Make lead screws or buy?

[MadKad]

Hi

I am looking into everything I need for my design for my engraver/mill

I was woundering is it worth just buying the lead screws or making them on a lathe?

if making is there any info here? or buying whats best on this?

sorry for all the questions

Thank you

Karl

[signIT]

Hi,

I almost have the same question, should I use a stainless M12 bar or ACME/Trapetzoid 12/3mm bar.

What is the main advantage using a ACME type, my intention is to make a AB nut from Delrin just because I don't have a tap for ACME, but a lot of Delrin and metric 12mm taps, plastic or metal ACME nuts are a bit hard to find and if they are expensive.

I can understand that the metric 12mm bar need a faster stepper motor speed if I want to make a lot of products.

Can it be a precision problem with the 12mm metric bar or just the speed problem.

Kind regards

Signit

[edmond]

I started out with M12 threaded rod on my CNC Router, there is nothing wrong with them just that they need a fast stepper motor, whip can also be a problem.I had a major whip problem with them in my machine so I switched to 12mm x 3mm acme leadscrew, they really made a big difference the rapid feed speeds doubled.Its easy to make a acme tap just take a offcut piece of acme rod grind or turn a taper on it and then grind some nice big slots along its length, thats what I done it works very well to tap delrin.

[MadKad]

Originally Posted by edmond I started out with M12 threaded rod on my CNC Router, there is nothing wrong with them just that they need a fast stepper motor, whip can also be a problem.I had a major whip problem with them in my machine so I switched to 12mm x 3mm acme leadscrew, they really made a big difference the rapid feed speeds doubled.Its easy to make a acme tap just take a offcut piece of acme rod grind or turn a taper on it and then grind some nice big slots along its length, thats what I done it works very well to tap delrin.

I will do that also to tap delrin thanks

Is there anywhere that I could get 12mm x 3mm acme leadscrew cheap?

[edmond]

Marchant Dice sell TR12x3 acme screw in the UK, I think they are your best bet, they have a new online shop www.worldofcnc.com they call the acme leadscrew trapezoidal spindle they also sell the matching leadscrew nuts.

[MadKad]

Originally Posted by edmond Marchant Dice sell TR12x3 acme screw in the UK, I think they are your best bet, they have a new online shop www.worldofcnc.com they call the acme leadscrew trapezoidal spindle they also sell the matching leadscrew nuts.

Nice one for that

What would the best thread size be to get a good fast speed?

[edmond]

TR12x3 seems to be the most popular choice for good allround performance and cost.I get 2400mm/min or 40mm/sec rapid feed speeds on my machine which is more than enough for my purposes using TR12x3 trapezoidal spindle.My longest leadscrew measures 1700mm and has a little whipeso maybe the TR16x4 units would be a better choice depending on your max leadscrew length.

Hope that helps

[MadKad]

Originally Posted by edmond TR12x3 seems to be the most popular choice for good allround performance and cost.I get 2400mm/min or 40mm/sec rapid feed speeds on my machine which is more than enough for my purposes using TR12x3 trapezoidal spindle.My longest leadscrew measures 1700mm and has a little whipeso maybe the TR16x4 units would be a better choice depending on your max leadscrew length. Hope that helps

Wow thanks thats great info and just what I needed to know

thank you for your time

[djronbxs]

so for an x-axis of 24inch and for a y-axis of 33inch which trapezoidal leadscreww would you reccomend ? my cn cusgae is for cutting model parts, like ribs ecc..


thanks
ronald

[MadKad]

Originally Posted by djronbxs so for an x-axis of 24inch and for a y-axis of 33inch which trapezoidal leadscreww would you reccomend ? my cn cusgae is for cutting model parts, like ribs ecc.. thanks ronald

you would be best looking around mate as you will find the answer faster than some one telling you on here, no affence to you or any one else its just I have asked a number of questions and never got a reply I think this is the only question I got a reply to lol

Also it would depend on what moters you are using I think, I am still working alot out by just reading threads on people that have done theres and got a nice set up at the end.

[grahamshere]

First I dont think you could make your drive screw unless you have a cnc lathe. ok try www.roton.com they have all typs of screws, if you need speed go for 1/2 inch 8 tpi with 4 starts. if speed is not needed just go with standard acme that you can get any were. You dont need a super big stepper to get speed, the a good driver helps but the screw with less threads per inch and higher starts will get you more speed with less whip. good luck. Graham