Threading Dial
#1
My Swedish Storebro lathe was set up for metric threading, although it has a 4 tpi leadscrew and QCGB settings for "English" threads. It never had a threading dial - no mounting holes or other indications of one. Since I do more standard threads than metric, I decided to make one.

A week or two ago, I made up the gear to follow the leadscrew out of ABS.
   

I was going to make the body out of cast iron. I cut down a piece of scrap on the bandsaw.
   

Unfortunately, close inspection revealed a crack, so it was rejected.
   

Plan B was an aluminum body, cut down, squared, turned, drilled and bored. I left it square to match the styling of the Storebro.
   

The dial spindle was turned down from a piece of steel bar. 1" dial, 3/8" shaft, 5/16" x 24 thread to hold the gear. The eight notches were scored with a marking rig I made a couple of years ago, then the four quadrants stamped.
   

After assembly, the threading dial was mounted on the carriage. That's right, on the left side. This lathe has an apron layout that's the reverse of what most of us are used to. There was no easy way to mount it over the handwheel hub and oilers, plus, since the half-nut lever is on the left side, it made sense to have the dial close to that.
   

The down side of having the dial on the left is that it might conflict with the carriage stop. I designed the body to work around the stop.
   

Shots of the gear engaged ...
   

and disengaged.
   

I should mention that you need to adjust the dial so that it aligns with the reference mark when the half-nuts are closed.
Mike

If you can't get one, make one.

Hawkeye, proud to be a member of MetalworkingFun Forum since Jan 2013.
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#2
Good job Mike. I've often thought the threading dial should be on the left side, right in the line of sight with the cut that's happening.
Busy Bee 12-36 lathe, Busy Bee Mill drill, Busy Bee 4x6 bandsaw, Homemade 9x17 bandsaw, Ad infinitum.
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#3
hi and brill work
krv3000, proud to be a member of MetalworkingFun Forum since Feb 2012.
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#4
Very nice
Good pictures as well
I do like to see attention to detail
John
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#5
Hi Mike, a very neat job you have made there, it does look weird seeing it on the other side to normal but I am sure it will work just as well either side Big Grin
Cheers Mick.
Micktoon, proud to be a member of MetalworkingFun since Sep 2012.
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#6
Nice job Mike. It looks like it belongs there. Thumbsup

Tom
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#7
Very nicely done Mike Thumbsup
Smiley-eatdrink004
DaveH
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#8
Thanks, gents. I have to admit that, every now and then, I turn the wrong crank. I'm still used to the 'standard' layout that I've had on every other lathe I've owned.
Mike

If you can't get one, make one.

Hawkeye, proud to be a member of MetalworkingFun Forum since Jan 2013.
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#9
Very nice , great work and design . I may do the same thing on my Logan .
kenne, proud to be a member of MetalworkingFun Forum since Jun 2014.
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