Single point thread tools

[Lloyd Barnes]

The ones I've seen in the US seem to be around £100. Pretty pricey but if I only need one then I guess I can live with it. If I need several its another matter clearly and I'll need to rethink.

I'd prefer an indexable one so I could replace tips rather than the whole thing!

[magicniner]

For that size range you can use an ISCAR MGCH 06 or MGCH 08 with a thread cutting insert, the inserts are available in the two most common thread angles.
Tony at Jurassic Tools has a few in stock at an excellent price - http://www.jurassictools.com/store/s...re&phrase=mgch
My only connection with Jurassic tools is as a very satisfied customer,

- Nick

[m_c]

If you're happy spending that kind of money, another suggestion to go along with Nick's, is the simmill PX range. I've got one for grooving, but they do various different inserts, including threading.

Cutwel supply them - http://www.cutwel.co.uk/milling-tool...milling-tools/
Although I notice they're not showing as having the holders in stock.

[Lloyd Barnes]

Thanks Nick, one of those would be perfect. Just need to find a source for the inserts. So far can only see Iscar selling them direct at £170 for 10! Will email Tony and ask if he has/can get singles.

[magicniner]

Thanks Nick, one of those would be perfect. Just need to find a source for the inserts. So far can only see Iscar selling them direct at £170 for 10! Will email Tony and ask if he has/can get singles.

PM me if you struggle to find a supplier, I may be able to help.

[Lloyd Barnes]

PM me if you struggle to find a supplier, I may be able to help.

Will do, thank-you. Tony has already responded to say he can't get them. I'll have a look at the Simmills as well this week. Thanks for the leads, much appreciated.

[Neale]

When I first saw this thread, I wasn't sure whether it was referring to tools for screwcutting (in effect, using the CNC mill as a kind of vertical axis screwcutting lathe) which would need a spindle encoder to synchronise the spindle rotation with XYZ movement but would be appropriate for a single-point tool, or for thread milling where the cutter revolves at higher speed and only needs XYZ synchronisation, which should be achievable on any reasonable CNC mill. In the course of doing a little bit of research to try to understand the differences myself I stumbled across this, which is a very nicely written document from Sandvik that talks about these different operations and has a lot of useful information (well, if you start out ignorant, anyway...).

Still not sure whether a single-point tool could be used for thread milling (although I don't see why not) even if it wouldn't have the "full hole-depth thread in one rotation" capability of the "proper" cutters as used for production.

[Lloyd Barnes]

Hi Neale, plenty of vids online about using single point tools for thread milling but I'm also learning. I'm trying to explore cost effective tooling for it for my hobby use and also get my head around how many tools you would need and what the limitations are. I've been surprised at the pricing of them given they are nothing more complex than any other indexable cutter but I guess there are a lot less sold.

I've cut threads on my old manual lathe but its a slow process and if I can switch to a CnC mill then so much the better. Got to be one or the other with 75mm diameter threads, I'm not buying a tap that big!

[m_c]

Still not sure whether a single-point tool could be used for thread milling (although I don't see why not) even if it wouldn't have the "full hole-depth thread in one rotation" capability of the "proper" cutters as used for production.

They're used all the time. No different from any other milling cutter, as it's rare more than one cutting edge is in contact anyway. The main drawback (or could be classed as advantage depending on how you want to look at it), is a lower feed rate as you only have one tooth doing the work. If you have the horsepower available along with the rigidity to handle it, a multi-thread/tooth thread mill is far quicker, as you can do the whole thread height in a single circular pass.
Off course, tapping is usually quickest, but then you're into needing enough torque to handle the tap, having the capability to handle the required synchronisation, and a tap being available in the correct size.