Fine Threading Experiment

Yesterday I was experimenting with the lathe at work since my lathe doesn't have threading gears. The lathe at work is a 15" swing Clausing Colchester, a big engine lathe. I was curious to see how small it could turn some threads. To my surprise, it cut small threads extremely well using a worn carbide insert. (I need to grind an HSS threading tool for aluminum, this was just an experiment.)

The result was this:

http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/3158/finethread.jpg

The piece is 3mm (~.120in) in diameter with a .2mm thread pitch (~120 threads per inch) that are .33mm deep. The piece shown was an experiment to replicate the threading on air-jacks in scale, race-damper threading, as well as experiment with threading for center locking lug nuts.

I was very pleased with the result, and I believe the result will be even better with a properly ground HSS tool instead of a carbide threading insert.

Looks great, nicely in scale foe a jack. I think it would also look about right for the threading on adjustable shocks. Now, can you cut the interior threads to match it? :rolleyes:

I think I'm going to break down and get Sherline's threadcutting gear....

Now, can you cut the interior threads to match it? :rolleyes:

that's what didn't work for me and left me with no other choice than buying some expensive fine thread taps and dies...

Looks great, nicely in scale foe a jack. I think it would also look about right for the threading on adjustable shocks. Now, can you cut the interior threads to match it? :rolleyes:

I think I'm going to break down and get Sherline's threadcutting gear....

:lol: I'm working on grinding a tool in an attempt to cut the interior threads. We'll see how well that works out!

Wow, very nice! Never attempted cutting threads that small. Were you able to ever get the rest threaded so it would go together?