The Thread wizard is broken into 2 different wizards, External and internal threads.

It is further broken into Right hand and left hand threads.

Name

• This is what you give to describe your wizard and it will be displayed on the F5 conversational page

Tool No

• This is the tool number you will be using to machine the part.

CAUTION: This wizard does not manage Lathe tool change position for Automatic tool changers. It is important when using an automatic tool changer that the Gcode be reviewed before running the file to ensure that the tool is moved to a suitable position before the tool change takes place. This is not a problem for manual tool change as the user will move the current tool to a safe location before changing tool.

Spindle Spin up Delay (ms)

• This adds a delay after the spindle starts turning before machining starts machining

Spindle Direction

• The user can select to run the spindle clockwise or counterclockwise.

Spindle RPM

• This is the Spindle RPM used for cutting the thread

Depth of Cut

• The Depth of Cut is the amount of material removed per pass.The total number of passes will be determined by the total depth of cut divided by the depth of cut

Pitch

• The pitch is the thread pitch required and can be either metric or imperial
• Thread pitch can be found in threading charts and in machinist handbooks

Spring Passes

• The number of spring passes required can be enter here.
• A spring pass repeats the last finishing cut to allow the tool to remove any remaining material left because of the tool flexing under load causing the part to be cut under size.

Thread Type

• The thread type will determine which of the 2 wizard drawing you see presented on screen.
• Internal threads are for threading holes
• External threads are for threading rods similar to a bolt.

Thread Direction

• For normal threads uses the Right Hand threading wizard.
• The difference between machining a Left hand thread compared to a Right Hand thread is the direction of travel that the threading tool uses to cut the thread
• A Right Hand thread starts cutting at the tail stock end and moves toward the Chuck
• A Left Hand thread starts cuttings at the Chuck end and moves towards the tail stock which moves the Lead Length to the Chuck end of the stock.

Warning: When cutting a Left Hand thread the Lead Length moves to the Chuck end of the stock. Ensure there is sufficient room for the Lead Length

Minor Diameter

• The Minor Diameter is the smallest diameter measured on the thread.
• On an internal thread, the Minor Diameter is measured from crest to crest.
• On an external thread, the Minor Diameter is measured from root to root.
• The Minor diameter is always smaller than the Major Diameter
• The Minor Diameter information can be found in online threading charts and machinist handbooks

Major Diameter

• The Major Diameter is the Largest diameter measured on the thread.
• On an internal thread, the Major Diameter is measured from root to root
• On an external thread, the Major Diameter is measured from crest to crest.
• The Mayor diameter is always larger than the Minor Diameter
• The Major Diameter information can be found in online threading charts and machinist handbooks

Z End

• This defines the Z axis end point working coordinate that the cutter will reach at the end of machining the face
• The actual depth of the cut will be determined by the difference between Z Start and Z End
• Z End is a smaller number than Z Start

Z Start

• This defines the Z axis starting point working coordinate that the cutter will begin machining the feature.
• The depth of the cut will be determined by the difference between Z Start and Z End
• Z Start is a larger number than Z End

Lead Length

• The Lead Length is the distance before the cutter of free air that the cutter travels before it starts cutting the thread.
• This is the distance the Z axis to accelerate before starting the cut.
• A Left Hand thread starts cuttings at the Chuck end and moves towards the tail stock.

Warning: When cutting a Left Hand thread the Lead Length moves to the Chuck end of the stock. Ensure there is sufficient room for the Lead Length

Tool Clearance

• The Tool Clearance distance is the distance the tool moves away from the stock when it is returning to the starting point of the thread ready for the next pass.
• The Clearance value is a positive number
• When cutting an External thread the Tool Clearance will move the tool away form the stock center
• When cutting an Internal Thread the Tool Clearance will move the tool towards the stock center as the tool is inside the stock. Ensure ther is suffiecnt room inside the stock for the tool to move without hitting the other side of the thread.

Infeed Angle

• The Infeed Angel is the angle dictates how the cutting tool is applied to the workpiece to create the thread form.
• An infeed angle of 0 will give a Radial infeed where the cutter follows the same cutting path and cuts deeper on each pass using both sides of the cutter equally
• An angled infeed follows a slightly different path each pass cutting more material on one side of the cutter than the other.
• Different infeed techniques influences chip control, thread cut quality and Tool life but the resultant thread is the same.

Tool Clearance

• This is the starting point from which the tool starts the cut.
• The clearance distance allows distance for the tool to reach the required feed rate before it starts cutting and will be in the X axis direction
• Clearance is always a positive number

QR Code Help

• The QR code brings you to this page

Save

• This saves the changes to the wizard and returns you to the F5 conversational page.
• If there are missing parameters or incorrect incorrect eg no tool number specified
• It will specify the nature of the error and highlight the parameters that are causing the issue.

Cancel

• The cancels any changes made to the wizard and returns you to the F5 conversational page.

Tab

• For MASSO G3 users using an external keyboard the Tab key will step through the parameters one at a time reducing the need to use a mouse.