[KevMoto]

Depends on how you thread I imagine.

Rigid tapping is always a hit or miss with Mach 3 in my opinion, but there are folks who do it. Those using a servo spindle should be able to reliably though.

Thread milling can be done with nearly any CNC mill as exact RPM is not critical.

Extension compression tapping should be doable with most mills that are reasonably close to RPM numbers and have decent torque at lower RPMs.

I do most of my tapping as a secondary operation on my drill press with a tapping head.

There is also the start and stop time for the spindle to consider.

I was thinking of external or internal threads over a longer distance, using the lathe, the way the auto-feed is already set up with the gears.

[Bob La Londe]

I was thinking of external or internal threads over a longer distance, using the lathe, the way the auto-feed is already set up with the gears.

Actually Mach3Lathe will accept an index pulse from a lathe spindle for synchronizing lathe type threading.

[KevMoto]

Actually Mach3Lathe will accept an index pulse from a lathe spindle for synchronizing lathe type threading.

perfect,then FannBlade's set up will be perfect and it will allow me to move the big electical box on the G9729 like he did. Right now it's not centered and I just don't care for how it looks sitting on the table I built. I'll build my own cabinet like he did, replace the pulleys and motors.