I Need A CNC Threading for Dummies Book

I don't have a good way to measure that. To the eye, it looks like a point, unlike my carbide insert threading tool, which has a very rounded tip to my naked eye. In the full size crop from my original I can see a radius, but I don't see how to measure that.

Cutter_FullSize.jpg
 
Ahhh, OK, I looked at the wrong picture. Yes, the brazed carbide tool will work for threading.
 
JimDawson said:
Ahhh, OK, I looked at the wrong picture. Yes, the brazed carbide tool will work for threading.
Click to expand...

D'oh! I forgot I had that other picture in the mix. I used that for the scratch piece that it was in the picture with. At best, the threads would have been U shaped. Maybe OK for 3/8-16 or bigger, but I don't know why they sell those things.

I need to order some more of those sharp point tools.
 
jumps4 said:
the latest version of mach3 ending in 66 won't work for threading and that is the reason they made mach4
066 is junk so no matter what you should start there.
I'm using Version R3.043.057 without issue.
Click to expand...

I'm using R3.043.062. I think that was because .066 didn't play nice with the smooth stepper.

Is there any reason to suspect this version?
 
Hi Bob
I asked about the threading problem in the Yahoo mach2/3 user group where the original beta testers hang out and they sent me to the 57 version I did try others but I don't remember what versions. I fought this for months blaming my machine and breakout boards.
This pdf may help if you don't have it and there may be a rev:3
As far as the tool the less hp you have the sharper that tool better be.
I thread from 300 to 600 rpm on a standard breakout board a smooth stepper may work better but 600 works pretty good on aluminum
I do all threading with coolant.
check the pdf file, your window in the disk may need to be longer to see a defined pulse. my pulse width is optical but had to be wider
here are all the mach3 versions

ftp://ftp.machsupport.com/Mach3/

here are all files related to mach3/4 from their ftp site at Newfangled solutions

ftp://ftp.machsupport.com/../

there are more threading wizards on the mach3 forum and from newfangled solutions there is a conversational lathe program the will do most everything plus threading (purchase item)
Good luck
Steve
 

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Ah , yep . After seeing what your machine was , I was way off on my info . I figured it was a full blown cnc . One other idea if needed would be a geometric diehead which would work in your toolholder . Either way , Go with a dead sharp point .
 
jumps4 said:
Hi Bob
I asked about the threading problem in the Yahoo mach2/3 user group where the original beta testers hang out and they sent me to the 57 version I did try others but I don't remember what versions. I fought this for months blaming my machine and breakout boards.
This pdf may help if you don't have it and there may be a rev:3
As far as the tool the less hp you have the sharper that tool better be.
I thread from 300 to 600 rpm on a standard breakout board a smooth stepper may work better but 600 works pretty good on aluminum
I do all threading with coolant.
check the pdf file, your window in the disk may need to be longer to see a defined pulse. my pulse width is optical but had to be wider
here are all the mach3 versions

ftp://ftp.machsupport.com/Mach3/

here are all files related to mach3/4 from their ftp site at Newfangled solutions

ftp://ftp.machsupport.com/../

there are more threading wizards on the mach3 forum and from newfangled solutions there is a conversational lathe program the will do most everything plus threading (purchase item)
Good luck
Steve
Click to expand...

Thanks much for that pdf. Started reading it already.

I'm wondering if it's time to switch over the Mach4. I bought Mach3 around 2005, so I've certainly gotten my money's worth out of it. I'm running my Grizzly G0704, my Sherline 4-axis mill and lathe on it.
 
Interesting day. I've been running maximum rapids on my Sherline motors limited to 15 IPM. Why? I honestly didn't remember. So I put my 1" by .001" indicator on a stand and moved Z back and forth for an inch to see if I'd loose any steps by doing faster moves. I went from 15 to 40 IPM by fives and only after several minutes of back and forth tests at 40 IPM did it drop some steps and lose position. I backed off to 30 IPM for rapids. Then I did the cross slide at 30 IPM (same size motor) and ran it for several minutes (at least 10, maybe 15) and it never dropped steps either.

That means I doubled the speed on both axes, which will allow more ability to pick proper feed rates.

Then I tried to re-create a piece I had done by hand for my last engine model, about 5 turns of 4-40 on the end of a quarter inch diameter rod. On this one, I ran the speed up to 1000 RPMs and it went very well. Probably overcut it a little as the nut wobbles a bit too much. Most everything else I've done I've undercut.

FiveTurns-4-40.JPG

I did another 10-32 thread before this, only longer than yesterday's and it looked like the other one above. The threads look worse the farther to the left they extend.
 
P. Waller said:
Does this machine not have a canned thread cycle?
Click to expand...

Edit to add: I think the answer is yes.

In the sense that Mach3 has a "threading wizard" that writes a GCode snippet that cuts the thread using a G84 canned cycle. It doesn't do something like let me say, "4-40 external threads 0.150 long", but I enter starting and stopping diameters, thread pitch, end point, and a few other things.
 
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