Using an End Mill on a Lathe

[neoga34]

At my work we have a lathe I use frequently. It has a 2MT mount on the tailstock. I would like to use end mills and reamers on there. I'm wondering what's the best way to do that? 2MT end mill holders? 2MT ER-20 or ER-32 type collet holders? What do you think? This would be for general work, nothing high precision or anything.

[keebler303]

The only time I have used end mills or reamers I just put them in the drill chuck. That was what I had available and it seemed to work just fine.

Matt

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

End mills if properly modified make great boring tools.

Dick Z

[Geof]

Even without modification they make great boring tools. We use corner radius end mills extensively for finishing internal hemispheres.

[lordjw]

Hi!

I use ER25 collets with MT2 collet holder frequently. Only thing you have to be careful of is that your tailstock can eject your collet holder. Usually those have hole and metric or imperial threading and if you are unlucky your tailstock mechanism can get stuck. Be sure to cover the drawbar hole.

FinSlot - Sorvataan 1:32 auton alumiinivanne

Cheers!

Julius

[UUU]

To avoid hving a holder with a drawbar hole getting stuck in the tailstock, you can get a screw-in tang. I got one from ArcEuroTrade, but other suppliers may stock them.

[RICHARD ZASTROW]

Ref.#3, I like to grind back most of the "ribbon" on the flutes and bore with the corner of the end mill. Keeps from re-cutting chips and scarring finish bored surfaces.

Dick Z

add: also works on an off-set boring head on a mill. Gets a second life for re-ground undersize end mills.