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gear drive set screw thread pitch
Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2014 8:04 pm
by stonewater
Hi everyone,
the 3 gear drives that slide onto the stepper motor shaft are locked down with allen set screws. one of the 3 aluminum gear drives was not thru tapped so the set screw will not completely thread. any idea what tap size I need. I thought it might be 4-40 but its not.
Tom C
Re: gear drive set screw thread pitch
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 10:53 am
by Eaglezsoar
stonewater wrote:Hi everyone,
the 3 gear drives that slide onto the stepper motor shaft are locked down with allen set screws. one of the 3 aluminum gear drives was not thru tapped so the set screw will not completely thread. any idea what tap size I need. I thought it might be 4-40 but its not.
Tom C
The ones I have are 3mm with a .5 thread pitch
Re: gear drive set screw thread pitch
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 11:45 am
by stonewater
ok thanks,
these are the new aluminum ones (just got this machine) are yours the same? I dont think it will be easy to find a tap that size at the hardware store
hopefully support will get back with me to confirm.
Tom C
Re: gear drive set screw thread pitch
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 12:07 pm
by Eaglezsoar
stonewater wrote:ok thanks,
these are the new aluminum ones (just got this machine) are yours the same? I dont think it will be easy to find a tap that size at the hardware store
hopefully support will get back with me to confirm.
Tom C
Yes, mine are the same. It would be probably be easier to get a new one from support at SeeMeCNC. You would have to get the tap at McMaster Carr or Amazon.com
HomeDepot has them but you have to buy a 12 pc set of metic taps and dies for $24.95.
Re: gear drive set screw thread pitch
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 5:04 pm
by Eric
The material is only aluminum, and you implied the threading was at least started. You might be able to use an M3-0.5 steel screw instead of a real tap in this case. Worst case is you'll ruin it and have to get a new gear.
Re: gear drive set screw thread pitch
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 8:05 pm
by stonewater
clark's true value had A single Tap for 5.79..... a bit steep for a single tap but I was dead in the water with assembly until I got that worked out, thanks for the info.
Tom C
Re: gear drive set screw thread pitch
Posted: Sat Jan 18, 2014 8:23 pm
by Eaglezsoar
stonewater wrote:clark's true value had A single Tap for 5.79..... a bit steep for a single tap but I was dead in the water with assembly until I got that worked out, thanks for the info.
Tom C
That was a good find, most small hardware stores don't even sell the metric taps individually.