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R.M.S. die.

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 2:16 pm
by apochronaut
Does anyone on this forum have or have access to an R.M.S. objective thread die?

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 8:12 pm
by PeteM
Phil, Don't know about a die - the taps are readily available. However, most lathes will cut a 36 tpi thread and it's not hard to shape a tool to the 55 degree included (vs. normal 60 degree) angle. Perhaps someone in your area has a shop? One minus to a die is that they usually can't cut cleanly right to a shoulder -- so you may be better off with a lathe-cut thread with a bit of relief next to any shoulder that might be present.

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 8:26 pm
by MicroBob
Hi Phil,
here RMS taps and dies are offered: https://www.baercoil.com/pdf/Gewindebohrer2014EN.pdf
Price on request, propably dirt cheap! :mrgreen:
I don't know what quality would be to expect there. It isn't an established manufacturer, maybe better chinese quality?

Are you up to an interesting project, by the way?

Bob

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 9:41 pm
by MichaelG.
MicroBob wrote:Hi Phil,
here RMS taps and dies are offered: https://www.baercoil.com/pdf/Gewindebohrer2014EN.pdf
Price on request, propably dirt cheap!
Infinite Improbability Drive engaged:
https://baer.tools/en/taps-dies/thread- ... 8-x-36-hss

MichaelG.

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:46 pm
by apochronaut
Thank you for the answers. Not an interesting project. I'm stalled on the previous interesting ones. If I take on a new interesting project, it will dilute the interest yet again and leave less interest available for each project. Diluted interest eventually becomes unstable, allowing enthusiasm to escape as a vapour. The residual substance left behind is apathy.

I just have a brand new bright phase contrast objective that was finished with a stirrup type mount. The flange is big enough to accept about 4 R.M.S. threads and there is a clear space behind it Pete, so a die should have enough room to produce a finished thread.

All of the sources I have seen, Baer being one, show extremely high prices. I just thought if someone happened to have one, I might be able to rent it or hire it out.
A lathe is possible and I have access to one but I probably should take all the optics out, which makes it more of a project. A die would be a 1/2 hour job. max and the optics could stay put with a bit of protection.

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 10:57 pm
by tgss
I have never used an RMS die, but the diameter is large enough that I suspect it would be quite hard to hand start the die square to the axis of the part being threaded. Even if used in a lathe dieholder the depth of thread is such that getting a clean result in one pass on a blank diameter would be unlikely. Ideally the thread should be rough cut by screwcutting on the lathe using a tool as suggested by PeteM, then finished accurately by removing the last few thou with the die.

Tom

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Mon Jun 10, 2019 11:25 pm
by PeteM
Interestingly, at least for me, the price Baer wants for a single RMS die should buy a lathe capable of cutting a lifetime of 36 tpi threads.

Phil, a possible hack would be to get a $10 parfocal extender with RMS threads. Probably already have one - you'll just need the threaded portion. Then turn down the diameter of what you have to slip fit inside the parfocal adapter. Bit of epoxy and you now have your RMS threads. This means pretty much any lathe with a collet or chuck (or a mill) capable of holding what you have could be put to use.

Depending upon the objective (needs a cylindrical section), I've had good luck holding them with collets. If the lathe bore and collet are clean, there's no damage from the inside and it's usually possible to block the backside of the objective from any chips. And with a proper cutting tool, the chips will peel off safely away.

I've also cleaned up the barrels of not-so-pricey objectives by screwing them into a parfocal extender and holding that in a collet. Takes some care not to get any grit near the exposed lens, but this dodge has helped get a few more microscopes out the door and into the hands of kids. So far no damage to any glass, though I wouldn't likely try it on a pricey objective.

Might also add that a lathe collet is a superb tool for removing a stuck objective from its mount.

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 5:27 am
by MichaelG.
apochronaut wrote:If I take on a new interesting project, it will dilute the interest yet again and leave less interest available for each project. Diluted interest eventually becomes unstable, allowing enthusiasm to escape as a vapour. The residual substance left behind is apathy.
:o Wow ... I didn't realise there would be free psychoanalysis on this forum

MichaelG.

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 7:43 am
by MicroBob
Hi Phil,
cutting the thread with a die would lead to quite big cutting forces. I'm not sure that the barrel really is intended to withstand them. On the other hand side sigle point cutting on the lathe is a very fine process when done in several cuts (and always stopped before the shoulder). For this small amount of thread it would be sufficient to use a metric lathe and choose a pitch that is close.
Typical dies also need some turns to cut to full depth so the last threads to the shoulder might no fit into every nosepiece.

Bob

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 8:17 am
by MichaelG.
MicroBob wrote:For this small amount of thread it would be sufficient to use a metric lathe and choose a pitch that is close.
Although, in pragmatic terms for a one-off job, you are probably right, Bob
It is interesting [nay, humbling] to note how closely toleranced the RMS threads were specified.
http://www.science-info.net/docs/etc/RMSthread.jpg

I have seen a set of the inspection gauges ... a thing of great beauty!

The suggestion made by PeteM makes a lot of sense to me [*], and a suitable grade of Loctite 'retainer' would be my favoured fixing method.

MichaelG.
.

[*] although I would probably just use an optically scrap objective as the thread donor

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 9:18 am
by MicroBob
Hi Michael,

0,003 inch tolerance is 0,0762mm, this is actually a comparatively coarse tolerance for todays standards. At the time this standard was defined the lathes will have looked "somewhat" different though. I couldn't find a date for this standard. Maudsleys invented the lead screw around 1800 it might have been before this date. Precision machining was an art at this time!

Petes suggestion is very good as it reduces the turning operation to a very fool proof one - always a good thing.

Bob

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 9:49 am
by MichaelG.
MicroBob wrote:0,003 inch tolerance is 0,0762mm, this is actually a comparatively coarse tolerance for todays standards.
Very true, Bob ... but impressive for the time
I think I have a note of the date, somewhere
... Will edit this post if I can find it.

MichaelG.
.

Edit: see here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf ... .tb01530.x

Edit: see here pp39-41 for the original 'standard'
https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/ite ... 9/mode/1up
... I note with some amusement that they quote 54° thread angle ... but presumably Whitworth put them right.

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 12:36 pm
by apochronaut
MicroBob wrote:Hi Phil,
cutting the thread with a die would lead to quite big cutting forces. I'm not sure that the barrel really is intended to withstand them. On the other hand side sigle point cutting on the lathe is a very fine process when done in several cuts (and always stopped before the shoulder). For this small amount of thread it would be sufficient to use a metric lathe and choose a pitch that is close.
Typical dies also need some turns to cut to full depth so the last threads to the shoulder might no fit into every nosepiece.

Bob
I'm not anticipating any undue cutting forces. The thread is very fine, so intrinsically requiring less force, going onto brass and there will be only about 4 of them; not requiring anywhere near the force encountered by most of the other threads I've cut in the past. This is also a fairly beefy, one piece barrel : not one of those thin walled cores with the external cosmetic sleeve and I probably can grip the flange, when turning the thread. Quality dies can also be adjusted for depth, finishing the thread in more than one cut.

Whitworth threads are difficult to cut on a lathe. I know that people make do with metric lathes but the crest and root have a rounded form. This posed so much of a problem that the ASME developed an alternative truncated thread in 1958, that allowed the use of conventional machinery to make microscope threads. The truncated thread ANSI B1-11 1958 (1972) presumably became adopted . I haven't looked at any of my American made stuff closely enough to see if the crests are flat. The truncated thread crests pose zero problem in this application, it's not like they are being used to mount rocket launchers, so I probably could get someone to use that form, since I have the specification. I do have access to a shop that cuts Whitworth threads for aircraft parts, so I could go there but the objective isn't important enough to me, to spend 50.00 or more to thread it. It just has the correct specs. on the barrel, so I would like to use that barrel. If I can't get a thread on it easily, I will just swap the optics over to a plain barrel, which would render it fully functional. The two barrels are identical; just one has bright phase, stamped on it.

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 3:18 pm
by MichaelG.
apochronaut wrote: Quality dies can also be adjusted for depth, finishing the thread in more than one cut.
Unfortunately, the one listed by Baer is clearly shown as being solid.
... I have seen no documentary evidence, but I presume that they expect it to be used for finishing a thread that has already been partially screw-cut.

MichaelG.
.

Edit: regarding the truncated form ... I think it useful to post these links:
https://www.ring-plug-thread-gages.com/ ... -B1.11.htm
http://gost-snip.su/download/ansi_b1_11 ... twe_thread

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Jun 11, 2019 5:25 pm
by MicroBob
apochronaut wrote:Whitworth threads are difficult to cut on a lathe.
Today there are full-profile rungsten carbide inserts that cut the rounded root and crest when the last cut is made. Whether these are easily available for this thread is the next question.
With home shop equipment I would use a tool with rounded tip and cut the thread on a slightly oversize diameter. When I then turn it down to a bit over size and gind it zo size with emery linen I would come very close to the perfect profile.

Re: R.M.S. die. : more or less solved.

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 6:04 pm
by apochronaut
I got to thinking , how close would a metric thread be to the R.M.S. .8" 36 t.p.i. thread? Something very close would be 20.2mm X .78 , which doesn't exist but 20mm X .75 does. Since the diameter is slightly less and the thread slightly coarser, it seemed possible that a thread cut with a 20mm X .75 die might be close enough to work, or could be made to, if the objective was run in and out a few times. The fact that the die did not bottom out well was a benefit, because it left a slightly flared thread at the objective shoulder, giving the objective a nice tight fit, despite the actual thread being .2mm narrow.
Die; 9.00 including shipping on ebay.
While the thread I managed to do is anything but a thing of beauty, it works. The objective is on and tightened beyond finger tight. It is never coming off ( by me anyway).

Picture 1. the original conundrum. Two identical objectives, one with the R.M.S. thread and the other with a stirrup mount. I neglected to photograph the stirrup mount that I cut the thread on prior to cutting but it was very close to this, with the exception that it had a beneficial gap cut between the collar and the objective shoulder.

Picture 2. die and objective with messy thread.

Picture3. Nosepieces carrying all of the phase objectives necessary for the AO 34mm infinity system.....sans the 10X .25 bright phase achromat.

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 10:07 pm
by MicroBob
Hi Phil,
great idea! I wouldn't even have looked for such a die as it is much finer than a standard metric thread. Can you post a link for the ebay offer?

Bob

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Tue Mar 03, 2020 11:17 pm
by apochronaut
There are about 20 listings for the size but most are over 20.00 and close to 30, with shipping, however, considerably less than 400 + Euros . I found some American made ones that used the ANSI B1-11 truncated thread but they were over 200.00.
I guess this ebay merchant has quite a few surplus 20 x 0.75. I wouldn't have spent over 20.00 because the results were unproven. I don't even have a die stock that can take such a large die. I just closed a 10" pair of curved jaw vicegrips around it so one of the teeth grabbed the locking groove and hoped for the best. I held the barrel of the objective with another pair of vice grips clamped around a thick leather strap made from an old horse tracer. It is about 6 or 7mm thick.
It actually cut quite easily, once started but I'm not sure I would recommend the practice as a general rule.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1pcs-20mm-x-75 ... SwDuJW04zw

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 2:00 pm
by blekenbleu
ApergonDie.jpg
ApergonDie.jpg (57.05 KiB) Viewed 11658 times
With its idiosynchratic thread, this AO Apergon objective is otherwise useful mostly as a paperweight,
but may lack enough brass for cutting an RMS thread.
I'm not sure I would recommend the practice as a general rule
There are still 8 available: https://www.ebay.com/itm/291697687466
Unlike many others, this die has tapers ground on either side,
but no taper to threads; starting an existing RMS-threaded objective on the die is problematic.
I held the barrel of the objective with another pair of vice grips clamped around a thick leather strap
This objective fits nicely inside a 12-point 3/4-inch socket.
Lacking confidence in ability to hold an objective squarely to the die face by hand,
1/4->3/8->1/2 drive adapters in a 1/2-inch drill press chuck helps control positioning:
ApergonSocketDie.jpg
ApergonSocketDie.jpg (42.07 KiB) Viewed 11658 times

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 3:37 pm
by MicroBob
Thank you for posting the link to the cheap die - I wasn't able to find it myself.

Bob

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Thu Apr 02, 2020 7:30 pm
by apochronaut
I posted a link on March 3 and the link seems to work. Does it not work for you, Bob?

blekenbleu. the Apergon objectives used a 25mm thread so users wouldn't make the mistake of installing a conventional objective in the Metallographs they were made for.They go back to at least 1950 but your example marked Apergon II, is probably much newer.

Since they were also infinity corrected, I am curious if they work in any infinity system made today. Supposedly, the reference length is 200mm, so they actually might fit a more modern Leica for instance and provide the proper magnification but the telan lens corrections are a question mark . Did your threading work and did you use the objective on any microscope?

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 5:06 am
by MicroBob
apochronaut wrote:
Thu Apr 02, 2020 7:30 pm
I posted a link on March 3 and the link seems to work. Does it not work for you, Bob?
Hi Phil, now it does but then it didn't. Maybe the shipping options have been changed for Germany inbetween?

Bob

Re: R.M.S. die.

Posted: Sat Apr 30, 2022 6:39 pm
by blekenbleu
apochronaut wrote:
Thu Apr 02, 2020 7:30 pm
blekenbleu. the Apergon objectives used a 25mm thread
so users wouldn't make the mistake of installing a conventional objective in the Metallographs they were made for.
They go back to at least 1950 but your example marked Apergon II, is probably much newer.

Since they were also infinity corrected, I am curious if they work in any infinity system made today.
Supposedly, the reference length is 200mm, so they actually might fit a more modern Leica for instance
and provide the proper magnification but the telan lens corrections are a question mark.
Did your threading work and did you use the objective on any microscope?
I apologize for the delay in responding.
My improvisation was inadequate.
This Apergon II has a 21.2 o.d. thread, which is too much to try cutting with a 20mm die.

Lacking access to a lathe (having sold mine when moving a decade ago),
A recent project motivated a 65mm chuck for my drill press,
but its jaws have too much runout; should have instead opted for a 4-jaw chuck...
If/when those issues get sorted, this thread-ectomy attempt may resume.