Lathe tooling setup

Hello
As a complete beginner with lathes I need some help with tooling setup.
I need to make some simple 8" long aluminum rods with internal threads in both ends.

First I will turn the OD with the stock clamped between chuck and tailstock.
Then I want to drill and tap one side. Turn the part and drill/tap the other side.

My lathe has a 3 jaw chuck. Turning the outside won't be a problem.
But I'm sure I will damage the outside of the part when I need to clamp it for the holes/threads.

So what's the best approach and maybe the fastest when swapping parts/stock?
Buying a 8C collet chuck?

I don't have a pneumatic/hydraulic chuck or anything.
My idea was to program a G0 at the end of one operation. Then I can open the chuck, flip the part and push the part against a tool or flat surface on the turret for easy alignment.

Use bored to size soft jaws with if need be a single wrap of masking tape on the finished OD.

Using soft jaws instead of buying a complete new collet chuck is maybe a better option indeed.

My jaws have a slot



Almost all softjaws I can find have a flat bottom surface.
Are they compatible?

tcncj said:

Almost all softjaws I can find have a flat bottom surface.
Are they compatible?

Click to expand...

Looks like American Standard T&G. Should be easy to find soft jaws.

TGO612-2S 6" T & G American Standard Tongue & Groove Soft Top Jaws, ALUMINUM - 2." Height,12 deg. Pointed

tcncj said:

As a complete beginner with lathes I need some help with tooling setup.ends.

My idea was to program a G0 at the end of one operation.

Click to expand...

Fat fingering a G0 instead of M0 on your CNC lathe has major consequences. Just sayin.

tcncj said:

Using soft jaws instead of buying a complete new collet chuck is maybe a better option indeed.

My jaws have a slot

Almost all softjaws I can find have a flat bottom surface.
Are they compatible?

Click to expand...

This is where ya go for chuck jaws in the UK, ......get their catalogue up, and if still in doubt, give em a bell, ...IME very helpful folk and chuck jaws are what they do Thame Workholding - Innovative standard and specialist workholding solutions to improve your manufacturing efficiency

Limy Sami said:

Use bored to size soft jaws with if need be a single wrap of masking tape on the finished OD.

Click to expand...

I have used three pieces of tin which can take more pressure than masking tape. Once you remove the part the tin shims cannot be reused. I have used masking take on small parts which don't need as much clamping pressure.

A piece of round Alumilinium, ID the same as the OD of the part, 3mm wall, length the same as the jaws and saw it in half. Split ring.

But for your own sake (not the Japanese hot wine) investing in soft jaws is without question something you should come to terms with now. Building them is not difficult or expensive if you have the time and material.

R