bought it for the cost of scrap. So now I'm trying to judge if its worth investing the time to adapt it, or will it spend all time sitting unused in a corner.
I have a vertical milling head for my mill and I do use it occasionally, but it's a third of the weight of the shaping head. I have a small wheeled platform it stays on when not in use. When I want to put it on I bring it next to the machine, I hoist it to a wooden beam above. I lift it, then I drive the table underneath and lower it. It weights about 40kg (88lbs) and it's about maximum weight I'm comfortable handling with just a rope and my own strength.
If I make an adapter plate for the shaping head it will weight 120kg (260lbs). I have an engine hoist for working on cars, but getting it into my cramped workshop is a pain. (likewise an A frame crane). So it will be a major endeavour to install that shaping head. Possibly not worth it to cut a single keyway. I might as well file it, or shape manually on a lathe (as shown on YouTube).
Therefore I decided to start this thread. What cool stuff do you use your shaping head for other than cutting a simple keyway? (this head has a stroke length of 5in).