Hello all, Probably a dumb question for most of you but here it is. I need to cut some internal metric threads with a 1.5 pitch. Now if I remember right, I read on this forum that the threading dial for starting the next pass on single point cutting wouldn't work on metric threads. If this is true then how do you know when to engage the feed for the next pass? Thanks for the help in advance, Dick
Depends on the lathe. For a lathe with standard threading capabilities, that has had metric added after the original design, the SOP is to never release the split nut. Instead, you stop the spindle at the end of the thread, reverse it to get back to the start point, then restart the spindle in forward for the next pass.
Unless you have a metric lathe (with a metric leadscrew) you cannot use the thread chasing dial
On an imperial machine (with an imperial leadscrew) when threadding a metric pitch,diametrial pitch,module, or inch pitch, once you engage the half-nut, you must leave it engaged. You will have to reverse the lathe and pull your tool out at the end of the thread.
inch pitch is different from threads per inch don't get them confused. your thread chasing dial is only good for TPI settings.
If you are threading a nut right through you shoud have an easy time, if it's a blind hole, you are gonna have a hard time with it.
hope this helps
-S
Correct on a non-metric lathe. If you have a metric lead-screw that's a different story.
I went the el-cheapo route when I got my lathe and didn't spring for the version with the half-nut. In my case (and yours) the procedure is to _never_ disengage the half-nut. Instead you have to push the button to stop the lathe at the end of the cut, roll it back by hand, re-do the cut, etc.
I'm thinking of making myself a selection of left-cutting threading tools so I can make the cut on the backside of the work with the tool moving to the right -- this will allow me to start the tool by hand where it makes a difference, and let it run off the end where it doesn't.
My other thought is to (a) make a crank handle for my spindle or the idler pulley and turn the spindle by hand while cutting threads or (b) install a DC motor, put an encoder on the spindle, and use a controller to stop the motor at the right spot each time. Choice (a) will take less time to make, longer to use each time, and carries the risk of forgetting to disengage the crank for that "special excitement" that we all want to avoid. Choice (b) promises to be lots of work.
Tim, one note that you might want to remember on your lathe, it will make you life easier.
Even though you do not have a thread chasing dial, you can still dissengage on threds that are a multiple of the leadscrew.
For example if your lathe has 4 TPI, you can thread
4,8,12,16,20,24,28,32 etc and disengage because the lathe will follow the same path every time you fully engage the half nut.Your lather probably has 6 or 8 TPI leadscrew so you can figure out multiples and save you self some time and grief.
-S
Right, but if he has a non-metric lathe, and he's cutting a metric thread, his only option is to keep it engaged and roll it back, far as I know.
go back and read my post Dave, i'm not talking about threading metric on an imperial lathe, i'm giving Tim specific tips on his lathe for thradding without a thread chasing dial cutting TPI's of multiple's of the leadscrew. I explained how to thread metric on an imperial lathe (among other pitchs) on my first post.
-S
Ah, sorry, I thought we were still doing metric.
Gotcha. I'll reread it.
Dave
Choice B isn't that bad.
Mounting a DC motor is trivial, and you can build a DC powersupply for pretty cheap if you go the Variac and Diode route. Sure this dosen't give you constant speed, you will slow down a bit when you take a cut but it's just too easy and cheap. At low speed a simple microswitch with a bit of overtravel will stop you in the same place every time and if you want to get fancy you can make it trip a relay that will automaticaly reverse the motor. Another cool thing about a DC motor on your lathe, is that you can just increase the speed as you crank in on the crossfeed while doing cutoff or facing work :-) This is the URL to an article I wrote for our Live Steam web site about doing DC motors..
If you don't have a threaded on chuck (I do :( ) Threading and boring on the 'backside' is the way to go.
Dave
THink about it this way. If you open the half nuts and move the carriage until the dial rotates one full turn and then close the half nuts you have moved the carriage some increment of the lead screw pitch. Probably 1 inch in this case. IF you are threading a .8 MM pitch will the toolbit still line up with the thread. No way.
chuck
Good response Chuck
The leadscrew is revolving at a predetermined rate (for the pitch to be cut) . If the pitch of the leadscrew doesn't divide into the pitch selected, it cannot be split using the half nut. and furthermore you can actually use the half nut for splitting multiple start threads of certain pitches example, 6TPI - 2 start , the machine is set to cut 3 TPI assume that the lathe has a 4TPI leadscrew, you would cut one thread on any main division (1,2,3 or 4) and it will follow the same path, to split the thread for two starts the second lead will have to be cut on 1 1/2, 2 1/2, 3 1/2, or 4 1/2. there are still quarter divisions, engaging on any of there will wipe out your thread in this case, but in some cases the thread can be split up to 16 time (depending on the TPI of course, but alot of threads can be split 4 times for a 4 start thread)
-S
What I did when I wanted to cut a "inch" thread on a metric lathe. I engaged the half nut with the dial set to zero. At the end of the first pass I disengaged the half nut, backed out the cutter and stopped the lathe. I then reversed the lathe and when the dial again read zero I engaged the half nut and continued to run the lathe in revers until it was ready for the next pass.
It was tricky but worked.
Bill K7NOM
doesn't follow, many of my available pitches are not divisable by the leadscrew pitch, my old monarch has a 4 tpi leadscrew. it has available
2 3/4 , 13, 14 tpi threads; not divisible. If ther is a reason you cna' tuse the half nuts, this cannot be it.I don't think some of you guys really know how the thread chasing dial works , so here are the rules of the thread chasing dial.....
_thread (lead) to cut_ on an Inch leadscrew (eg 4TPI)
multiple of the lead screw (on a 4tpi machine cutting 4,8,12,16,20 etc) you can engage the dial anywhere it fully engages
Even number of threads can be engaged on any division (1, 1-1/2, 2,
2-1/2, 3, 3-1/2, 4, 4-1/2) remember not the quarter divisions that are not labeledOdd number of threads can be engaged on any main division (1, 2, 3, or
4)fractional half pitches like 1-1/2, 6-1/2, 10-1/2 etc, can only be engaged on opposite divisions (1 & 3) or (2 & 4) or (1-1/2 & 3-1/2)
Fractional threads that are not half pitches like 2-3/4, 11-1/4 etc can only be engaged on one division, once you pick a division, you must stick with it.
Metric, Diametrial pitch, Module pitch, and Inch Pitch, once engaged cannot be disengaged, you will have to reverse the lathe and backout the tool *do not disengage*
some exceptions to these rules are thread chasing dials with divisions that are not 24 divisions (some TOS lathes have 16 divisions)
It's not rocket science, and this does work.
-S
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