Indexable threading tool tips

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

+1 for Jasons excellent pictures.

My top slides live at 25° with the arrangement shown in Jasons first picture. Because I use the Zero-to-Zero method it doesn't really matter, within reason, what angle the top slide is at.

The lathe does all the top slide in-feed calculations for me.

What matters is that the (sharp) tool-bit is exactly perpendicular to the job and that all the backlash is taken out when setting up.

Jon makes a good point about the tendency of Zero-to-Zero to end up with excessive in-feed and too small a minor diameter when the tool point is too sharp. Given that partial profile inserts do the same thing on any size beyond the smallest of their specified range I don't believe that industry considers, within reason, a little undersize on minor diameter a great worry for ordinary threading jobs.

As regular forumites know (ad-nauseam) I consider the most important requirement if any way of doing any job is to be suitable neophytes and inexperienced folk is that it be easy to figure out what went wrong if something doesn't go as per plan. Ideally it should be possible to step back to the error point and sort things out before the job is scrapped.

With too sharp a point on the tool Zero-to-Zero initially gives too large a minor diameter so the the mating part will not screw on. So the point of failure is safe and the extra feed needed to allow the mating part to fit can be applied in a controlled manner. Once a fit is achieved the operator can choose between accepting an undersize minor diameter or grinding back the tool tip sufficiently to eliminate the excess in-feed on a replacement part.

Effective though it can be the Martin Cleeve side feed correction method is heavily dependant on operator skill and experience. I was taught it, I can use it but "My God its easy to get lost".

Clive

[Peter Simpson 3Participant @petersimpson3]

Many thanks for all of you input into this topic. I went back into the workshop to experiment again. Checked the set up again using all you input and realised that I had set the top slide as per the "wrong" photo above. Set the top slide as per the correct photo and cut a thread which turned out to excellent.

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

You are not the first one to do this. 13"ODx 3"x3" threaded spigot x 29 years ago with many bad words from the Foreman and I have never forgot it. I guess the lesson served it's purpose as I never have forgot it, but it was a bit harsh.

[old martParticipant @oldmart]

I never rotate the compound to do threading, even 5tpi ACME but the Smart& Brown model A is probably more heavily built than most hobby lathes. As for the photographs by Jason showing the correct angle, that is fine as long as newcomers are aware that the tool tip axis must be parallel to the cross slide axis and not angled with the compound.

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