Spindle lock for my Milling machine AMA25 VM25 WM16 WM18 [A23_11]

Today I've made a basic but perfectly functional, and much needed, spindle lock for my milling machine from scrap I had lying around.
Part 11 of December 2023 Advent Series

[@andrewdolinskiatcarpathian]

Sweet and simple and does the job. It baffles me why so many milling machines were designed and built without spindle locks. 👍😀

[@ollysworkshop]

Thanks Andrew, seems like a basic thing to leave out, but as always these things are built to a price.☹️

[@bkoholliston]

I was chuckling when you parted off with the magnet there! Fun idea.

[@ollysworkshop]

Well it saves looking for it in the pile of swarf underneath the lathe!

[@improviseddiy]

I like your telescopic magnet idea and the simplicity of the build.

[@ollysworkshop]

Making a problem simple can be very satisfying

[@ironhead65]

2:54 sticky out bit Very technical 😂 Love it! Appreciate the video!

[@ollysworkshop]

I don't hold back on the technical terminology. Glad you liked it

[@TheRecreationalMachinist]

Magnetic parting capture -nice 👍

[@ollysworkshop]

Seemed like a good idea!

[@Rustinox]

Good idea. It's one of this little things that makes life easier.

[@ollysworkshop]

An easy life is the dream....

[@MrFactotum]

nice one Olly i need one on my ancient cheapo taiwanese mill !! i like the broken english on your hi / lo warning label "Warning Change speed keep machine is at low speed" !!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 reminds me of my Mill, my label on the front says the name of the company as Maching Co. instead of Machining Co.!!!!!🤣🤣 oh the joys!! atb Kev

[@ollysworkshop]

Thanks Kev. My old mill had an "unnormal" light!

[@jonsworkshop]

Well thought out Olly, when I saw all the springs I thought you were going the same way my mind initially went (in milliseconds so not thought out), which was put the spring under the head of the pin, and down onto the swing arm. This would mean a two handed operation but has the fail safe built in meaning if you forgot to remove, the spring has your back and no electrickery needed😉

[@ollysworkshop]

A sprung pin was the original plan, I just didn't have the right spring in my collection. It's also a more complicated solution and I was going for something I could devise, make, film and edit in less than 3 hours!

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hello Olly, I was just thinking that I bet some of the easy jobs like this one you put off during the year so that you have them for the years Advent series. Nice job by the way. Take care. Paul,,

[@ollysworkshop]

There's an element of that, I jot down ideas, but don't come up with a solution until the time. There's loads of harder problems that are on my list.

[@howardosborne8647]

Interesting solution👌 I have a WM16 mill but my spindle lock idea is a different approach to yours. I have made a different style of spindle top cup nut and I have a keyed steel piece (shaped similar to the jaws of a spanner) that slips over the 2 flats I milled on the new top cup nut. The steel locking piece rests against the motor cover so I can either undo/tighten the drawbar or undo/tighten my ER32 collet holder with one hand free to hold the milling cutter itself so it doesn't drop out onto the mill table.

[@ollysworkshop]

Hi, yours sounds like a good solution. Mine was a quick and dirty, one evening job for the advent calendar series. It works well, but I don't use it if it's really tight. Certainly a quality of life improvement that really should be a standard feature on the mill. Thanks for your comment

[@MattysWorkshop]

Great job

[@ollysworkshop]

Thanks Matty

[@GardenTractorBoy]

Great job, it looks like it will make a bit difference

[@ollysworkshop]

I've used it a fair bit already, and I am very much enjoying having it fitted

[@davidberlanny3308]

Mornin Olly, Good little fix that well done. What would happen if you forgot to take it out, would it trip the motor? Or could it get ejected somehow? All the best

[@ollysworkshop]

Ideally it would have an interlock, so it couldn't happen. It's a brushless motor with hall sensors, so I believe that if it fails to start it goes into a fault mode. Shouldn't be any different to remembering to remove the chuck key from the lathe.

[@williamtshort4303]

Just to the left of the High Low selector There is a plastic window. Mine has a grease gun sticker beside it. Do you know if you are supposed to remove the window and just squirt grease into the hole and hope it hits a gear?. As far as leaving the pin engauged and starting the machine, I can tell you what happens if you crash a 40mm cutter into the top of your vice. The Nylon gear looses its teeth and Warco charge you £41 for a new one. Go on ask me how i know😭

[@ollysworkshop]

I would imagine that grease for the mill gearbox would be a good idea, filling it up with gear oil like a lathe gearbox is not such a good idea (ask me how I know!🤣) I've only forgotten to take the pin out once or twice, but as the motor is not already spinning, there's no momentum to damage anything, it just sits there and hums. You've got me worried about gears though, I've given that mill a fair bit of abuse over the years, I'm probably overdue for a broken one 😬

[@mattphilip4595]

I don't get it, why not just use two spanners on the top?

[@ollysworkshop]

It would only work in one direction as the drawbar captivating nut is screwed on. Also I like to keep it only finger tight as I frequently change drawbars.