- Joined
- Feb 24, 2015
- Messages
- 1,382
I've ordered a new PM lathe, and it doesn't come stock with a thread chasing dial.
I'm wondering why I would want one. I've cut several dozen good successful threads on my old lathe, and though it has a thread dial, but I've never used it. Partly, because I don't really understand it.
I've watched 30 minute uTube videos by guys who sure seemed to understand every aspect of thread chasing, as well as every tooth on every gear in their machines., not to mention every turn on their lead screws. A couple of them commented that a machinist using a thread dial can cut twice as many threads with a dial that a machinist not using one. That makes me deduce that thread chasing dials are good for production work, but I don't see why.
I'm willing to be convinced to purchase and use a thread chasing dial, but I don't see how there are less steps with a dial as opposed to reversing out and forwarding back in. You have to back the bit out and back in plus advance both ways.
I'm wondering why I would want one. I've cut several dozen good successful threads on my old lathe, and though it has a thread dial, but I've never used it. Partly, because I don't really understand it.
I've watched 30 minute uTube videos by guys who sure seemed to understand every aspect of thread chasing, as well as every tooth on every gear in their machines., not to mention every turn on their lead screws. A couple of them commented that a machinist using a thread dial can cut twice as many threads with a dial that a machinist not using one. That makes me deduce that thread chasing dials are good for production work, but I don't see why.
I'm willing to be convinced to purchase and use a thread chasing dial, but I don't see how there are less steps with a dial as opposed to reversing out and forwarding back in. You have to back the bit out and back in plus advance both ways.