Tormach tool holder set screws

[mike sr1]

I know there was a post on the tormach tool holder setscrews, I tried the search without any luck.

I have had problems with the setscrews in mine so I bought a couple new metric ones to replace them, they worked fine but were sloppy in the threads, kind of like a class 4 fit.
Today I was checking them out again and found that a 1/4- 28 fits the small toolholder and a 3/8- 24 fits the larger one. I guess they were supposed to be inch screws instead of metric ones? The metric sizes will fit but are sloppy in the threaded holes. I checked them with a thread pitch gage and they seem to be identical between the inch and metric ones.

I guess thats why the sloppy fit possibly so that both screws could be used?

[zephyr9900]

Mike, the tread is this one, in which you made the last post. As to using an M6x1 screw in a 1/4-28 hole, I won't comment...

Randy

[TXFred]

My holders all use inch threads. With good quality inch set screws, the thread isn't sloppy at all.

If your tool holders are still sloppy after you switched to good inch hardware, it may be because the metric set screws damaged the thread.

Frederic

[mike sr1]

Mike, the tread is this one, in which you made the last post. As to using an M6x1 screw in a 1/4-28 hole, I won't comment...

Randy

I assumed that they were metric because they are Chinese made and it takes a metric wrench, and they came with metric screws. Maybe the older ones had different set screws. (mine are only a few months old)
Evidently my assumption was wrong. I should have called the folks at Tormach about the correct replacement screw, although the screws mike out to be metric (.236 instead of .246) on the 1/4" size.

The M5 is similar to a 10-32, but in this case the m5 a few thou larger than the 10-32.

[zephyr9900]

Well, a 1/4" setscrew uses a 1/8" hex wrench (.125" nominal) and an M6 setscrew uses a 3mm hex wrench (.118" nominal) so the 3mm wrench would not be all too loose in a 1/4" setscrew socket... BTW I forgot the last in my previous reply.

Chinese made [snip] the screws mike out to be metric (.236 instead of .246) on the 1/4" size

No comment there either...

BTW all my setscrew holders date from fall 2006 and have American threads on the setscrews.

Randy (who has never, ever, used a metric/inch hex wrench that "just about fit", no not ever... )

[TXFred]

I assumed that they were metric because they are Chinese made and it takes a metric wrench,

That's only because the hexagonal hole on the original set screws is as badly made and toleranced as the rest of the set screw.

Frederic

[shred]

I have a variety of TTS holders from very old to very recent and the setscrew sizes vary rather widely between them...

[mike sr1]

The 1/2" holder is tapped 3/8 24, the screw thread is .010 undersize that was in it and the socket wrench doesnt fit well at all.

I was wrong in assuming they were metric, they just are not good quality setscrews as per TxFred.

I have been to the hardware and all is good! The screws that came out were ten thousanths undersize on the 3/8" ones......

[MichaelHenry]

I have a variety of TTS holders from very old to very recent and the setscrew sizes vary rather widely between them...

Were they all made by Tormach?

[PriddyShiddy]

this post made me laugh. I have always meant to check the threads to figure out what size they were since neither 1/8 not 3mm have even a decent fit even for chinese hardware.

[mike sr1]

this post made me laugh. I have always meant to check the threads to figure out what size they were since neither 1/8 not 3mm have even a decent fit even for chinese hardware.

I have a Chinese lathe and the screws in it fit like that as well, most of them I changed out and that was over 20 years ago, but its still running at least an hour or two a day. I think I replaced the drive belt once.

[shred]

Were they all made by Tormach?

All the ones in question, yes.