Auxiliary Table For Milling Machine And Method Of Reconfiguring A Milling Machine

A method of reconfiguring a milling machine or similar machine of a type including an original work table for mounting a work piece to be machined having work piece mounting features on an upper surface thereof mounted thereto with a cutter holder supported on an overhead arm projecting from a machine column projecting above the level of the original work table comprising:

• installing a spacer onto said column to raise the height of said overhead arm and said tool holder vertically above a normal height of said work table;
• installing an auxiliary work table having similar work piece mounting features on said auxiliary work table upper surface onto said original work table upper surface so as to create a clearance between an upper surface of said auxiliary work take and said tool holder to reduce a vertical distance substantially the same as between said original work piece table upper surface and said tool holder prior to installation of said column spacer;
• and
• thereafter leaving said column spacer and said auxiliary work table installed for substantially all subsequent typical machining jobs, and removing said auxiliary work table only for involving very tall workpieces requiring additional clearance.