Version 1.5, 6 Apr 2013 Thread Milling Machine Operation

COMMENTS

This plugin provides a machining operation to generate spiral toolpaths for use with thread milling.

Version 1.5 Download (latest stable release)

For CamBam version 0.9.8 (latest stable release)

Released 6 Apr 2013

download ThreadingMOP-1.5.zip (11 KB)

For CamBam version 1.0 (development release)

Released 27 Dec 2016

download ThreadingMOP-1.5-CamBamV1.0.zip (11 KB)

Version 1.2, 8 Jul 2012 Download (older)

download ThreadingMOP-1.2.zip (11 KB)

This version is for CamBam versions earlier than 0.9.8N only.
It will not work with later CamBam versions.

Installation

To install the plugin, unzip ThreadingMOP.dll into the CamBam plugins folder.

If the installation is successful, you should see a new entry: Thread Mill in the top CamBam Machining menu.

Thread Milling MOP examples

Usage

The thread milling operation behaves similarly to a spiral drilling operation and can be based on point lists, circles or other drawing objects (for these, the center point of the selected object will be used).

The thread milling operation assumes a clearance hole has been previously drilled to the required minor thread diameter.

The machining operation will generate a spiral toolpath with the pitch of the thread set in the Depth Increment property.
TPI pitch values need to be converted to a distance measurement (for example 25 TPI set Depth Increment = 0.04 in).

The diameter of the thread is set in Hole Diameter. For internal threads, this should be the major diameter of the required thread. For example, for an M8 thread, Hole Diameter would be 8.0.
For external threads, the minor or core diameter of the required thread should be used.

A helical tangent lead in and lead out move will always be inserted. The lead moves will ramp one half pitch in Z height. The lead out height should be taken into account when setting the target depth. So if a 1mm pitch thread needs to be cut completely through 10mm stock, the target depth should be set to -10.5mm.

For internal threads, the toolpath will start from the center point of the hole. For external threads the tangent radius is currently fixed at half the tool diameter.

Bottom-up or top-down thread milling can be controlled using the Milling Direction property.
For example, if Spindle Direction is Clockwise, setting Milling Direction=Climb will result in a bottom-up cut

A multi-tip thread mill can be specified by entering in the Tool Flute Length property; for a single tip cutter this can be set to zero. For multi-tip cutters (or when bottom-up machining), the tool will be lowered into the center of the hole using the plunge feedrate, down to the staring point of the tangent lead in. A minimum of 1 spiral loop will be used and multiple loops will be inserted if the flute length is less than the target depth. To intenionally mill more than a single loop a smaller value than the true flute length may be entered.

Properties

Note, for clarity, some common properties are not shown here.

Clearance Plane

The clearance plane (offset from the work plane).

The clearance plane should be clear of the stock and any holding devices to allow free movement to any location.

There will be a move to the clearance plane between each thread cut.

Cut Feedrate The feed rate to use when thread cutting.
Depth Increment

The depth increment controls the pitch of the thread being milled.

This is the depth of cut for each loop of the spiral.

Hole Diameter

For internal threads, this should be the major diameter of the required thread. For example, for an M8 thread, Hole Diameter would be 8.0.
For external threads, the minor or core diameter of the required thread should be used.

Inside / Outside

Controls whether to cut an Inside / Internal or Outside / External thread.

Milling Direction

Controls the direction the cutter moves around the toolpath.

Conventional | Climb | Mixed

This property, together with the Spindle Direction property will also control whether the thread is milled bottom-to-top or top-to-bottom.

Plunge Feedrate

The feed rate to use when plunging. This is used when the thread mill is lowered into the clearance hole.

Roughing Clearance

This is the amount of stock to leave after the final cut.

Remaining stock is typically removed later in a finishing pass.

Negative values can be used to oversize cuts.

Spindle Direction

The direction of rotation of the spindle.

CW | CCW | Off

This property, together with the Milling Direction property will also control whether the thread is milled bottom to top or top to bottom.

Stock Surface

This is the Z offset of the stock surface.

For multi-tip cuters or bottom up machining, the tool may be lowered into the clearance hole, below the stock surface, before cutting starts.

Target Depth

The Z coordinate of the final machining depth.

Note: The last half pitch of the thread will be a tangent lead out move, so target depth should be set an extra half pitch deeper when a through thread is being cut.

Thread Handedness

Right Hand | Left Hand

Right hand threads are most common.

Tool Diameter

This is the diameter of the current tool in drawing units.

If the tool diameter is 0, the diameter from the tool information stored in the tool library for the given tool number will be used.

Note! Some thread mills may have a different diameter to their description. It is a good idea to measure the cutter and use the actual measured diameter here.

Tool Flute Length

This is the length of the cutting part of the thread milling cutter in drawing units.

For single tip thread mills, use 0 for the thread mill length.

For multi tip cutters, the flute length can be set to the number of teeth X thread pitch.

If this value is set to Auto, the flute length will be read from the tool library for the given tool number.

Tool Number

The ToolNumber is used to identify the current tool.

If ToolNumber changes between successive machine ops a toolchange instruction is created in gcode. ToolNumber=0 is a special case which will not issue a toolchange.

The tool number is also used to look up tool information in the current tool library. The tool library is specified in the containing Part, or if this is not present in the Machining folder level. If no tool library is defined the Default-(units) tool library is assumed.

Tool Profile

The shape of the cutter (not used).

CamBam does not currently provide a thread mill tool profile.

Revision History

Version 1.5

  • Modified to work with CamBam 0.9.8N rc-9.

Version 1.4

  • Modified to work with CamBam 0.9.8N.
  • Now uses Start Point for optimisation.

Version 1.2

  • Fixed bug where 'Hole diameter must be > tool diameter for spiral drill' error incorrectly reported for external threads.

Version 1.1

  • Fixed bug where roughing clearance and milling direction were incorrectly applied for external threads.

Version 1.0

  • Initial Release

Comments

<< 1 >> 
#  Cullen Bennett
14/05/2013 17:31:56
Perfect....Exactly what I was looking to do.
Reply Quote   13  
#  Kvom 05/11/2014 22:47:50
The cutwidth shown is not accurate, but the toolpaths are indeed correct.
Reply Quote   11  
#  GaryM 18/05/2016 00:13:49
Threaded holes... wow.
This would be a great time saver but I have no idea what tool to use for this?
Can someone suggest, for example how one would set up to cut 4-20 threads?
Thank you in advance.
What kind of tool does the threading?
Reply Quote   11  
#  anon 12/01/2017 00:28:27
You can use a single point thread mill.
Reply Quote   13  
#  Jim Gwynn 26/03/2017 07:28:56
Unable to get the Thread plugin to install in version 1.0 - Works fine in 0.98

and yes I made sure I downloaded the V1.0 dll
Reply Quote   11  
#  Braylon Orion 09/07/2019 15:15:28
You need to go with the best approach for milling and cutting job is to use the best preventive maintenance software like Hippo CMMS, Asset essentials, etc. This thread plugin looks great but i need an updated version of it.
Reply Quote   4  
#  meysam 06/12/2019 07:39:37
license cambam
Reply Quote   3  
#  Vincent Lau 02/08/2021 06:17:39
I need a thread pitch to Depth Increment chart, can you supply me with one, thanks.
Reply Quote   1  
#  Scott 30/05/2022 20:34:46
Hello, I cannot get this to install in my licensed version CamBam Plus 1.0. Please help! It worked great in 0.98 and now I can't use it!
Reply Quote   0  
#  layton 08/08/2024 23:06:26
Where can I report a bug in this plugin?

I have a hole size of 1.33 inches, and a tool size of 0.117 inches, and it is telling me that I have to have a hole size that is bigger than the tool size.

Versions: Operating system - Windows 11, CamBam 1.0 production release, Threading plugin 1.5

For those having trouble getting the plugin to install, you are dealing with a Windows security issue.
1) unzip the file
2) right click on the DLL in the unzipped folder, then click on properties.
3) at the bottom of the general tab you will se a security warning that says that this file came from another computer. Of course it did, you just downloaded it.
4) check the checkbox to the right of the message, then click apply. The security message will disappear.
5) click the "OK" button, and then copy the DLL to the folder where it is supposed to go.
NOTE: DO NOT TRY TO PUT IT WHERE IT GOES FIRST. If it is in the CamBam plugin folder, windows will not let you fix the security issue.
Reply Quote   0  
#  anon 08/08/2024 23:47:00
The project in question is in inches. The error message goes away if I change it to millimeters. That does give me a workaround, but it is still annoying.
Reply Quote   0  

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