FS: Waltham thread mill (Michigan)

[Bob Farr]

For sale: Waltham thread mill with factory cast base, all change gears, and a good selection of collets.

Presently has a modern 110v motor but the original 220v 3-phase motor is included (needs service).

$450. Prefer in-person pick up (weighs ~900lbs). Located in Howell, Michigan (about 1-hr east of Lansing).

Bob, cell (248) 703-0662

 

[michiganbuck]

Wow that is a nice machine.. think you should call it a "thread lathe" to get more lookers.
Looks like one could put on a chuck or run parts between centers (?)
could you add a photo of the work head? if that is what it is called,

 

[Bob Farr]

Thanks MichiganBuck. A "thread lathe" might be a good description. The spindle nose has the same taper as the Schaublin 102 and can accept a chuck. It can also run parts between centers and if you look at the pic of the collets you'll see a spindle center for doing just that.

What makes it a mill instead of a lathe is that instead of using a single point cutter on the front of the saddle/work it uses a second powered spindle on the back of the saddle/work which holds a round multipoint cutter resembling a mini horizontal mill cutter. The angle of this cutter spindle is set at the thread pitch and its longitudinal travel along the work it coordinated with the rotation of the workpiece by the change gears. Thus, the cutter can take a full thread depth cut in one pass at some rather steep TPI's.

The head can be indexed precisely to make multi-start "threads", which in the deeper cuts can become the flutes of high helix end mills and slab mills. Make your own tooling!

Here is an older picture of the assembly which shows the tapered nose of the headstock spindle and secondary cutter spindle in a little more detail. I'm away from the machine from the moment but I'll gather some better pics tomorrow.

Bob

Wow that is a nice machine.. think you should call it a "thread lathe" to get more lookers.
Looks like one could put on a chuck or run parts between centers (?)
could you add a photo of the work head? if that is what it is called,

 

[IrbyJones]

Bob, check your private messages.

Irby

 

[Bob Farr]

The Waltham mill is no longer available and will eventually find its way to a longtime member's shop in VA later this summer. He can ID himself if he pleases.

- Bob

 

[metalmaster10]

I have a pile of carbide thread mill cutters that need a new home.
If the new owner of this mill (or anyone else) is interested PM me...

 

[IrbyJones]

The Waltham mill is no longer available and will eventually find its way to a longtime member's shop in VA later this summer. He can ID himself if he pleases.

- Bob

That neat machine will take up residence here. I need to make a spot for it.

Irby