Best way to machine ball screws?

[Ross77]

Thanks John.

So do you think I'm wasting my time then? Im not looking to mass produce them just modify or machine the odd one as I need them, Is the diamond tooling essential or just the best value for you given the amount of work you do?

I rough down using old tips that have been licked on the top to give more rake, all I'm interested in is getting rid of material, surface finish doesn't matter. Once I'm close I change tips to a diamond coated, small cut to clean up and get a size then the ballance is taken off at one cut.

Is that TC tooling or normal HSS?, not sure i would have the skill to get the correct finnish diameter in one pass anyway....

I have a traveling steady so will this help or is it dangeous to use with such hard metals, tool shatter etc....?

Maybe I wil have to try 2e0poz suggestion with the grinder, sounds messy tho and will have to try and protect the ways.

As another solution Is it ok to turn a 16mm screw down to say 10mm or to the softer core so its easier to thread and then make a sleeve to bring it back up to the size of the bearing?