Rolling Threads.....

[Shane123]

Currently we roll threads on drop rods, approximately 8-16 inches per end of the rod, and rod length varying to customer needs. We use a nardini manual lathe with a thread rolling head on the tool post to do this currently. 99% of the rods are stainless for packing plants and food processing plants, and since they have to keep an eye on bacteria, making the rods all-thread is a no-go. 99% of them are either 3/4-10 or 5/8-11 threads, so simple stuff.

Our current process has been efficient enough for making small batches (0-100 rods), but it seems more of our customers are expanding, and small batches are becoming a thing of the past (400 - 1000). So we have been on the search for a dedicated thread rolling machine, but we run into the same issue that we have currently, where we clamp the rod, roll the threads, unclamp and flip the rod end for end, clamp, and roll threads. We were trying to find something more automated on the loading/unloading process, and hopefully find something that could do both ends before ejecting the finished rod, even tho we would settle for something that only did one side and ejected automatically, because we could get by by loading the unfinished side in the loading mechanism.

Anyone have any ideas on what kind of setup i need to be looking for, or am i needing to be looking towards building my own automation? Running into brick walls here since my experience with rolling threads hasn't been geared towards mass production.

Thanks...

[skinny39]

If your doing long thread lengths of 8 to 16 inches of thread it is all according to how much money you are willing to spend. h**p://www.landisthreading.com/ will probably be your cheapest way to go. As far as threading you cant get much better than Landis. As far as high speed threading you can spin this head pretty much as fast as you feel comfortable with , We have been threading bolts and rod for twenty five years and these heads give good service. If you want to go one step further you can get a through feed threader (h**p://www.tesker.com/) is the Cadillac of these type of threaders but are a lot more pricey and without experience the Landis head will give you better quality and less maintenance.There are companies that have produced sag rod threaders but the tonnage you would need to do that much thread in one pass would be as big as a small warehouse. The machines i have seen were capable of doing six to seven inches on both ends at one time. Do a search for planetary roll threaders and you should be able to find something . If you want to ask more specific questions please feel free to shoot away as i stated before I have been in this field twenty five years.

Thanks

[Shane123]

thanks skinny, let me research that information and get back to you with more detailed questions. I appreciate your help

[Shane123]

we currently use something similar to the landis head, ours is a fette. I guess LMT now owns fette. Fette is a german company originally, but it works the same way. hxxp://www.lmtfettetools.com/ i will have to search more on the tesker, as they seem to have machinery all in one for this operation.... thanks again.