05-13-2012, 08:43 AM
Forgive my ignorance, but I don't understand the part about turning the chuck by hand to thread the parts.
I can understand the lack of a brake, but it seems you don't need one if you simply use the lathe's half nut to engage and disengage when threading. This would allow you to completely finish the thread using the threading insert.
Most thread cutting dies aren't set to any standard, or they may have been adjusted by someone else. You should always be measuring external threads, or at the very least make test fits with the mating part. There's nothing worse than spending a lot of time making a part, starting the thread, and only then discover that the die had been adjusted to a size that makes for a very loose thread. Now you may not know if the die cut undersize or the tap cut oversize.
Of course it all worked well and the tool looks and works fine. Well done!
I can understand the lack of a brake, but it seems you don't need one if you simply use the lathe's half nut to engage and disengage when threading. This would allow you to completely finish the thread using the threading insert.
Most thread cutting dies aren't set to any standard, or they may have been adjusted by someone else. You should always be measuring external threads, or at the very least make test fits with the mating part. There's nothing worse than spending a lot of time making a part, starting the thread, and only then discover that the die had been adjusted to a size that makes for a very loose thread. Now you may not know if the die cut undersize or the tap cut oversize.
Of course it all worked well and the tool looks and works fine. Well done!