Thread die holder

[baskarz]

Here's my take on the humble die holder.
The holder i got with a cheap tap and die set wasn't too great and once i tried to thread a 10mm bar it split in half.
So being a cheapskate i decided to just make my own from scrap 6061 aluminium i had lying around.
Drew up the design in cad/cam and machined it on the cnc. ally was 15mm thick and i cut it out using a 1/8" endmill.
Can share the dxf if anyone likes, was drawn in vcarve pro.

[Christophe Mineau]

Hi, nice, build !
Just one question, why did you go for an octagonal interior shape ?
With your CNC, you could have cut it round ?

[Toolmaker51]

Hi, nice, build !
Just one question, why did you go for an octagonal interior shape ?
With your CNC, you could have cut it round ?

Hex dies are solid, typically 're-threading tools' in #2 class of fit. There are solid round dies of unknown origin, likely for the same purpose, in a more friendly pattern.

[baskarz]

Thanks Christophe.
The dies i have are all hex shaped so that's why i went with that design.

edit: i see what you mean, the photos dont show that they are hex shaped dies all that well, at first glance they look round :P

[Christophe Mineau]

OK, understood.

And what about your CNC mill, is it homemade ? On the other thread where you show a photo, the cutting head seems to be pow a wood router ?

[kbalch]

Thanks baskarz! I've added your Threading Die Holder to our Tapping and Threading category, as well as to your builder page: baskarz's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Threading Die Holder by baskarz

tags: machining, CNC, die holder

[baskarz]

Yes the cnc is homemade and from mostly recycled materials.
It is an Ozito 850w router controlled by a SuperPID.
I built it around 2 years ago and its had quite a workout in those 2 years.
I will post the cnc up once i find all my build photos

[DIYer]

That's a great holder! You say the original split in half??!! Jeez! Quality tools are getting rarer (or hideously expensive) these days.

[rlmercad013]

I'd like a copy of the DXF.

[baskarz]

Thanks DIYer, it was a cheap and nasty set, the holder was poorly cast alloy and didn't take much to fail.

Here is the dxf for those interested. Its a simple 2d drawing and i used 1/2" 6061 to make it.
The hex pocket i made 9mm deep and it was all cut with a 1/8" 2 flute endmill.
You could use a thicker material and the handles are just some allthread i had laying around with peices of aluminium tube slid over it.

Die holder.zip