RCCrawler Forums

phllint · 04-07-2011, 05:53 PM

does anybody know or sell or know where i can a tap and die for tapping and threading titanium? i just bought some 5mm titanium rod and now have broken 3 dies trying to thread it. one of the dies was a hanson and the other 2 were snap on. i just want to make my own links instead of buying lundsford at $10.00 to $15.00 each and then have to wait for them. any help would be greatly appreciated and fantastic.

tom@vp · 04-07-2011, 06:10 PM

has to be turned down to the correct major diameter, if you are trying to die 4mm it should be

from 3.83 to 3.97mm

the easy to remember cheat formula for cut tapping metric is to subtract the pitch from the major and that your drill size.

so a 4.0 x .7 thread is 4.0 -.7 = 3.3 mm drill size

Aussie Nerd · 04-07-2011, 06:27 PM

I was told turn down where your threading to 3.65mm for best results. That's what I'll be doing on mine.

Kieren

tom@vp · 04-07-2011, 11:27 PM

the numbers i posted are proper spec, not my opinion... just saying...

tom@vp · 04-07-2011, 11:34 PM

see major diameter

EGRESSor · 04-08-2011, 04:50 AM

a high quality cutting fluid + what Tom says

phllint · 04-08-2011, 05:55 AM

thank you very very much. you guys are awesome. i never thought that titanium would be that much harder to thread than stainless steel, but i was quite wrong. again, thank you all very much for your help.

MR.VERTICAL · 04-15-2011, 09:26 AM

Thax TOM

Tomy · 11-29-2011, 08:55 AM

So how did it work out?

I tried to die 4mm titanium rod yesterday with a normal HSS die and it was a pain. A lot of noise and smoke but little thread.

I'll give it a second try today with proper tapping paste and a cobalt die.

EGRESSor · 11-29-2011, 09:47 AM

thats the one i use for Titanium , 7075 , stainless , spring steel , tool steel
and ...

Tomy · 11-29-2011, 01:12 PM

Egressor, do you use a normal 10e HSS die for titanium?

EGRESSor · 11-29-2011, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomy

Egressor, do you use a normal 10e HSS die for titanium?

yes, the cheap ones

Tomy · 11-30-2011, 12:35 AM

Thanks for the information, Egressor.

I was recommended a cutting paste by a local shop specialized in product for metal work. It's more like a wax that I apply with a brush. Maybe something more towards liquid-form would work better?

But I got it working using cheapo HSS dies. I noticed it is a lot about technique. First I used a power drill but that didn't work for me. It does work well with stainless, though. Titanium is so hard that you have to go slower and doing the thread by hand gave a much better result.

EGRESSor · 11-30-2011, 01:44 AM

it´s the low thermal conductivity + the high tensile strength what makes it hard to machine

i like the cutting fluid more than the paste , works better for me

SlickRockSpider · 12-04-2011, 10:38 AM

Nobody has said anything about the right tool for the job.

The round die is for threading and the die nut with hex sides are used for cleaning/chasing threads.

If this is for links ?

I drill a hole and run a tap into the hole. Then use a set screw for the threads.

Make it easy on your self

E

Erin · 12-04-2011, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickRockSpider

Nobody has said anything about the right tool for the job.

The round die is for threading and the die nut with hex sides are used for cleaning/chasing threads.

If this is for links ?

I drill a hole and run a tap into the hole. Then use a set screw for the threads.

Make it easy on your self

E

Your boring ti solid rod? What bit are you using to drill with?

SlickRockSpider · 12-05-2011, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Erin

Your boring ti solid rod? What bit are you using to drill with?

Hi Erin

I use a lathe. HHS drill bit. Its really not hard to do. What Ti rod are you using and where did you get it. It should not be that hard. Tell me how you do it.

PM me I will help you all I can.

Evan

Cordwood · 12-05-2011, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlickRockSpider

Hi Erin

I use a lathe. HHS drill bit. Its really not hard to do. What Ti rod are you using and where did you get it. It should not be that hard. Tell me how you do it.

PM me I will help you all I can.

Evan

are you using the softer Grade 2 or the 6AL-4V grade 5 titanium?

SlickRockSpider · 12-05-2011, 01:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cordwood

are you using the softer Grade 2 or the 6AL-4V grade 5 titanium?

I use ti 6-4. I have never used the softer alloy. The grade 5 that I use is only HRC36. HRC36 is hard but slow moving hhs ( high speed steel is HRC60 ) is not a problem.

I dont use Ti very often. The need never exceeded the cost. For links i use are made of tool steel T1 (oil hardened ). T1 has a hardness 35HRC, but I can change that hardness from softer to harder with just a torch and oil. The oil used for heat treating. The reason for special oil. (????) For Ti I need a vacuum chamber.

Evan

Erin · 12-05-2011, 02:29 PM

so its more to do with the feed rates and coolant, then the bit used. Makes sense.

I haven't tried it yet, but I know others have had trouble drilling and turning it.

04-07-2011, 05:53 PM	#1
phllint Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: aurora Posts: 344	threading titanium rod does anybody know or sell or know where i can a tap and die for tapping and threading titanium? i just bought some 5mm titanium rod and now have broken 3 dies trying to thread it. one of the dies was a hanson and the other 2 were snap on. i just want to make my own links instead of buying lundsford at $10.00 to $15.00 each and then have to wait for them. any help would be greatly appreciated and fantastic.

04-07-2011, 06:10 PM	#2
tom@vp I joined the Band! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,303	has to be turned down to the correct major diameter, if you are trying to die 4mm it should be from 3.83 to 3.97mm the easy to remember cheat formula for cut tapping metric is to subtract the pitch from the major and that your drill size. so a 4.0 x .7 thread is 4.0 -.7 = 3.3 mm drill size Last edited by tom@vp; 04-07-2011 at 06:19 PM.

04-07-2011, 11:34 PM	#5
tom@vp I joined the Band! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,303	see major diameter Attached Images

04-08-2011, 05:55 AM	#7
phllint Quarry Creeper Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: aurora Posts: 344	threading thank you very very much. you guys are awesome. i never thought that titanium would be that much harder to thread than stainless steel, but i was quite wrong. again, thank you all very much for your help.

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04-07-2011, 06:27 PM	#3
Aussie Nerd RCC Addict Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: QLD, Australia Posts: 1,512	I was told turn down where your threading to 3.65mm for best results. That's what I'll be doing on mine. Kieren

04-07-2011, 11:27 PM	#4
tom@vp I joined the Band! Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,303	the numbers i posted are proper spec, not my opinion... just saying...

04-08-2011, 04:50 AM	#6
EGRESSor RCC Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Germany north Posts: 1,669	a high quality cutting fluid + what Tom says

04-15-2011, 09:26 AM	#8
MR.VERTICAL I wanna be Dave Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Too old to care Posts: 2,446	Thax TOM

11-29-2011, 08:55 AM	#9
Tomy RCC Addict Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 1,265	So how did it work out? I tried to die 4mm titanium rod yesterday with a normal HSS die and it was a pain. A lot of noise and smoke but little thread. I'll give it a second try today with proper tapping paste and a cobalt die.

11-29-2011, 09:47 AM	#10
EGRESSor RCC Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Germany north Posts: 1,669	thats the one i use for Titanium , 7075 , stainless , spring steel , tool steel and ...

11-29-2011, 01:12 PM	#11
Tomy RCC Addict Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 1,265	Egressor, do you use a normal 10e HSS die for titanium?

11-30-2011, 12:35 AM	#13
Tomy RCC Addict Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Finland Posts: 1,265	Thanks for the information, Egressor. I was recommended a cutting paste by a local shop specialized in product for metal work. It's more like a wax that I apply with a brush. Maybe something more towards liquid-form would work better? But I got it working using cheapo HSS dies. I noticed it is a lot about technique. First I used a power drill but that didn't work for me. It does work well with stainless, though. Titanium is so hard that you have to go slower and doing the thread by hand gave a much better result.

11-30-2011, 01:44 AM	#14
EGRESSor RCC Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Germany north Posts: 1,669	it´s the low thermal conductivity + the high tensile strength what makes it hard to machine i like the cutting fluid more than the paste , works better for me

12-04-2011, 10:38 AM	#15
SlickRockSpider Rock Crawler Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Albany Posts: 640	Nobody has said anything about the right tool for the job. The round die is for threading and the die nut with hex sides are used for cleaning/chasing threads. If this is for links ? I drill a hole and run a tap into the hole. Then use a set screw for the threads. Make it easy on your self E

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12-05-2011, 02:29 PM	#20
Erin I wanna be Dave Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Goin broke losing weight..... Posts: 2,262	so its more to do with the feed rates and coolant, then the bit used. Makes sense. I haven't tried it yet, but I know others have had trouble drilling and turning it.

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