Turning
fn p
A
The screw thread and its components.
The geometrical shape of the
B screw thread ...
... is based on the diameter (d) of the
thread and the pitch (p) : the distance
axially on the component, from one point
or valley on the profile to the correspon-
ding next point along the thread. This
C can also be seen as a triangle being un-
wound from the component, where the
long base is the same as the circumfe-
rence of the workpiece and the height is
the pitch. The angle of this triangle is cal-
led the helix angle of the screw thread.
D The hypotenuse of the triangle forms the
helix that winds round the workpiece and
defines the thread. The diameter in com-
bination with the pitch will, therefore, in-
dicte the definition of the thread.
Various infeed types
E There are three different methods of fee-
ding the insert in during each pass. All ar-
rive at the same profile but the cuts are
made differently, with varying influences
on : chip formation, tool wear and quality.
F The radial infeed (A) is the conventional
way, used widely where the insert is fed
in at a right angle to the workpiece and
the chip is formed stiffly into a V on both
G
Infeed types: radial, modified flank and incremental.
C2
πxD
φ3
φ2 φ1
p
φ π x D3
π x D2
π x D1
D
sides of the profiled cutting edge. Tool a few increments, the tool is then advan-
wear is more even on both sides of the ced and the other side of the profile is tur-
insert and the method is more suitable ned in a few increments and so on until
for fine pitches and work-hardening ma- the full profile has been generated.
terials.
Very large thread profiles can also be pre-
The modified flank wear (B) is an ad- machined with a turning tool (type MTEN)
vantageous method for modern thread having a triangular insert pointed into the
turning and CNC lathes are programmed thread profile. The finishing passes are
to have this method in cycles. The insert taken with the thread-turning insert.
is fed in at the angle of the profile less
a clearance angle. Clearance behind the
cutting point, as in ordinary turning, has
to be provided for in the feed direction.
Chip control is better, the process being
more similar to ordinary turning and for
using chipbreaker threading inserts, type
geometry C. Less heat is generated in
the insert point and production security
is generally high with this method. Vibra-
tion tendencies, as might arise in coarse
threads or when long length of contact
is involved, can be reduced with flank in-
feeding.
Incremental type feed (C) is the method
used mainly for large profiles. The insert
cuts in varying increments into the profile.
This gives rise to more even insert wear.
One side of the thread profile is turned in Pre-machining large threads.
A B C
 Turning

Selecting infeed type

There are three different types of infeed: radial, flank and in-
cremental.
In practice the machine tool, workpiece material, insert geome-
try and thread pitch determine the choice of infeed method.

Radial infeed
Most commonly used and the only possible method in many A
mechanical machine tools. Gives soft chipforming and even
wear on the insert. Suitable for fine pitches. Risk of vibration
and bad chip control when used for coarse pitches. First choice
in work hardening materials, e.g. austenitic stainless steel.
The C-geometry will not give chipbreaking with radial infeed.
B
Recommendations for radial infeed are given in the tables.

Modified flank infeed How to steer the chip

The axial movement between infeeds can be calculated simply
as 0.5 x the radial infeed (ap) for a 60° flank angle. The equi-
valent for a 55° flank angle should be 0.42 x the radial infeed.
This gives an infeed angle which is 5° less than the flank angle
of the thread.
Gives better chip control when the chip can be steered either
way. Suitable for coarse threads and for internal threading D
when problems with chip evacuation and vibrations occur. To
avoid bad surface or excessive flank wear due to rubbing of
trailing edge, the infeed angle should be 3–5° smaller than the
angle of the thread.

C-geometry
E
For C-geometry insert, modified flank infeed is the only suitable
infeed. Infeed angle of 1° should be used.

Feed direction
F
fn

Incremental infeed
Mainly used when machining large profiles. This method gives Steer the chip out of the hole by selecting the most suitable infeed method.
even insert wear and long tool life.
Requires special programme on CNC machines.

C3
 Turning

Infeed values recommendations

ISO metric, external
No. of Pitch Reduce cutting speed
infeeds mm 0.5 0.75 1.0 1.25 1.5 1.75 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0
Radial infeed per pass, mm
A
1 0.11 0.17 0.19 0.20 0.22 0.22 0.25 0.27 0.28 0.34 0.34 0.37 0.41 0.43 0.46
2 0.09 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.21 0.21 0.24 0.24 0.26 0.31 0.32 0.34 0.39 0.40 0.43
3 0.07 0.11 0.13 0.14 0.17 0.17 0.18 0.20 0.21 0.25 0.25 0.28 0.32 0.32 0.35
4 0.07 0.07 0.11 0.11 0.14 0.14 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.21 0.22 0.24 0.27 0.27 0.30
5 0.34 0.50 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.12 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.18 0.19 0.22 0.24 0.24 0.27
B 6 0.67 0.08 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.13 0.14 0.17 0.17 0.20 0.22 0.22 0.24
7 0.80 0.94 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.15 0.16 0.18 0.20 0.20 0.22
8 0.08 0.08 0.11 0.12 0.14 0.15 0.17 0.19 0.19 0.21
9 1.14 1.28 0.11 0.12 0.14 0.14 0.16 0.18 0.18 0.20
10 0.08 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.15 0.17 0.17 0.19
C 11 1.58 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.14 0.16 0.16 0.18
12 0.08 0.08 0.12 0.13 0.15 0.15 0.16
13 1.89 2.20 0.11 0.12 0.12 0.13 0.15
14 0.08 0.10 0.10 0.13 0.14
15 2.50 2.80 3.12 0.12 0.12

D 16 0.10 0.10

Note! When using grade CB20 max infeed value should be 0.07 mm. When closer thread tolerances are needed a last pass without infeed (spring pass)
may be used. For hand materials the number of passes should be incrased. When threading work-hardening materials e.g. stainless austenitic-steel, the
infeed should not be less than 0.08 mm.

E ISO metric, internal

No. of Pitch Reduce cutting speed

infeeds mm 0.5 0.75 1.0 1.25 1.5 1.75 2.0 2.5 3.0 3.5 4.0 4.5 5.0 5.5 6.0
Radial infeed per pass, mm
1 0.11 0.17 0.19 0.20 0.22 0.22 0.25 0.27 0.28 0.32 0.33 0.36 0.41 0.41 0.44
F 2 0.09 0.14 0.16 0.17 0.21 0.21 0.23 0.25 0.26 0.30 0.31 0.33 0.38 0.38 0.41
3 0.07 0.10 0.11 0.13 0.15 0.15 0.17 0.18 0.20 0.23 0.24 0.27 0.30 0.32 0.35
4 0.07 0.07 0.09 0.10 0.13 0.13 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.19 0.21 0.23 0.25 0.26 0.28
5 0.34 0.48 0.08 0.09 0.11 0.10 0.12 0.13 0.14 0.17 0.18 0.21 0.22 0.22 0.24
6 0.63 0.08 0.08 0.09 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.15 0.15 0.19 0.20 0.20 0.22
7 0.77 0.90 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.14 0.14 0.16 0.17 0.18 0.20
G
8 0.08 0.08 0.10 0.11 0.13 0.13 0.15 0.16 0.17 0.19
9 1.07 1.20 0.10 0.10 0.12 0.12 0.14 0.15 0.16 0.18
10 0.08 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.15 0.15 0.16
11 1.49 0.09 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.14 0.14 0.15
12 0.08 0.08 0.10 0.12 0.14 0.14 0.15
H 13 1.77 2.04 0.10 0.11 0.12 0.13 0.14
14 0.08 0.10 0.10 0.12 0.13
15 2.32 2.62 2.89 0.12 0.12
16 0.10 0.10
3.20 3.46
Note! When using grade CB20 max infeed value should be 0.07 mm.

C 26