Cleanline threader
A thread milling system includes a thread milling machine having a spindle; and a combination tool having a body and a reaming insert, the body having a first end and a second end, the body defining a securing pocket, the reaming insert secured proximate to the second end of the body and within the securing pocket, the second end of the body attached to the spindle.
1. A thread milling system comprising:
a thread milling machine comprising:
a base assembly comprising a securing mount, the securing mount receiving and securing a pipe:
a positioning assembly mounted to the base assembly, the positioning assembly comprising a spindle, at least one motor, and at least one rail, the at least one motor and the at least one rail configured to move the spindle along an x-axis, a y-axis, and a z-axis relative to the securing mount, the spindle being rotatable relative to the securing mount about an axis of rotation of the spindle; and
a control panel connected in electrical communication with the at least one motor;
a combination tool having a body and a reaming insert, the body having a first end and a second end, the body defining an insert groove, the reaming insert secured within the insert groove, the first end of the body attached to the spindle, the body defining a securing pocket extending into the second end towards the first end; and
a threading tool defining a first tool end and a second tool end, the threading tool defining a tool axis extending from the first tool end to the second tool end, the second tool end received at least partially within the securing pocket, the tool axis being coaxial with the axis of rotation of the spindle, the threading tool defining an outer cylindrical surface, a center axis of the outer cylindrical surface being coaxial with the axis of rotation; and
wherein:
the positioning assembly comprises a y-axis plate and a y-axis rail of the at least one rail;
the y-axis rail extends parallel to the y-axis;
the y-axis plate is configured to move along the y-axis rail relative to the y-axis; the spindle is secured to the y-axis plate;
the spindle is fixed relative to the y-axis plate along the z-axis;
the z-axis is parallel to the axis of rotation of the spindle;
the control panel receives pipe dimensions of the pipe, the pipe dimensions comprising an outer diameter of the pipe; and based on the pipe dimensions the control panel receives, the thread milling machine automatically determines an x-axis movement, a y-axis movement, and a z-axis movement of the positioning assembly;
the positioning assembly is configured to move the threading tool through the x-axis movement, the y-axis movement, and the z-axis movement; and
the control panel is configured to operate the thread milling machine to automatically cause the x-axis movement, the y-axis movement, and the z-axis movement of the positioning assembly to cause the threading tool, which is attached to the spindle of the positioning assembly via the body of the combination tool, to engage and cut external threads into an outer surface of the pipe by completing at least one pass around the pipe.
2. The thread milling system of claim 1 , further comprising a fastener to secure the threading tool within the securing pocket.
3. The thread milling system of claim 1 , wherein the reaming insert is a first reaming insert and the insert groove is a first insert groove, wherein the combination tool further comprises a second reaming insert secured within a second insert groove defined by the body, and wherein the second reaming insert is positioned opposite from the first reaming insert.
4. The thread milling system of claim 3 , wherein the first reaming insert comprises a cutting edge and the second reaming insert comprises a cutting edge, and wherein a distance between the cutting edge of the first reaming insert and the cutting edge of the second reaming insert is adjustable.
5. The thread milling system of claim 1 , wherein the reaming insert is pivotable relative to the body.
6. The thread milling system of claim 1 , wherein the combination tool is configured to rotate when the spindle rotates.
7. The thread milling system of claim 1 , wherein the body defines a body axis extending from the first end to the second end, and wherein the spindle is configured to rotate the body about the body axis.
8. The thread milling system of claim 7 , wherein the body axis extends through the threading tool.
9. The thread milling system of claim 1 , wherein the positioning assembly comprises:
a horizontal base plate coupled to the base assembly, the horizontal base plate being fixed relative to the securing mount along the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis;
a z-axis plate configured to move relative to the horizontal base plate along the z-axis, the z-axis plate being fixed relative to the horizontal base plate along the x-axis and the y-axis;
an x-axis plate configured to move relative to the z-axis plate along the x-axis, the x-axis plate being fixed relative to the z-axis plate along the y-axis and the z-axis; and
a vertical base plate coupled to the x-axis plate, the vertical base plate being fixed relative to the x-axis plate along the x-axis, the y-axis, and the z-axis, the y-axis plate being configured to move relative to the vertical base plate along the y-axis, the y-axis plate being fixed relative to the vertical base plate along the x-axis and the z-axis.
10. The thread milling system of claim 1 , wherein the y-axis plate is configured to move relative to the securing mount along the z-axis.