Who has a LH & RH 6mm x1mm die cutter? or can a lathe thread rods?

[muscleflex]

Need help from people who have the above die cutter please. Or whoever has access to a lathe that can put threads on a 6mm aluminum rod?

[pgkevet]

[url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-x-1-Metric-Right-Hand-Die-M6-x-1-0-Pitch-/120810537022?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c20de803e]6mm x 1 Metric Right Hand Die M6 x 1.0 Pitch | eBay[/url]
[url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-x-1-Metric-Left-hand-Die-M6-x-1-0mm-Pitch-/120808618731?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c20c13aeb]6mm x 1 Metric Left hand Die M6 x 1.0mm Pitch | eBay[/url]

They're going to be cheapo dies but for a one-off set of threads in ally ought to be fine + some cutting lubricant for ally

[muscleflex]

Thanks - will they still cut properly? Also - I will need a handle as well but I don't know anything about them. Are the handles generic so I can get ANY handle and these will fit?

[QUOTE=pgkevet;1074437][URL="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-x-1-Metric-Right-Hand-Die-M6-x-1-0-Pitch-/120810537022?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c20de803e"]6mm x 1 Metric Right Hand Die M6 x 1.0 Pitch | eBay[/URL]
[URL="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/6mm-x-1-Metric-Left-hand-Die-M6-x-1-0mm-Pitch-/120808618731?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c20c13aeb"]6mm x 1 Metric Left hand Die M6 x 1.0mm Pitch | eBay[/URL]

They're going to be cheapo dies but for a one-off set of threads in ally ought to be fine + some cutting lubricant for ally[/QUOTE]

[muscleflex]

What I'm planning to do is cut threads on both ends of a 6mm aluminum rod. The threads will be about half an inch on both sides. One side LH thread and the other side has RH thread.

This is for balancing props (quadcopter props, DJI Phantom's new self tightening props to be exact) so I will need the rod to be straight as much as possible.

[pgkevet]

Are you sure you're not just reinventing the wheel....there's got to be lot of prop balancers out there? I've got some hobbyking jobbie for blade balancing (that i hardly ever use) and if memory serves that uses cones to centre plank blade hubs.

You would expect 6mm ally rod to be pretty straight when bought..specially when the length you want will only be a few inches. Cut it into sections and roll them/ spin them ina chuck etc to assess starightness.
Die holders come in standard sizes as far as i know. I've cut a few threads over the years but probably still in single figures so hardly an expert. (except in my old day job when I was forever tapping threads into bone) I've also watched a heck of a lot of vids on thread cutting with a lathe - one of the toys on my want list. It's a pfaff to do well on a manual lathe - and if turning a rod down to size for accuracy first then it might be better out of steel..ally is a bit stickier to machine.

You might consider buying one of the cheap thread cutting sets - cos they come with tap and die holders - and then just buying the left hand die as an extra. It's handy to have around to retap a stripped thread a size or so larger plus practice helps. You can find charts for hole and rod sizes for thread cutting on google and plenty of how-to vids

[muscleflex]

^^Thanks. I found a couple of cheap guys that have the LH die. I might do as you've suggested and get a cheap set and get the LH die separately.
regarding balancing.. yeah, unfortunately there's no way to balance the new DJI Phantom Self Tightening props.
The props come with the nuts built in so a DuBro highpoint balancer won't work because there's no hole for the balancer rod to go thru.
My only plan is to get a shaft that will screw onto the prop so i can balance it on my dubro. (the new Phantoms come with both LH and RH threads hence I need the 2 dies)

Here is a photo of the new selft tightening props
[ATTACH=CONFIG]68364[/ATTACH]
As you can see, the nut is built in to the propeller.

[pgkevet]

a thinner shaft and 2 cones should still self-centre
In fact I think i have a couple of plastic cones with a small centre hole that could easily be drilled and tapped bigger and might suit that purpose (syringe ends for applying nasal vaccines). What is the diameter and thread type of your dubro shaft?

..and do these props fit loosely over that shaft

[muscleflex]

No no... these ST (self tightening) props come with the nuts built in. so there's no way for a shaft to go thru for balancing purposes :(

[pgkevet]

no through hole? as in fitted with blind boss?

[muscleflex]

Nope - the nuts are built in and enclosed.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]68365[/ATTACH]

[pgkevet]

Got it ..so into a blind boss. So you need some sort of stand with enough length of rod to counterbalance the prop weight through, say, a couple of bearings with ID M6.
have you considered just buyng threaded rod? (at first i thought you wanted a rod with each end threaded differently to balace prop pairs - you may do)
[url=http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/271259159932?lpid=83&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=83&ff19=0]M6 x 1000mm Left Hand A2 Stainless Threaded Bar L/H | eBay[/url]
You'll still have bearing friction to contend with .. alhough I've seen good results with the simple idea of balancing the axle on ice cubes or home made v-mould ice cubes

[muscleflex]

The dubro balancer can take care of the counterbalancing problem.
But yes, unfortunately, I tried getting just a threaded rod but the threads, as you've said, stop the balancer from balancing correctly because the threads on the rod get in the way of the balancer.
I need to thread on both ends (leaving the middle polished and untouched= smooth) so i can use the same rod to balance both sets of props because on the Phantom, 2 blades are LH threaded and 2 blades are RH threaded
I'll just order a cheap set tomorrow morning. I found this:
[URL="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/400409099890?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]Metric Tap and Die Set 24pcs by U.S.PRO Tools AT590 | eBay[/URL]

and I'll order this LH die: [URL="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/370793705999?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649"]RDGTOOLS M6 X 1.0 LEFT HAND DIE | eBay[/URL]

altho when I looked at the websites, they gave me UNF, UNC, BSF etc so I hope the above are ok for my needs

[pgkevet]

metric is metric ..other guages etc are imperial, american, etc
The only thing about the set you picked is that it starts M5 and it may be possible to find a set that starts say m2.5 or m3 just because they are sizes you're more likely to find handy in this hobby... although you can always get extra taps and dies and holders. I think the cheapo kit I bought started M3 - but then that was years ago.
Ebay will also have assorted rod and tube diameters in short hobby lengths (even B&Q used to have some handy sizes) for a bit of playtime tapping out some tube etc.
Since you've never done it it's worth a look on youtube and a practice before going for the finished product.
Best of luck

[muscleflex]

Ahh I see. I'll check the sets then and see if there's a smaller one I can find.
Thanks for the help! It's been really useful!