How tough would this be to make (machinists, lathe folks look please)

Fletch Helical

Fletch Helical

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Sep 29, 2009
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Wondering how easy/hard it would be to make a copy(s) of this? I's basically round bar I measured the threaded area and it's a little over 1/2" so I'm assuming something like 5/8 stock would work. I basically just need it tapered which starts around the 1 1/4" mark.... I think, not sure if I have a tap and die set to thread something that big. If the htreads can be put on with minimal effort than I'd consider that route as well.

I'm sure it's not all that hard but if I wanted to have someone, make this any idea how much a project like this would cost. I'm looking to possibly get quite a few of them made.

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Other than the obvious....a green pc or iron with threads on one end and a taper on the other....what is it?
 
Not that hard. Less than two hours for someone who knows what he's doing. Threads and all. Not sure about pricing though. I just know it can be done from the machinest course I took in college. The hardest part would be the taper, since it would require offsetting the spindle on a lathe.
What is the tapers offset? That is, how many inches does the radius shrink per inches along the length?
Don't worry so much about the threads. Thats the easiest part to cut.
 
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For a one off, the taper would simply be cut using the compound rest on a manual lathe. A one off would be about $50.

For more than a few I'd put it on a CNC lathe. You could probably get 100 of them for $1000. Putting it on a CNC opens up some design options, such as turned fillets and a ball on the end etc.

For thousands of them, you'd find someone with a swiss with a sub spindle (for the threaded end) and a bar feed and you'd probably get them $5 ea.

For tens of thousands you could get them from China for a couple bucks.
 
Not hard at all, taper can easily be set up with a telescopic taper, what alloy, what precision?

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I'm going to show my ignorance about lathes (despite the fact there are three sitting out there, sigh) WTH is a "telescopic taper"? Is that the "taper attachment" thingy that sits on the back?
 
Nathan the Machinist said:
I'm going to show my ignorance about lathes (despite the fact there are three sitting out there, sigh) WTH is a "telescopic taper"? Is that the "taper attachment" thingy that sits on the back?
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Yes it is. LeBlond described it on the original invoice for my lathe as a "Telescopic Taper Attachment"
It really works phenominally well for tapers within it's operating range

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sunshadow said:
Not hard at all, taper can easily be set up with a telescopic taper, what alloy, what precision?

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I know nothing about machining so I'm not sure what you mean by precision. Alloy would be steel, not overly partial to a specific kind I'm thinking a tool steel would be best but not mandatory I don't think. It's a spindle from a string making jig for a bow string. I know of a way to make them considerably cheaper than actually buying a production one. If it was something that can be made easily enough I would see if there was a big enough market to sell to.
 
Ah. About 15 years ago I had a Southbend that had one. I never knew the proper name for it. I'm really loving linear interpolation, simplifies things tremendously.
 
i would just use a form tool that matches the angle for the taper, single point the threads on the lathe, could be done on a manual in about 20-30 minutes.
 
Fletch Helical said:
I know nothing about machining so I'm not sure what you mean by precision. Alloy would be steel, not overly partial to a specific kind I'm thinking a tool steel would be best but not mandatory I don't think.
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Precision means how close to the dimensions does it have to be.

Diameters within .05, .01, .005, .001, .0001 ? lengths within .25, .1, .05, .01

another is now tight do the threads need to be.

How smooth does the finish need to be? I would think that if the paint can survive use that you don't need tool steel.
 
Oh it doesn't have to be super precise just has to be close. In fact it doesn't even need to be an exact match... I just need a tapered threaded rod.
 
If you find someone with a taper attachment on their lathe that part could be made in 20 minutes easily. Even without a taper attachment 25 minutes tops. With the relief area at the end of the threads there is nothing to that, can crank up the rpm a lot and get it done quickly.

I have to agree with Nathan the Machinist, if you want a real large quantity made, find a CNC lathe, it will cut that in a few short minutes and save you money.
 
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