At what RPM are you threading barrels ?

[Shrek]

I’m wondering at what RPM you thread at. Seems most I read about use the slowest available gear. I believe this is results in much slower than optimal surface speeds and a rough finish. Just interested in what members are doing and if there are techniques that give better finishes that don’t need to be polished after thread cutting ?

 

[shortgrass]

16T.P.I and more threads per inch I thread at 300rpm. Less than 16tpi and I have to slow to the next gear change.

 

[DaveTooley]

600-800 RPM's
Oh you mean on a manual machine. 200-300 RPM's depending on my caffeine intake. Knock on wood I've never gotten into the shoulder.

 

[Shrek]

Yes I mean manual lathes.

 

[223Randy]

I thread real slow, i use back gear and turn the vfd down to about 30% which turns it at about 1/2 motor rated speed. Has worked ok for me so far. i use carbide cutters and don't seem to have any issue. My try it a bit faster though, hearing some of the speeds mentioned.

 

[Bamban]

I thread using the proximity sensor feature added to the VFD to stop. Back out the tool, push bypass and reverse, stop, advance cutter, push forward button, repeat cycle

This project was one of the earlier ones using the proxomity sensor, lately I have threaded faster


Watch "Ken's Shilen # 2 Threading with Proximity Sensor" on YouTube

 

[boltman223]

I'm about the same, 375.

 

[Danny1788]

I use slowest my lathe will go 70rpm with Arthur warner HSS threading tool.
I have in the past used an internal threading tool in reverse on the back side of the work piece and thread away from the shoulder but I feel my threads end up better threading in FWD and slow with HSS.

 

[Shrek]

I thread using the proximity sensor feature added to the VFD to stop. Back out the tool, push bypass and reverse, stop, advance cutter, push forward button, repeat cycle

This project was one of the earlier ones using the proxomity sensor, lately I have threaded faster


Watch "Ken's Shilen # 2 Threading with Proximity Sensor" on YouTube

That looks like it works very well. When I finally get to set up my lathe it will be using a VFD. How advanced is the programming and setup to use the proximity sensor ? Any problems with the drivetrain being stopped by the motor so suddenly ? I plan on building front and rear spiders to hold the barrels.

 

[6.5x47]

425 right up to the shoulder. 1972 manual clausing 13" with hi-speed threading attachment.

 

[SET]

I thread to a shoulder at 160 rpm's with a ground HSS tool.
I'm in no hurry.

 

[carlsbad]

I thread about 1 a week, but lately work has been very busy.

 

[Rich S]

70 to 125 for me. I've had good results with HSS and carbide. I prefer to use full profile carbide inserts. Light cuts, stiffness in the holding method and good cutting oil seem to be the key for me. Once I got a method figured out the threads Ive cut at the lower speeds seem on par with those I cut at 200 - 300.

The full profile inserts arent much advantage on barrels but are realy nice when truing recievers. No need to pre-bore. Just index it to your threads and take small cuts until the threads clean up.

 

[Dusty Stevens]

i love a middle back gear speed. i only thread faster when im on the shine to calm my nerves

 

[Shrek]

It’s interesting ! If it’s not double top secret I’d be interested in the speed/tool/lubricant combinations y’all are using. There’s a lot more using more optimal surface speeds than I thought. I’ve yet to get my lathe working so I haven’t tried any of it yet but 300 rpm running to the shoulder sounds unforgiving and more than a little scary. The proximity sensor with a VFD sounds like a winner.

 

[SET]

It’s interesting ! If it’s not double top secret I’d be interested in the speed/tool/lubricant combinations y’all are using.

I've tried many over the years but Xtra-Thick Tap Magic has worked flawlessly,
Thick as honey and stays put.

http://www.tapmagic.com/product/3/tap-magic-xtra-thick-xtra-foamy

 

[Bamban]

That looks like it works very well. When I finally get to set up my lathe it will be using a VFD. How advanced is the programming and setup to use the proximity sensor ? Any problems with the drivetrain being stopped by the motor so suddenly ? I plan on building front and rear spiders to hold the barrels.

No programming required, all hard wired. Send me an email when the time comes, we can chat.
81stfacp@gmail.com

I can't take credit for the prox sensor application, a retired Oncologist came up with the application. My version uses the DRO and zero set to stop, an Arduino interface making the decision and sending the stop command. I like the prox sensor better.

Here is the test run on my version

Watch "10x24 Lathe Threading with DRO Driven Spindle Stop" on YouTube

 

[Shrek]

No programming required, all hard wired. Send me an email when the time comes, we can chat.
81stfacp@gmail.com

I can't take credit for the prox sensor application, a retired Oncologist came up with the application. My version uses the DRO and zero set to stop, an Arduino interface making the decision and sending the stop command. I like the prox sensor better.

Here is the test run on my version

Watch "10x24 Lathe Threading with DRO Driven Spindle Stop" on YouTube

Thanks ! I’ll be in touch when I’m ready.

 

[Shawnba67]

215 rpm vipers venom oil. Full profile carbide whenever i can.
Id go faster but I cant pucker up the courage!

 

[Alex Wheeler]

If your not doing a lot of barrel work HSS will be the way to go. Its slower but is easy to touch up and get a good finish. Carbide is much less forgiving and you will need to try a lot of grades and edge preps to find the ones you like. Your going to have to thread fast if you use carbide. I run from 250-375. Learning how to grind hss teaches you some valuable knowledge on how cutting tools work that will help you in other areas. I am not saying to not use carbide but do also learn to grind tools. I can get a mirror finish on threads with carbide that I cant match with hss. Not that it matters.