mT2 problem

J

John L

Joined
Oct 28, 2004
Messages
1,330
I recently purchased an old Atlas MFC model horizontal mill for certain jobs on folders. Everything looks great on the machine and I have cleaned up most everything...except I cannot remove the MT2 arbor. It has its drawbar but for the life of me I cannot remove the arbor. Any ideas? I think that a couple thous of rust or gunk hold like hell. Thanks.
 
Pictures please, I have an old Burke horizontal, buy that does not have a drawbar holding the arbor in place, so I'm having trouble visualizing, also pictures may communicate options that do not exist for mine

-Page
 
MT is a locking taper, so something has to press it out from behind. In R8 mills you loosen the drawbar a turn then rap it with a hammer to push the collet out. In MT tailstocks you run the thing all the way in and an internal stop pushes it out or you run a wedge into a slot somewhere. I'm not familiar with your machine. Like Page said, pictures please.
 
Like Nathan pointed out there should be a drift slot on the spindle. You will need to get or make a drift to knock out the MT. If it is rusty then start spraying a good penetrating oil on it to begin to break it up. It could take a few days or a week to get it freed up. I would avoid applying heat to the spindle. It could cause more problems.

Chuck
 
I don't kave a camera right now but if you go to www.lathes.co.uk/atlasmiller/index.html you may see the exact machine. The second picture down shows the square end of the draw bar. Even if I give it a good rap...nothing happens. Think it is just good and stuck? Perhaps more penetrating oil? Do you think this drawbar bottoms out and loosens the arbor? I don't think so. Hmm?
 
Is the arbor still attached? Most horizontal mills arbors come apart. You really need to see if you can find a break down of the machine. This would help a lot.

Chuck
 
You tried backing it out 2 or 3 threads and smacking it with a lead hammer? (10 pound sledge on the other side of a 2 inch piece of maple works too)

-Page
 
Yikes!!:eek::eek:A 10# sledge? Really...well nothing has worked so far. Maybe...maybe. Thanks
 
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Man, that looks just like a lathe gear quick change. What a weird mill.

Well, I just went out in my shop and took a look at an old horizontal, and I can say that after looking at it and thinking about your problem for a minute I decided the best thing would be for me to grab another beer while I was out there and go back inside before I froze....

There are precision bearing in the spindle. I would never hit anything on any of my mills with a 10 pound sledge (though I did hit one with a truck once). I'd heat it before I nailed it that hard (thou heating ain't good). Like Chuck said, some penetrating oil and some time may be in order.

Rather than heat the spindle, you could cool the collet. You might go the the grocery store and pick up a some dry ice for a dollar a pound and stick that in the stuck collet.

I think the way that is supposed to work is, screw the drawbar in all but one turn and whack it. But I wouldn't go nuts doing that. And I don't know anything about that mill, so I could be wrong.
 
I use a 5 lb lead hammer to loosen and tighten things on my lathe and my Burke, the nice thing about the lead is that it is kind of like a deadblow hammer except moreso, and it will not chip the steel or cast iron. That really loks like a seriously heavy duty mill compared to my little Burke! is that gearbox for spindle speed, feed, or both?

-Page
 
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