Re: Machining Ball Screws

I'm in the same boat with a 9x20 lathe.

I let 1/2 inch project from the chuck and took off the metal down
till it was lower than the thread, then moved it out another half
inch and did that until I had the length I needed. unless your lathe
is verh ridgid it ain't easy work.

also, it will show you how bad cheap inserts really are. this is a
reason to get high quality inserts.

also, remember that carbide likes flood cooling or no cooling. if
you use intermitant cooling you can crack the inserts by the rapid
heat change.

Dave




--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@yahoogroups.com, Steven Ciciora
<sciciora@A...> wrote:

> How do you guys machine ball bearing lead screws? Over the past

several

> years I've read about people turning it on a lathe with carbide

tools,

> grinding off the hardened layer, heating up the end to be machined

to

> soften the hardened layer, and shrink-fitting it on to a piece of

machined

> steel, with sometimes welding it on when done. Now it's time for

me to

> give it a try. I'm about to order some 5/8" Thomson Saginaw screws

from

> Reid tool. I have an enco 9"x20" lathe, but they are notorious for
> flexing, so I'm not sure if it will be up to the task of machining

the ends

> down.
>
> What have you tried and how did it work?
>
> Thanks for your time,
>
> - Steven Ciciora
>
> P.S. Why do the flanges cost more, and wiper kits cost twice as

much as the

> nuts?!?