G'day everyone,

This is the start of a long build series. In this first installment, I will need to figure out how to machine a large pitch thread for a large screw. Something in the region of 40mm and 8mm pitch. The lathe is far too small and not rigid enough, and even trying got do so I sheared several gears and bent the gear rocker.

With that out of the running, I decided to try my hand at helical milling. I have the dividing head, which is a rigid spindle and I will try to connect it to the table leadscrew to rotate it as I move the table.




One thing that I should have added but glossed over in the video, this design was meant as a one off for this project. The spacing between the gears is intended for only 45 and 90 tooth gears. Mostly because on time and materials , but also because if I used this gear train the pitch would be 8mm which is what I was after, and the spacing between the bottom and top gear would be 135mm which was the exact distance between the leadscrew and spindle. That just made the design easier and quicker to make. If you are looking to make this more universal I can't image that it would be too difficult to make a set up that allows you to move the spacing between the gears. Or add an encoder and stepper motor, which is a set up that oxtools has done (   • Dogmeat Helical Milling  ). Cheers

#machining #millingmachine #helicalmilling