Results 1 to 9 of 9
  1. #1
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Toogoolawah, Queensland
    Age
    66
    Posts
    44

    Question Where can I buy Affordable Acme Threaded Lead Screw & Flanged Acme Threaded Nuts

    Greetings,

    I normally reside over in woodwork land, but as part of a new Bandsaw Fence that I'm building, I need to delve into metal work land.

    I am building a new Fence for my wood bandsaw that will be used primarily for re-sawing veneers. The main feature of the Fence will be a lead screw advance mechanism which will allow me to move the fence a precise amount (e.g. 2.5 mm) in order to take off the next vener slice, as close as practical to the same thickness as the previous slices. There are commercial fences that do the job (for an example see - http://www.lagunatools.com/accessori...aw-driftmaster) but they are generally expensive, not always an easy fit (see http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=187170), and most of the commercial ones could do with some improvement anyway. So, seeing as I don't like spending my hard ear

    So - the main components that I'm still looking for affordable supplies of are:


    1. Acme Threaded Rod (a lead screw) - roughly 12 mm diameter and 400mm long. Single start thread. Metric or imperial. The lead screw will be drived by hand via a hand wheel. There will only ever be very light loads on the thread & nut when moving the fence, as the fence will always be locked in place before at timber is cut, so I believe that mild steel rod would be plenty strong enough.
    2. Acme Threaded Flanged Nut to match the above threaded rod.


    I've spent some time googling this subject over the last week, and have found a few Australian suppliers (even one with split nuts and half nuts, if I want to include those extra features). But, the prices are really high. One place I found that had plenty of different lead screw products and a wide variety of nuts, was www.smallparts.com.au. They have some carbon steel Acme threaded rod in various specifications, and these are a bit less expensive, but not really cheap enough.

    Alternatively, can you cut an Acme thread using a Tap and Die, or is it a type of thread that can only be cut on a lathe ?

    So, does anyone know of a supplier of affordable Acme threaded rod and nuts in Australia.

    Thanks,

    Roy
    Manufacturer of the Finest Quality Swarf.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    sunshine coast
    Posts
    45

    Default

    Roy, do a search on Ebay. I found mine there and the dealer is 'CNC and cupcake world' They have 16mm x 4 x 300mm for $16 + $8 postage. I hope this helps. Damien.
    I'm a dancing fool! The beat goes on and I'm so wrong!!!!

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Location
    near Warragul, Victoria
    Posts
    3,718

  4. #4
    Ueee's Avatar
    Ueee is offline Blacksmith, Cabinetmaker, Machinist, Messmaker
    Join Date
    Dec 2011
    Location
    Canberra
    Age
    39
    Posts
    4,515

    Default

    As Damien said, cup cake world is the place to go.

    You can buy acme/trapezoidal taps but I'm not sure about dies.

    Ew
    1915 17"x50" LeBlond heavy duty Lathe, 24" Queen city shaper, 1970's G Vernier FV.3.TO Universal Mill, 1958 Blohm HFS 6 surface grinder, 1942 Rivett 715 Lathe, 14"x40" Antrac Lathe, Startrite H225 Bandsaw, 1949 Hercus Camelback Drill press, 1947 Holbrook C10 Lathe.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,945

    Default

    I have used old/broken jockey wheels, for things like what you are looking for, picked up for $2 or there a bouts.
    Kryn

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    Kalamunda, WA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    87

    Default

    Just rebuilt my drill press vice using acme thread from a car scissor jack. Cost me 30 seconds of my time while I got out of the car and grabbed it off of roadside chuckout

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Charlestown NSW
    Age
    65
    Posts
    1,669

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by AussieRoy View Post
    Greetings,

    There will only ever be very light loads on the thread & nut when moving the fence,
    Roy.
    Why do you need an acme thread anyway? Acme are designed to take a heavier load than a V thread. In your situation a good quality V thread would probably do the job fine. Or am I missing something.
    regards
    bollie7

  8. #8
    Join Date
    May 2013
    Location
    Toogoolawah, Queensland
    Age
    66
    Posts
    44

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bollie7 View Post
    Roy.
    Why do you need an acme thread anyway? Acme are designed to take a heavier load than a V thread. In your situation a good quality V thread would probably do the job fine. Or am I missing something.
    regards
    bollie7
    Good point!!! I don't think you are missing anything. I initially went for Acme thread simply because that is the type of thread used on the two commercial designs that I've examined. Now that I think about it, you're right, a good quality V thread would be quite suitable seeing that the thread won't be under heavy working loads.

    I've got a length of 5/8" high tensile steel BSF threaded rod left over from a project I did a few years ago - just have to find it as it's buried somewhere in the shed.

    Thanks for the input bollie7. Much appreciated.

    Regards,

    Roy
    Manufacturer of the Finest Quality Swarf.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Cairns, Q
    Posts
    666

    Default

    Roy,

    If you want to move the fence by a precise amount for each cut, you will find it much easier if you choose a leadscrew TPI divisible by 5 or 10 (if you work in decimals), or divisible by 8 if you work with fractions. The 14 TPI of 5/8" BSF is an awkward figure to work with.

    For example 3/8 BSF is 20 TPI, so each full turn of the leadscrew will advance the fence by 1/20" or 0.05 inches. Alternatively, 3/4" Whitworth will advance the fence 0.10 inches per full turn. In metric, with an M10 thread two turns of the leadscrew will advance the fence 3mm, or one turn of an M14 leadscrew will advance the fence 2.0 mm.

    Similarly for fractions, 1/2" BSF and 3/8" Whitworth are 16 TPI, so one full turn of the leadscrew will move the fence 1/16 of an inch.

    I completely agree that an Acme thread is not necessary for this application. I have an old vyce which stripped the thread in the nut years ago. I made a new 5/8 Whitworth screw and nut which are quite satisfactory, and this is a lot heavier service than a fence adjustment screw.

    Frank.

Similar Threads

  1. 3/8-12 acme tap
    By rusel in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 23rd Mar 2012, 02:39 PM
  2. Lead Screw Nuts
    By Auskart in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 19th Dec 2011, 01:13 PM
  3. ACME Threaded rod
    By Lyle in forum METALWORK GENERAL
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 2nd Jun 2011, 06:06 PM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •