Expensive Die

[Allan Waterfall]

I need a new leadscrew for a small Toyo ML210 lathe, it's a LH 8mm X 1mm thread.

I emailed Tracy Tools and the Tap & Die company who always say they have huge stocks of taps and dies.

Tracy Tools quoted £14.40 delivered.

Tap & Die said it was a none standard die (common knowledge) and would have to be made.It would take a day to make at a cost of £25.00 per hour.

Somehow I can't see myself paying £200.00 for a die.

Allan

[the_viffer]

If it is for a leadscrew you'd be better screw cutting it.

[Tim Bayliss]

Hello Allan,
The previous contributor got there just before I did. Dies generally can't be relied upon to stay cutting square for such a long thread, especially on such an important job as a lead screw, it really is a thread cutting exercise.
When the job is fully machined, if the thread is a bit rough, some folks like to use a die to 'clean it up a bit' but even then the utmost care is required to ensure the die stays square on the thread.
Best of luck.
Tim Bayliss

[Allan Waterfall]

Thanks for the replies,the die if I use it to thread a leadscrew is intended to be mounted in a purpose fabricated holder attached to the cross slide to hold it ridgid.

I'm aware of the problems of drunken threads with dies and would not attempt to cut a leadscrew with just a die in a dieholder.

A friend has offered to make the leadscrew for me,the die is a possibility if the thread needs cleaning up.

I suppose I'm really trying to put off doing it myself,I have yet to put my metric conversion on the Myford,let alone cut left hand threads. Too many new things at once for an old fart like me.
Anyway the leadscrew is on the back burner until the "Stent"is finished.I wouldn't have got the TOYO out if the Myford hadn't been tied up holding a part while the Loctite set.

Allan

[the_viffer]

At the risk of teaching my granny to suck eggs, just one other thing before using a die on a leadscrew: make certain the thread form is correct.

I've seen (and owned) lathes with an ISO metric thread form lead screw but the better ones often have a square(ish) thread.