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- Nov 27, 2012
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Does the lathe you ordered have a metric pitch lead screw? If so I don't think a thread dial would work.
Greg
For lathes that have a metric leadscrew, the thread dial would be used for metric threading.
Does the lathe you ordered have a metric pitch lead screw? If so I don't think a thread dial would work.
Greg
A DRO can't track the position of the bed leadscrew used for threading as a thread dial does.what about using a dro instead of a dial?
Yes, it is true that if the thread you want to cut is a FACTOR of the lead screw thread, you can engage at any point, such as if you have a 4 thread lead screw (common on most mid size industrial lathes) you can cut 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, etc thread pitches. If you want to cut an even number of threads, any pitch, you close the half nuts on any line, numbered or not; if you want to cut an odd number of threads, you must close on either a numbered line or un numbered line, not either one. If it is a half thread, close on opposite lines on the dial, quarter threads, close on one line or number ONLY. The lines on the dial indicate inch distances of carriage travel, so if you can stop the spindle rotation quickly enough, and open the half nuts and move the carriage back even inch distances then reclose them and start the spindle for the next cut, you can get away without the dial, but having said that, in my opinion every lathe should have a thread dial, period!If the thread you're cutting can be divided evenly by the pitch of the leadscrew I think you could engage the half nuts at any point. I could be wrong too......