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Now, that’s a bit of an over-simplification for both of those tools. But those are the basics. The question we’ll be considering today is whether or not you can or could ever use a mill as a lathe, changing the usual configuration. And if so, how and why?

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To sum it up: in general, using a mill as a lathe isn’t a great idea. However, it can be done for shorter or simpler operations, or in an absolute pinch. Necessity, as usual, is the mother of invention, and if the mill is all you have, then the mill is what you can use!

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Most of all, though, you shouldn’t use a mill as a lathe because there’s an easier option. Most machinists only consider using a mill as a lathe because they can’t afford to get both tools. But if that’s the case, it’s far easier to use a lathe as a mill. Most lathes can quite easily do at least some milling – and you can use a lathe to create most of the parts you need to build your own mill, also. So if you’re looking for a way to use just one machine for multiple functions, go with the lathe instead.

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And it largely depends on the function you’re performing. The biggest limitations are that most mill spindles are designed to hold tools (which are lighter), not parts or workpieces (which can be quite heavy). So you’ll need to be careful that you don’t overload the spindle. The length of the workpiece will be limited, depending partly on the size of the mill, but rarely longer than 3-6 inches; often much shorter.

Now that we’ve told you why you shouldn’t, we’ll admit that sometimes, in a pinch, you can use a mill as a lathe. In general, the consensus seems to be that this is easier with horizontal mills, although it can be done with either.

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We’ll start here. Most experienced machinists will tell you that trying to use a mill as a lathe just isn’t practical. It requires reversing the normal order of things, mounting the workpiece to the spindle instead of the tool, and securing the tool to the chuck in the bed of the mill. Most mills have a high rotating speed, and the tools will wear out much faster this way than under normal use. You’re also limited by the size of the workpiece, both in length and diameter.

Mills and lathes are some of the standard machinery tools any metalworker or hobbyist will have. They differ a little bit in how they work. In the simplest terms, a lathe holds a workpiece on a rapidly-spinning chuck; a cutting head or tools then moving along the length of the workpiece, forming it into the correct shape. On a mill, the workpiece is stationary, clamped onto the bed of the mill in the case of a vertical mill. The rotating head then drills into the workpiece.

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Tolerances may not be as exact as on a lathe; many forums quote tolerances within 0.005” – 0.010” as about as good as could be expected.