[baskarz]

G'day all!

Thought i would post my homemade die holder made on my homemade cnc machine.
I have one of those cheap tap n die sets, cost me all of around $35 AU, anyhoo they thread soft metals fine but the die holders are very flimsy.
Broke it pretty early on so figured i would just wizz one up on the cnc, needless to say came out nicely

I had picked up a bunch of 6061 scrap from the boatbuilders and used a bit of 12mm to make the die holder with.
Quickly drew a design in bobcad and away we went.
Cut with my sole remaining 1/8" 2 flute bit at a conservative 0.5mm doc and 1300mm/min feed.
It measures 80mm x 50mm and i tapped a m5 thread on one side for a set screw to retain the die and as i had some 5/16 all-thread handy I tapped a hole in each end for handles and sleeved some ally tube over.

[alan_3301]

very nice. I have a broken die holder from a cheap set. Now I have to make one for myself.
Thanks!

[Khalid]

Creativity at it best..Thanks for sharing

[baskarz]

Glad you guys liked it
Cleaned up the dxf so thought I may as well share it.
I made this one out of 12mm thick 6061 scrap, the die pocket is 9mm deep ( you can alter depth to suit, my dies are about 8mm thick) and the round hole is obviously a pocket thru the material.
You will obviously have to drill and tap the set screw and handle holes manually on a drill press, i used m5 for the set screw (had one on hand) and 5/16" for the handles ( again, had some on hand )
Oh and cut with 1/8" endmill so it would get into the rounded parts of the die corners ( I put them in so i didn't have to try file the inside corners)

Enjoy :cheers:

heh also a pic of why aluminium tube handles probably weren't the greatest idea haha

[Devastator]

heh also a pic of why aluminium tube handles probably weren't the greatest idea haha

Nothing an anodizing tank won't fix. Nice job.