- Joined
- Feb 2, 2014
- Messages
- 1,061
Did you know you could make a worm gear if you had the old shaft? Well me either until I saw a post by another member on here a few weeks back (can't find it now) briefly showing how he cut four slots in a threaded shaft and mounted it in the lathe. He then mounted a piece of round stock on the tool post and proceeded to cut the threads into it.
Well I have to try this so I got a piece of 3/8" x 16 threaded rod and cut four 1/8" slots about 3" long 90 degrees apart and mounted it in the lathe with a live center for support. I had a 1/2" thick by 3" round aluminum slug so mounted that on the tool post. I started the lathe and moved the round closer until it started to turn and to my joy it started cutting into the slug. This is what it looks like after 30 min of cutting.
So if it works that good in aluminum how does it work in nylon and what about a larger size. I had some 5/8" x 6 acme rod and some 9" diameter nylon rounds to try again. I cut off a 8" piece of the threaded rod and cut 4 slots in it but this time I used a 1/2" end mill offset from the center of the shaft 0.250. That way the end mill would just cut to the middle of the threaded rod and hopefully have a more aggressive cut.
Never too old to learn something new!
Thanks for looking
Ray
Well I have to try this so I got a piece of 3/8" x 16 threaded rod and cut four 1/8" slots about 3" long 90 degrees apart and mounted it in the lathe with a live center for support. I had a 1/2" thick by 3" round aluminum slug so mounted that on the tool post. I started the lathe and moved the round closer until it started to turn and to my joy it started cutting into the slug. This is what it looks like after 30 min of cutting.
So if it works that good in aluminum how does it work in nylon and what about a larger size. I had some 5/8" x 6 acme rod and some 9" diameter nylon rounds to try again. I cut off a 8" piece of the threaded rod and cut 4 slots in it but this time I used a 1/2" end mill offset from the center of the shaft 0.250. That way the end mill would just cut to the middle of the threaded rod and hopefully have a more aggressive cut.
Never too old to learn something new!
Thanks for looking
Ray