Turning the unimat SL1000 lathe to a mill

A simple "how to" for unimat owners - turning the unimat SL1000 (or DB 200) to a mill. How to tram it, and how to roughly install the milling plate and vise correctly.
Nothing fancy... more interesting stuff on the way guys
Take care everyone!
Saar

[@kevinforth7618]

I just inhereted one of these (DB200), and I'm amazed at how versatile it is. Great video, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@Smallathe]

My pleasure :) You will find it very addictive and fun...

[@danedewaard8215]

I've turned a few things on mine but never milled anything yet!!! I'm sure I will when I need to though! You are a pro, and I always enjoy watch your videos!

[@Smallathe]

Thank you sir. Not a pro, just a machine maker that enjoys macinning!

[@howder1951]

Nice demo, very nice design so you can repurpose it to a mill. Paul (the knackler) just demonstrated the jig saw attachment . Great tool for the basement workshopper! cheers!

[@Smallathe]

Yep. The unimat as a lathe is very elegantly designed. Two features I would change: 1. Z axis movement of 16mm is WAY too short and causes many issues. 2. If you want to go up-down you loose concentricity - I'd shift the round bar with a dovetail design and allow the central screw at the base to allow the axis to shift the angle. This way you can change the angle and/or height, but changing the height doesn't cause you to loose concentricity. And yes - it's a wonderful tool, especially if you have all the accessories... Didn't know about Paul's channel - will check it out! Thanks!

[@paultrimble9390]

@@Smallathe his channel is nice. Been watching it a while learned lot from his channel to.

[@Smallathe]

@@paultrimble9390 Yes. He has a very nice channel. I'm a subscriber too :)

[@colvinator1611]

Thanks a lot. I'm buying one of these SL lathes soon and your expertise is really appreciated. Colin, UK.

[@Smallathe]

My pleasure. You will really enjoy it... :)

[@TheKnacklersWorkshop]

Hi Saar, A very interesting and informative video... Thanks for sharing... Take care Paul,,

[@Smallathe]

Hi Paul! Glad you liked it... Take care and keep up with those videos - I'll be watching them all this week. Looks great! p.s. If you will find the need for a part - that I can make for you... just ask! Us unimat lovers should stick together and lend a hand... :)

[@israelmata8286]

just got one of these machines to resell it and i see they are worth a lot as i keep reading up and seeing wgat it does tbey are amazing little machines

[@Smallathe]

Indeed a wonderful and very multi-tasking machine. At about 700$ you can get one, possibly with enough tools to start working on your own. There are cheaper alternatives (like modern lathes and mills of the smallest hobby size), but that depends on your goals and plans. It's definitely wonderful and addictive ;)

[@Salamlee1234]

Does that head attachment come with the lathe? Or did you purchase it separately?

[@Smallathe]

Hi. I got it with the lathe but you can make it or buy one from ebay.

[@martinmicucci6075]

Nice video, never used mine as a mill. Is there an easy way of setting it back nice and square as lathe , without a dial . Thank You !!

[@Smallathe]

Glad you liked it. Yes, there is - check tubalcain, aka mr.pete222 videos on lathe centering. But a cheap chinese dial indicator from ebay will work well (it does for me).

[@Smallathe]

Tips no. 78 and 79 on Mr. Pete's channel.

[@martinmicucci6075]

@@Smallathe Thank you !!

[@williamensign1408]

Thank you

[@provenancemachining]

I do have a deep appreciation for older German\Austrian made tools, I believe there was a multi-use tool that could convert to a table saw, drill press, and a few other things. I can't remember who made it at the time (1970s era), maybe Bosch?

[@Smallathe]

Emco used to make the unimat lathes. I fully agree - old tools have their own beauty and elegance... :) For more information: www.lathes.co.uk/unimat/

[@elvinhaak]

Yes, they are nice too! It includes a wood-lathe (pretty small one), sanding-disk and some other smaller things and a sanding-machine (flat) but also a bandsaw, all for wood. My father has one but he mostly uses it for table-sawing since since long he has the other tools seperately and therefore does not need to change the setup of the machine all the time. Not that is that hard as with this lathe in most cases. Clean the tablesaw (bench...), unclamp it and twist the bed-piece up to get the bandsaw up, switch 'gear' to the tablesaw and there you are. And then 10 minutes later you reverse it all to get the tablesaw into action again. At the time, motors were very expensive and you made verything working on one motor. From yet another German firm, AEG we have the multi-attachment to their (best working combination) drilling-machine. Besides the normal drillhead which you can also use in a drillpress, you have attachments for which you release the head (chuck) with releasing the (left thread!) screw, take the head off, put a little adapter on, put the attachment on and there you are. You have for example a grinding-stone, polisher, table-saw and circular-saw attachment. The table-saw is the same as the circular-saw but with an extra table and the guide removed for the circular-saw. The saw can be adjusted for wide or small groves, depth of course and angle. And yes, I have this set and use it too. Of course now with a different cheap drilling-machine since the AEG machine broke down some years ago.

[@Tensquaremetreworkshop]

Not sure I would mill with the face plate. Might install a milling tool instead...

[@Smallathe]

If you have it... :)

[@frisc45]

so the only purpose of the faceplate is to get it perpendicular to the horizontal axis? do you remove the faceplate after and install the chuck or does it stay on?

[@Smallathe]

Yes. I just used this trick to turn some angles (a new video) and you sceew un the face plate, adjust the tool and switch back to the chuck to cut (or keep it and use a lathe dog).

[@JulienStoeffler]

Great video. I'm interested in this machine, but from what I understand there's no accurate way to control the Z axis, is that right? On milling machine there's usually a rotating handle, like those to control X and Y on this one. But here I only see the bigger lever, which can't be locked, and is not very accurate. Did I miss something?

[@Smallathe]

Thank you. Z axis control. Well, yes and no... No, there is no wheel for precision machining. Yes - you can control the height using a simple adaptor - I'll add a link and you can lock the. Height using the spindle locking screws. So this combination is not ideal or easy but it is very doable and you can machine to specs. Do check the unimat type before you buy (see the knacklers workshop channel on unimat type comparison). Hope this helps!

[@Smallathe]

Here is the video link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmW0g6CQg9t0n5I

[@JulienStoeffler]

@@Smallathe Indeed... wow I'm very impressed by this machine. I love your DIY DRO 😍 Yeah I've already seen the knacklers workshop, I'll keep that in mind.

[@Smallathe]

@@JulienStoeffler It's a wonderful lathe, less ideal mill (vibration, rigidity, concentricity issues) but all in all it's a wonderful tool! :) It will allow you to make any part (up to 50mm in diameter, with exceptions) you wish!

[@ValMartinIreland]

What metal is the base made of?

[@Smallathe]

@@ValMartinIreland It's plywood with a sheet of stainless steel on top. About 1/16" or 1.5mm thick.

[@trialnterror]

I think I would tram to the milling table???

[@HansAndreasR1]

do you need to use the 3-jaw chuck in the mill configuration? or is it possible to use some collet system ?

[@Smallathe]

Hi Hans. The unimat does have a collet system - I don't have it and the cost is a bit too high for me, at around 250usd, not including shipping!

[@HansAndreasR1]

@@Smallathe but do you know which kind of system it is? is it just collets and a nut? it's just that the original manual isn't that clear on that topic...

[@Smallathe]

@@HansAndreasR1 Agreed. I don't know how this connects to the lathe - I guess it threads onto tge spindle. But you need to ask someone who already has a collet system. I think "the knacklers workshop channel" has a set. Ask...

[@HansAndreasR1]

@@Smallathe will do! thank you!

[@Smallathe]

@@HansAndreasR1 my pleasure!

[@charasgs4686]

Very nice .I need to buy ..were can I get it ..

[@Smallathe]

Ebay often has unimats for sale. Try used items shops. :)

[@colemine7008]

thank you!!

[@AllenGbass]

Great vid

[@Smallathe]

Thanks!!!

[@panos6667]

how much did you buy this ?

[@panos6667]

I can send you my e-mail

[@panos6667]

I'm interested in that

[@Smallathe]

Hi there. Unimat parts and lathes are still available (used) on ebay. I'm not planning on selling my lathe... :)

[@nakorpina]

nice

[@Smallathe]

:)

[@stanburdick9708]

Boy those little buggers are. Cute and well engineered too but just don't fit my needs

[@Smallathe]

Too generalized, I would say, yes! But a great start into machinery!

[@bakersw0rld847]

I thought this was how they made the SL-1000 shred lights. Lol

[@Smallathe]

:)