Cuesmith threading attachment

Baba

Registered
Hi Folks,

Just wanted to show you my new threading attachment for my cuesmith.
With that it is possible to mill threads (18 tpi) onto tenons/shafts.
It consists of an aluminium block holding a steel hollow shaft. The hollow shaft has a 3/4-16 chuck mounting thread on each end and a 18tpi thread.

Any comment welcome.

Michael

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I like it. You're limited to one pitch but that looks like a pretty fast setup.

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Wow. Great idea to reverse the typical setup. Looks very nice.

Do you find the thread mill bites into the stock quickly and attempts to spin it? Or is spinning the stock well controlled by your hand?
 
Ha... you could make tapered pipe threads with that setup, by adding a pivot to your block. Come up with a whole new joint system;) Not that we need another one...
 
Hi,

thanks for your comments.

@bruppert:
Yes you're limited to one pitch only. But on my cuesmith I mostly do shaft work (repair, create) and for that I only need 18tpi.
As my cuesmith doesn't offer a threading option because of the missing leadscrew etc. I wanted to find a replacement for those compression dies. I hate these compression dies they are total sh.t.
Don't get me wrong I love my cuesmith but you have to extend it. I'm currently changing a lot on it, e.g. motor (1hp), motor controller (minarik), created my own RPM readout out of an arduino board, DRO at least for one axis, a "better" chuck (bison), etc.

@iusedtoberich
You have to rotate the stock/chuck slowly by hand. By doing so the tenon moves forward along the mill. The mill then "copies" the 18tpi from the shaft onto the tenon.
New joint system? Let me think about it...NO won't do it ;)

Thanks
Michael
 
I like it. Would you consider marketing your idea? I also hate the compression dies.
 
Do you mean replacing ferrules? If so, yes you can clean out tenon threads, but only if the tenon has 18tpi. But most of them have.

Marketing my idea? You mean buying it from me? Hmm, i guess it would be very costly for someone to buy. Currently its one-of-a-kind. I constructed it, did the design drawing but let it build from a CNC Company. And I can tell you, that was costly :-(
(because of the inch threads and the backlash-free connection between shaft and block)
But these dies drive me nuts.

I guess if they would build a bunch of 100 price would be acceptable.
Do you have the possibility to let it build by a friend or even build it on your own?

Michael
 
Do you have the possibility to let it build by a friend or even build it on your own?

Michael

I have a friend that owns a large production machine shop, if you want to share (or sell) the drawing, I could possibly have one made.
 
Baba,

Very innovative and creative, and it looks like it's extremely well constructed. Good job!!
 
Do you mean replacing ferrules? If so, yes you can clean out tenon threads, but only if the tenon has 18tpi. But most of them have.

Marketing my idea? You mean buying it from me? Hmm, i guess it would be very costly for someone to buy. Currently its one-of-a-kind. I constructed it, did the design drawing but let it build from a CNC Company. And I can tell you, that was costly :-(
(because of the inch threads and the backlash-free connection between shaft and block)
But these dies drive me nuts.

I guess if they would build a bunch of 100 price would be acceptable.
Do you have the possibility to let it build by a friend or even build it on your own?

Michael

Yep, meant replacing ferrules. My fingers sometimes get ahead of my brain. I hate replacing threaded ferrules because of the time it takes to clean up the threads.

Maybe this is something Chris Hightower might want to take a look at. No way could I build one.
 
Yep, meant replacing ferrules. My fingers sometimes get ahead of my brain. I hate replacing threaded ferrules because of the time it takes to clean up the threads.

Maybe this is something Chris Hightower might want to take a look at. No way could I build one.

Building it would be a little bit of a challenge but can be done, but I see some draw backs. The main issue that would concern me would be if the regular headstock chuck would hold the bit well enough and not let it vibrate loose. I would not want people to have to remove their headstock chuck to screw on a bit holder.
Making the headstock slide and using a router to cut with is one of my earlier abandoned designs. But that requires the expense of a router and it limited me to one thread, so I scrapped that and went with the gear system.
I am intrigued by using the headstock as the cutting head. That cuts the expense.
Michael did great on this and it is his design to do what he wants with it. If he wanted me to build something similar I might consider it if the bit would work without the problems I suspect. I would also be glad to build one that works with dremel or router that would not require a lead screw, but would the market support it as it would be more expensive than the style he built?
 
Hi Chris,

I've never tried holding the mill bit in the regular chuck, so I can't say anything about that. I use my BISON chuck to hold it or I use an ER16 collet. And that is not very expensive. ER 16 collet plus spindle adapter is not more than around $35. Compared to the threading assembly that is nothing :D
Ok, I can't use my big headstock for that type of work (Thats why I asked you about the big housing together with normal spindle a couple days ago ;) ). But thats not a big issue as I already removed the motor from the headstock. I just change headstocks if needed but most work is anyway done on the small headstock because of my BISON chuck.
I think holding the bit is not really a probem. A larger problem is the threading assembly as it must be build very precisely. Especially the backlash-free connection between shaft and block is very important as this is determining the accuracy of the milled threads.
If you are further interested in my design just drop me an email (You have it).
Oh and lastly the price of the assembly could be a problem as definitely no one would like to pay for it, ok besides me, but I'm crazy :cool:

@all: Thanks for your positive feedback. If you're interested in my design send me a pm.

Thanks
Michael
 
Hi guys,

After a lot of positive feedback I spoke to my machine shop guys.
And I can have this build for a reasonable price. If someone is interested in buying this threading attachment (block + shaft) just send me a pm.

Michael
 
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Hi guys,

After a lot of positive feedback I spoke to my machine shop guys.
And I can have this build for a reasonable price. If someone is interested in buying this threading attachment (block + shaft) just send me a pm.

Michael

PM was sent *

*
 
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Hi,

As almost everybody finds it too pricy I have to cancel my offer. Sorry!!! :sorry:

I got a lot of messages with quit positive and nice feedback but also some impudent messages alleging that I would clean out the people.
Let me clarify this. I initially designed this tool only for myself, but I got a lot of positive feedback and therefore thought I could open it to the public. My supplier offered me a good price but only if I take a bunch of at least 20. I would have "earned" $20each !!!!
I've spoken to Chris and maybe he will take over my design.
Again, sorry to all nice guys out there.

Michael
 
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Hi all,

Many people asked me about the cutter I use.
The one on the pictures is done by myself but I found two sources for this type of cutters (more or less by accident). Thought this may be of some interest for some of you.

Here you can find many different sized cutters:
http://www.harveytool.com/prod/Brow...tters_163/Double-Angle-Shank-Cutters_210.aspx

http://www1.mscdirect.com/eCommerce...Angle-Cutters/_/N-77h90/No-25#productsContent

Michael

Thanks for the links. When you posted this before and I was looking into what all it would take to get this completed I found inserts that had 3 or 4 teeth and a hole through the center that you could it mount on an arbor. Sorry, don't have that link any more but a quick search found these. Keep searching though, you should be able to find ones with better clearance.

http://www.toolmex.com/Products/BrowseResults.aspx?CatID=1189&Parent=
 
Mitsubishi sell a series of threading inserts like the one you have pictured.
Available in 60 deg and 55 deg inserts.
 
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