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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    21

    Default Hercus model "O"

    Hi

    I have been reading a lot of threads here as a guest but eventually had something to post. I'll start by saying I have limited experience, go easy on me

    For a while I have been wanting to learn how to use a mill and maybe getting one for my workshop. My dad lives nearby and has a large lathe and the skills so thought a small mill would compliment that. I am only a hobbyist but would love to get to the point where I can make small parts for other projects.

    I recently picked up a Hercus model "O" mill, the 3 slot model. It seems in ok condition and works but I don't have all the parts. It is set up as a horizontal mill currently (I believe this was standard?) and came with the dividing head, a vice and some tooling. Looking through the manuals I think I would also like the vertical head and obviously the tail stock to at least get started learning. How much pain am I in for tracking these down and is there anything else I should be chasing? Are the parts different between the earlier and later models?

    The actual mill itself seems complete.

    Reading through another thread I saw a picture of the gear that is put on when attaching the vertical head, I found that gear amongst the tooling. Is that all that is needed apart from the head itself?

    Sorry for the vague questions, stems from a lack of knowledge. I'll have to take some pics.

    Thanks for any advice, I wanted to ask here before I start chasing (possibly the wrong) parts.

    Ulfr

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2018
    Location
    Tasmania
    Posts
    97

    Default

    Just need the vertical head, dowel pins and bolts if you have the gear attached to the taper shank
    You will need a draw bar for the vertical tools, but that is nothing too special. Note that you may need 12 mm and or 1/2 inch thread depending on your tooling

    Maybe someone else can shed light on this, but I think I've heard there are 2 gear sizes to fit into the horizontal spindle, depending on the head attachment (slotter, vertical head...)

    While you've got a small mill, it is built like a tank. Enjoy!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    38

    Default

    From what I understand the vertical head was an option. So it may not be 'missing', it may have never been purchased for the machine in the first place. If this is the case I recall reading that some of the holes that the vertical head fits to may need to be reamed or tapped to fit. Cant remember where I read this. Cant find my manual at the moment... There will be others on this forum that will know the answer to this.

    I went through the set up of my mill a few years back and was lucky that most things were there when I collected the machine. I only needed to find some bolts. If you need to see a pic or size of any of the parts you dont have, I may to able to help.

    If you are looking for any tooling for the vertical head it is a MT3.

    Good luck with getting the machine up and running!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    239

    Default

    I think that the vertical head is different on the three slot table mills than the earlier two slot machines, not sure what they are but something to do a bit of research on, Check the AMH website, there may have been information on there about the head for the 3 slot table.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Nth Queensland
    Posts
    55

    Default Hercus 0

    I have been /am going through a same conversion. The vertical head for the three slot table does differ from the 2 slot.

    If the mandril/tapered shaft is not with the gear for the head then I have a drawing (courtesy of Mal at AMH) that I could forward to you. That is if I can work out how to attach the blessed file. Its a MT3 taper and presses into the gear. Good practice

    Regards

    Terry H

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    Ulfr,

    You were fortunate to have the dividing head accompany the mill and you may be lucky enough to find an orphaned tailstock. If not you could make your own.

    Hercus Dividing Head - Tailstock Drawing 2011.jpg

    Bob.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    21

    Default

    Tommy thank you for the reply. Not sure if all that is among the pile of stuff that came with it, I'll look at pics and try to find it. Alot is hercus lathe stuff that may help someone here once I figure it all out.

    NHO thank you and Interesting. I got two different manuals with it, the orange demonstration one and two operator instruction books. I'll look through them for that info.

    Tinkerer thanks for that. I had to google AMH haha, looks like a great resource.

    Terry thank you for the confirmation regarding it being a different head. If you have that drawing that would be fantastic (in the event that it is missing).

    Bob thank you so much for the diagram! May indeed come in handy

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Oct 2019
    Location
    Nth Queensland
    Posts
    55

    Default Think this worked??


  9. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    38

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tham60 View Post
    I have always wondered, what is this part was for?

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Aug 2014
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    38

    Default

    Found the instructions for fitting the vertical head. Not sure if this what you have?
    Attached Files Attached Files

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    21

    Default

    Thank you so much Terry for the pic and thank you NHO for those instructions.

    The mill is wrapped up in storage until I get the workshop finished but I took some pictures of what I had assumed was the gear (I may be wrong, would love clarification) and the dividing head. unfortunately the taper is not in the box of bits but there are a lot of bolts off Hercus machines so hoping the bolts might be there.

    Vertical head gear.jpg
    Dividing head.jpg

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    21

    Default

    Moved the mill out of storage and into the garage until the workshop is complete. Going to start tidying it up. Goal is eventually to give it a full clean and respray but might start with the vice and dividing head before moving on to the rest of it.

    Something I don't see much of is the second arbor support, did they all have this?

    Mill.jpg

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Perth WA
    Age
    71
    Posts
    6,458

    Default

    [QUOTE=Ulfr;1970824]Thank you so much Terry for the pic and thank you NHO for those instructions.

    The mill is wrapped up in storage until I get the workshop finished but I took some pictures of what I had assumed was the gear (I may be wrong, would love clarification) and the dividing head. unfortunately the taper is not in the box of bits but there are a lot of bolts off Hercus machines so hoping the bolts might be there.

    QUOTE]

    Have a look here - https://metalworkforums.com/f189/t20...75#post1963175

    The two slotter drive gear looks similar to yours Ulf. The arbor ( as per my sketch, posted by Tham ) for my gear is not pressed onto the gear but is a good sliding fit. The gear is fixed to the spindle nose with a pair of socket head cap screws, 1/4"BSW from memory.

    The additional arbor support is a three slotter thing.

    Bob.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2020
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    21

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Anorak Bob View Post

    Have a look here - https://metalworkforums.com/f189/t20...75#post1963175

    The two slotter drive gear looks similar to yours Ulf. The arbor ( as per my sketch, posted by Tham ) for my gear is not pressed onto the gear but is a good sliding fit. The gear is fixed to the spindle nose with a pair of socket head cap screws, 1/4"BSW from memory.

    The additional arbor support is a three slotter thing.

    Bob.
    Thanks Bob! Looks like it doesn't it. After seeing those pics I went to the box of bits that came with it and found one of the screws. Missing one but at least I know exactly what to replace them with That is great.

    I do need to find/make the arbor for the gear, It isn't here unfortunately.

    gear with bolt.jpg

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Jul 2011
    Location
    Adelaide
    Posts
    837

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Anorak Bob View Post
    Ulfr,

    You were fortunate to have the dividing head accompany the mill and you may be lucky enough to find an orphaned tailstock. If not you could make your own.

    Hercus Dividing Head - Tailstock Drawing 2011.jpg

    Bob.
    If you do have to roll your own tailstock I have some castings for the tailstock body part but not unfortunately the bracket.

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