How to hold a casting to mill it flat all over

Dec 19, 2010 2 Replies

I am making the Hemmingway Kits lathe-mounted saw table. I am having huge trouble milling the saw table flat. It is a casting, with a large central boss underneath. I have milled to edges on the underside so they are parallel, but whenever I move the clamps, the height shifts a few thou. Any advice?



Thanks Simon


There are some grooves in the table. Could you mill the grooves first, then use them to 'loose' the tips of some finger clamps to hold the table down while you mill it? Alternatively, you may be able to drill and tap into the under side in some strategic postions to allow you to bolt it down to 'something' eg some steel channel, itself bolted to the milling machine table.

I'm sure there are plenty of other options.

Richard

--Think outside the box: got a pal with a big belt sander? By grinding, instead of milling, you'll induce less stress in the casting too.

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