Hi Adrian,

An earlier version of this accessory came with my lathe. Mine are single ended with no handles but a longitudinal slot in each holder engages with the peg in the arbour assembly to stop the holder from rotating.

It appears that Myford now do a double ended version and so cut down on the total number of holders required for the popular sizes of die. I therefore presume that the peg is not required on the latest version as handles are fitted, and it can be unscrewed.

I have found this attachment to be useful on occasion, but it is essential that the die is positioned dead centre in the relevant holder.

Gordon.

I made my own a few months ago double ended you could make your own.

David

Mine is similar to the one in Vic linked to but lacks the handle.

The tubular part between the die holders is cut away flat on one side producing a slot with fairly thick edges. Guide bar is made slightly D shaped and a short cross piece screwed to it extending over the sides of the slot in the moving die holder preventing it rotating. Die holder can slide around 2 1/2 inches on the guide bar.

Done all I've asked of it for over 35 years. The mores taper alone provides sufficient restraint against rotation unless you are attempting something silly.

I'd not trust these devices to hold a large coarse thread die true if trying to thread straight on a rod. Its easy to push a bit off line. Although the handle theoretically means you can hold against a higher threading torque there is a good chance that the job will slip in the chuck on larger threads. Screw-cutting to fairly close first and finishing off with the die is more prudent for larger threads.

Geo. H Thomas recommended that you made individual holders for each split die and preset them to cut exactly to side. At the time it sounded like far too much trouble but 40 years on I'm beginning to agree with the master that its actually faster that way if you want reliably consistent correct size threads. Especially the you take into account the enormous pleasure the small allen keys for the screws take in playing hid'n seek around the workshop. Having discovered Coventry die heads and proper machine chasers years back dies are generally only for ruff work in my shop so its all gotten a bit moot.

Clive.

Single point screw cutting. Never been on my want list – die holder for the lathe, sorry.

My lathe has only changewheel options for screwcutting and power feed to crosslide so I find a die holder pretty useful, if I had a gearbox for screwcutting I would probably use it, but the die saves time, generally I use power feed only for quick removal of stock preferring hand feed

Mick

Sorry done double post again,didn't mean to honest

 

Mick

Edited By Mick Henshall on 27/01/2018 08:21:34

Mind you, if you are held up for want of one it would be quicker to make one than wait for a bought one to be delivered!

Russell

Hi Adrian
You could make one like this and add to it as you can  see you can m/c under power and set the depth when the drive peg reaches the end of the slot it just spins and you an remove it 

Nobby

Edited By Nobby on 27/01/2018 11:29:33

To save time, you can buy from folk like ArcEuroTrade, Chronos etc. These will be double ended, and have spare holders, so that four different sizes of die can be used.

Often, a side arm rests against the four way toolpost to resist rotation forces.

Mine is commercial, but so old can't remember its origin, probably Chronos or Warco.

Made up a similar arbor to carry a shop made ER25 Collet holder for Taps. (Used both yesterday!)

In both cases, the holder has a little clearance on the arbor, so that it can "float" and follow the workpiece, instead of trying to do a little off centre machining of its own.

Howard