Atlas 618 spindle protector

David S

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H-M Supporter Gold Member
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Nov 18, 2012
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1,352
Hi Folks,

90% of the time I use a Jacobs 56B spindle chuck for small work that I do. Next up is the independent 4 jaw, and occasionally one of my collet systems.

My friend has a project and asked if I would machine about 100 spacers that are 12 mm in diameter to close dimensions. Since the spacer is anodized and very slippery and I can only grab about 0.400" of it I figured time to use my 12 mm MT2 collet to get me close to the spindle.

In the 40 years I have had this lathe I have never had a crash...not bragging just saying..but since I will be working close to the threaded spindle decided that it is time for a spindle protector. Awhile ago Jster showed a video using a 1-8 tap to make the internal threads. My spindle is 1-10 and I don't have a tap, and I hate setting up all the change gears to cut the threads, since I have it set up now for a fine finish feed and it is running nice a quiet.

So I decided to just make a counter bored sleeve to slip over the threads and secure it with a brass set screw. After getting the sleeve made out of some 6061-T6 I started to wonder if I could make "fake" threads sort of inserted like false teeth. Since the pitch of the thread is 0.100" it is nice to work with.

So I thought I would try and centre drill, tap drill and tap a series of holes to form two helix. The threads are 8-32. I took a few pictures so here we go.

Centred and located the origin on the sleeve in the rotary table. The idea is to drill the first hole, rotate 90 degrees advance Y 0.025", drill, advance to 180 advance Y to 0.050". continue for one revolution. Then advance another 0.100" to provide a second helix and repeat.
drilling holes.jpg

Then use the chuck to locate a tap for hand tapping.
aligning tap in press.jpg

Turn some brass rod and thread\
threading brass rod.jpg

Machine the tips
cutting tip.jpg

parting off
cutting of set screw.jpg

Inside view of sleeve before cleaning up
inside of the protector.jpg

Installed
spindle protector with collet.jpg

In use parting off spacer
cutting off spacer close.jpg

Well what started out intending to me quick and simple, turned out to be more work...But it works very nicely, plus I have threaded before and never tried this method so thought I would share.

David
 
Looks like it worked out well. Nothing ever gets done as quickly as you thought going in.o_O
 
That is so cool! Great concept. I don't want you to feel bad, but my tap is 1"x10 tpi....you could have borrowed my tap. However, yours is way cooler......
 
Thanks Jster. I have used a taps and dies many times, so I thought I would try something different on a non critical part..and it works!

David
 
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