What are die holders and how to use them?

To cut threads using dies, one important detail is used - the ram holder. Its use is justified in the case when it is necessary to form a helical groove by hand. At the same time, one cycle of work takes only a few minutes.

The ramming tool is a ram holder with handles that are only needed for one pipe threading process. It is not intended for more serious metal cutting tasks.

To prevent the die holder from scrolling around the die, it is secured with side screws that are inserted into the die holder itself and prevent the cutter from spinning in it. When making a helical groove, a standard die is used, which consists of a body in which threaded recesses are located. The shank guide allows the die to fit precisely into the holder and ensures proper threading. It enters the ram holder and is fixed in it with three screws. They keep her in it.

The die, like the holder, is a removable part. It can be replaced in case of wear or damage to the inner thread. The die holder becomes again suitable for further work - it is not necessary to change it together with the die.

The die with a simple shank and handle is designed to form external threads without any additional convenience. Requirements for it are smooth and precise work, high quality of the screw groove cut. For this, it has a smooth surface. It is made, like other types of cutters, from alloy steel, whose hardness is not less than 60 units according to Rockwell.

A ratchet die has one interesting feature - by clicking, you can accurately calculate how many turns are cut, without spending too much time checking, determining the already executed turns. There are also improved versions of dies - a counting electronics is mounted in the housing of the ram holder, through which the ratchet-closure / breaker is connected. The principle of operation of such a ram holder is similar to a bicycle computer: it counts the number of turns by interrupting the signal circuit using a ratchet. Die holders with electronics are still not widespread and represent "aerobatics" for craftsmen, whose activities are on a wide scale. Die holders with an electronic calculator of cut turns are replaced by a low-speed CNC machine, which costs dozens of times more.

Manual and machine dies are designed for use on a manual ram holder, or "handbrake", and on lathes or drilling machines that have a chuck with an adapter for a ram holder or the ram cutter itself.

All cutters are end cutters - they cut the turns from the end, not from the beginning of the bolt.

The ratchet die is a versatile tool suitable for cutting both right and left screws. For a round tool, such a holder is of the following types:

• I - with an outer diameter of 16 mm;
• II - with a diameter of 30 mm;
• III - designed for a diameter of 25 ... 200 mm.

Examples of sizes - 55, 65, 38, 25, 30 mm.

There are dozens of examples of the spread of parameters.

The sleeve of the transition in the design regulates the clamping of the die, facilitates the fitting onto the workpiece before cutting. This makes it possible to cut threaded turns on a pin of small diameter without any problems. Make sure the fixing screws are tightened securely. When installing in the machine, not screws are used, but technological protrusions that enter the corresponding recesses. Before starting work, manually select a suitable gate for a specific ram holder. Insert the die into it, fix it with screws and install the tool on the workpiece (pipe or fittings). Begin to twist, making a back-and-forth motion. Having cut two turns, increase the steps "back and forth" by an angle (in degrees). Do not forget to periodically remove the die and remove steel filings from the workpiece to be cut, add a little machine oil... The die, like the drill, does not tolerate running dry - otherwise it will overheat and wear off.

To lubricate the die, in addition to engine oil, transmission oil is used, as well as the development of both, industrial (for lubricating locks and machines). If there is no suitable technical oil, it is permissible to use solid oil or lithol, but do not overdo it with visits - too hard grease dries out with repeated overheating and gives additional force when screwing the tool onto the workpiece. An alternative is to use graphite grease.

Having purchased a die, the consumer wonders which side to put it on the pipe or rod. In theory, the die is capable of threading circles on either side - it would be the high quality steel alloy from which it is worked. It is possible to cut the thread with the same die "back to front" if it is not conical (with a variable diameter tapering towards the opposite end).

The thread pitch in accordance with GOST on standard dies, for example, size M6, is 1 mm. If you need a non-standard thread, for example, for cutting a spare bicycle hub (there the thread is denser, its threads are much closer to each other than on standard bolts, nuts and studs), purchase the appropriate cutter.

According to GOST, dies are produced as right and left. To cut the screw threads of the groove on the left, you will have to "remember" (in your head or in a notebook) which side should be inserted into the cutter end - in this case, you will not confuse the left thread with the right thread.

However, you will not be able to simply turn the instrument over to turn the "left" plate (stick) into the "right" one. It is also not recommended to use any similar devices for steel blanks, for example, a flange from a grinder, as this tool - only levers have the required hardness.

A high-quality cutter is capable of threading up to a hundred times - subject to the rules of operation, however, it gradually wears out. The stronger the steel of the workpiece, the faster it wears out.It is a replaceable tool - like any metal nozzle, when a “soaked”, “lubricated” screw groove appears during the cutting process, it must be replaced with a new one, since the thread in it cannot be sharpened.