Help with lathe threads

May 01, 2007 2 Replies

Are there any tutorials on making threads on a lathe?



I have a converted CNC chineese lathe to running Mach 3. I can make threads that look like threads, but I'm a bit lost on making threads that are structurally correct and have the proper form.


When I take the diagrams and charts in the machinist handbook and try to make threads to the specified depths they always seem to shallow.



For example I want to make a 2 1/4" -20 UN thread both the internal and external thread.



From the thread tables... External 2.25 -20 Class 2A



Major diameter 2.2485 max to 2.2404 min



So step one would be to turn the area to be threaded is the shoulder to this dimension.



Next I have to actually cut the thread.... I'll use a form tool with 60 degree tip angle. then I cut 20TPI to a diameter of 2.1890 with a sharp v thread I get this from the UNR minor dia max.I'm not sure what to do with the Pitch diameter number???



Is this correct?


For the internal thread I first turn/bore the inside to between 2.196 and 2.207 Then I cut the threads at 20 TPI to a diameter of 2.250



Is this correct?


If I've done all of this how do I inspect my work? How do I go about measureing the thread depth etc....


snipped-for-privacy@Rasdoc.com wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com:

The UN thread form has a flat at the root, and the UNR has a rounded root (external thread only). Thus if you were cutting with a sharp 60 degree tool, you would not be cutting either form. And you would have to cut some extra depth to put that flat (which would be imaginary) at the minor diameter. The additional depth would be the width of the flat times the cosine of 60 degrees.

Note that the flats are different sizes on external and internal threads (diagram at

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You could check the pitch diameter using the 3-wire method, I think you could to use an optical comparator, to check the depth and the shape.

Perhaps someone could comment on the use of plug and ring gauges. See

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Joe Landau wrote in news:Xns9922EC49C3286jrlversaformcom@199.45.49.11:

Sorry, that's the sine of 60 degrees, not the cosine.

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