Index Milling machine help

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Shadez1460

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Hello everyone- fairly new member but have lurked here for a while. I have an index model 40-H. I was in the process of replacing/rebuilding the acme nut blocks due to slop with a local machinist. He has since gotten busy with family issues and health problems that I am left with my machine taken apart. I am on the hunt for a
7/8-5 thread tap. We tried one of the cheaper Chinese ones off eBay and it didn’t work, we began making one on the lathe and that’s when life happened. I am not a machinist and not skilled enough yet to continue the project by myself.

Before contacting Wells Index for new parts - can someone point me in the right direction on where to find this tap or maybe someone that con produce the nut block I need? Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks!
 
Thread mill in the CNC would be an option (expensive tool, perhaps the tap would be cheaper?). A 7/8-5 Acme tap is a lot cutting edge to engage - fair amount of torque. I've single point threaded Acme 5/8-8tpi. Can you set the part up in a lathe (cheap tooling)? If chatter were a problem you could do the front side / back side of the thread with separate tools (use an overly narrow tool and tweak the compound?).
 
What kind of lathe do you have? What tooling? (chucks, etc.)
 
Trapezoid nuts from a specialist like https://machinerypartsdepot.com/ (H&W) might not be as expensive as you think. They do know the different clones and have parts for them, Index being one of the most common. I don't think a 7/8 acme tap is the best solution as mentioned above, it's about double the diameter where hand tapping gets tough. My first preference would be single-pointing, since bronze usually turns as hard as steels.
 
Thank you all for the replies. I am still researching. I have a Logan 955 and I suppose I can attempt it.
The index is a model 40-H. I can contact wells index but I think last I read its close to a few hundred to have these made from them.
 
if its acme, can you just buy a nut or sleeve and make that work?
 
Shadez1460 said:
Hello everyone- fairly new member but have lurked here for a while. I have an index model 40-H. I was in the process of replacing/rebuilding the acme nut blocks due to slop with a local machinist. He has since gotten busy with family issues and health problems that I am left with my machine taken apart. I am on the hunt for a
7/8-5 thread tap. We tried one of the cheaper Chinese ones off eBay and it didn’t work, we began making one on the lathe and that’s when life happened. I am not a machinist and not skilled enough yet to continue the project by myself.

Before contacting Wells Index for new parts - can someone point me in the right direction on where to find this tap or maybe someone that con produce the nut block I need? Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...
I bought an acme tap from Bass Tools here in Houston a year or 2 ago, good tool but rather expensive and they do sell on-line, they have a good on-line catalog. I will eventually buy a tap the size of my lathe and mill screws as well becuase it is easier to make the nuts myself than looking for something which works.
 
A Logan 955 would be more than enough lathe to make those pieces for a fraction of the cost of buying them
You just need to practice single pointing internal threads- make aluminum practice pieces first
 
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