Unimat SL Lathe Screw / Thread Cutting Attachment Operation

We take a look at the Unimat SL1000 / DB200 lathe screw or thread cutting attachment. I explain fitting and how to use and operate the attachment both manually by hand and under power using the slow speed pulley bracket.

[@homeworkshopengineering]

The reason these lathes are so loved is the sheer flexibility. What a brilliant idea

[@stevemorris3710]

And here we have, the Edison Phonograph.

[@JohnK8]

Ah the memories. That was the first lathe I ever used. My dad bought it when I was 8 years old. Never had the power feed or threading attachment though.

[@aceroadholder2185]

This works like the threading attachment on a Hardridge tool room lathe. On the Hardridge the master mounts on the outboard end of the lathe spindle. This makes changing thread pitches about a one minute job.

[@sierraspecialtyauto7049]

Wow. As I started watching this I thought "I wish I had that attachment for my SL" but by the end I figured I'll keep cutting threads on my 13" lathe. That's pretty close to more trouble than it's worth.😁

[@machinist_matt]

I use a tailstock die holder in my small lathes. Much easier. 🙂

[@AHTiraq]

​@@machinist_mattCan the EMCO S L lathe make a wheel of fafon or aluminum with a total diameter of 10 cm? I hope to get the answer.

[@ogaugeclockwork4407]

Incredibly complicated, but it works! Thanks for the demonstration!

[@roadshowautosports]

Okay, now let’s try stainless steel! 😂😂😂😂 Wow, I’m glad you’ve shown this! The setup time is way more than I thought! I’m sticking to tap and die for now and save for some small later with threading ability! Thanks for the video! Very detailed!

[@machinist_matt]

Yes, it's much easier to use taps and dies! Thanks for watching. 👍

[@danedewaard8215]

THANKS for the demo!!! I always wanted to see it in action! That is a MINT accessory which must have cost quite a bit!!! I think only a collector could love it though!

[@machinist_matt]

Hi Dan. Thanks for watching! I would agree, it's one for the collector. It works well but I certainly wouldn't want to set it up too often! 😬

[@SteamerEdge]

Great video Matt, very interesting, your Unimat SL is certainly in excellent condition. I have a thread-cutting attachment for mine but have, to date, never needed to use it. You have inspired me to give it a go. :-)) cheers Paul

[@machinist_matt]

Hi Paul. Thanks for watching! To be honest I've never "needed" mine either haha . But it's an interesting contraption, you should give it a go, even if it's just for fun. 🙂👍

[@derekturner3272]

And here I thought it was a pain to change a gear to setup for obscure threading. Wow.... The good ole days.... :-)

[@paul5683]

That's just this little piece of crap toy lathe. Real tool room machines it was just a couple of levers. But most machinists would just mount a threading die in the tailstock and be done with it.

[@jeremycable51]

That’s an awfull lot like the Hardinge hlv threading attachment pretty cool tbh

[@keithbaker8212]

Very nice awesome rigg

[@Kapok6]

Thanks for sharing.

[@77ORTOSIO]

Great great great very thanks

[@Jims-Workshop]

Good video and a cool attachment. I have a much better understanding of how the master/follower now works. It looks like it does take a while to set up properly, but once set is pretty easy to use. Thanks for posting this! very Instructional.

[@machinist_matt]

Thanks for watching! 👍

[@jeremycable51]

Wonder if there’s any kinda of market of making those masters and followers I’ve got a much bigger lathe and a mill I could easily make them I’d need a set in hand to know the demensions

[@rezareza616]

Good thanks

[@Area51264]

Make a video of a protect using your emco unimat sl lathe thats si cool

[@AHTiraq]

Can the EMCO S L lathe make a wheel of fafon or aluminum with a total diameter of 10 cm? I hope to get the answer.

[@stewanish]

Hi congrate you got a new Cowells milling machine. Possible to take some photos for my diy mill?

[@machinist_matt]

Anything in particular you would like to see?

[@stewanish]

Hi thanks for the quick reply! Possible to send images where the z axis/ feedscrew assembly/ thrust bearings are located? Email: [e-mail] Many thanks!!!

[@eugeniobueyes4952]

Excelent video. Do you have a practical way to make the copper followers ?. I just have one and is in poor condition.

[@machinist_matt]

Thank you! I've never had to make a follower but I imagine it could be done in a few different ways. I would probably clamp some brass bar of the correct size to a faceplate and then bore the semi-circular hole before screw cutting the thread. I think this would be the easiest and most economical solution but it would of course require access to a second lathe. 🫤

[@00jamiejohnson00]

wow never seen one of these .

[@machinist_matt]

Be careful! they are contagious! You might find an urge to start collecting Unimat stuff. 🫣😊

[@stevenconnor4221]

Hmm.. i thought of buying one of these but i will just stick to my dies for home use. It seems you can only do one pitch of the thread and thats whatever the follower is at or am I wrong. I pressume you can buy metric and imperial threadforms for it to follow?

[@machinist_matt]

Yes you need a leader and follower for each different thread pitch. If you are making common screw threads then dies are much easier. Where the attachment excels is when an unusual pitch and diameter combination is needed. Say a fine 0.5 x 40 for a camera lens or similar. 🙂

[@stevenconnor4221]

@@machinist_matt or 26 tpi for lecia and old optical microscopy threads. In another previous lifetime 😀

[@stevenconnor4221]

Ok so i did purchase one of these, and a new motors and controller, as even at the lowest speed it was still too fast in my opinion, so now I can cut threads minus the anxiety 😂

[@ruslanbenko4299]

Hello! Good video! I have one question: how to cut an internal thread on such a machine???

[@machinist_matt]

Thank you. There's an extra T shaped tool holder for internal threads which holds the cutter horizontally like a boring bar. 🙂

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Hi Matt. Cool attachment. I've been looking at them but it's next to impossible to find an intact imperial or metric set-not so sure I would ever use it but that is a great vid. Did you just get it? Ebay? Spendy?

[@machinist_matt]

Hi Mike I've had this a few years. It came with the lathe in the video which I was lucky to purchase with lots of accessories. The elderly lady I purchased it from told me that sadly her husband had passed away and she was clearing his stuff from storage. She told me he bought the lathe new in the late 70's and had only used it a handful of times! The attachments do come up for sale occasionally on ebay but like you say, usually without many leaders/followers.

[@pijnto]

Do you have any printed specs on the threading att. I would be happy to pay I want to have a go at making one.

[@machinist_matt]

Hi. I don't have any specs or plans or anything unfortunately. I'd be happy to take a few measurements for you though.

[@pijnto]

@@machinist_matt Any thing would help

[@P.Trim69]

​@@pijntodid u get to making one. How it turn out.😂like to see pic of it. If you did

[@pijnto]

@@P.Trim69 No never received a reply, and it fell into the when I get around to it basket

[@pijnto]

I have been searching for the thread cutting att. for years very hard to find.

[@2bitmarketanarchist337]

Would you recommend one of these as a first lathe?

[@machinist_matt]

No, I don't think I would. The SL isn't the most rigid machine ever and it has a few quirks that might be confusing or frustrating for a beginner. It kinda depends what you are going to make but in general I would recommend you buy the biggest lathe you can accommodate in your workshop. If it has to be a mini/micro lathe the best 2 in my opinion are the Cowells 90 and Sherline. The Emco 3 and 5 are both better than the SL too.

[@paul5683]

​@@machinist_matt exactly! There's an old saying about choosing a lathe. You can always do small things in a big lathe, but you can never do large things in a small lathe.

[@schwellenzaehler4564]

​@@paul5683i personally would not follow these words, because big lathes have not the high speed range that you need to get proper cutting speed. The finish of the part looks nasty. There is a reason why there exists small and big lathes, it depends what parts you make and what materials you use. I have 3 Lathes of different sices, so i can machine parts with diameter of 280mm down to 0,2 mm with 40 to 6000 upms. A excellent finish is for some of my parts a must. So my advise for the beginner is ......buy the best lathe you can afford.....one or two steps bigger, than the biggest part you want to make. Take a lathe with the range of speeds you need, better with a wider range of speeds.

[@GnosisMan50]

It's a decent designed lathe but it's just too small. If it was twice as big, it would make it easier to work with. Regarding the return spring, I'd just take it off.

[@karthikp2650]

Where do buy it? How much cost is it?

[@machinist_matt]

They are no longer produced so you would have to look for used items. eBay is the best place to look.

[@metriconejkt]

Very small amazing

[@theantichrist4267]

Would you sale it ?

[@P.Trim69]

Possibly got one. Original wooden box come in good bit attachments milling piece.arbors tooling looks brand new. First edition heaviest one . Has big x on bottom cast. There pricey little devil's in great shape. 3 jaw chuck, Jacob chuck, I wanting little bigger spindle bore. To put barrels in. Make me a serious offer if ur interested send you some pics.

[@glendawest9871]

Borrowed phone Try this hold a screw driver so the end of the handle is against your palm and your finger tips Are doning the turning. Makes it much easier to use one with one hand when using two hold with left hand index and thumb and grip with right.

[@tonywright8294]

In English !

[@RoyatAvalonFarms]

I like the project you do, but wish you would just talk us through it instead of putting text and pointing to something I have no idea what I'm looking at. We have eyes and ears to perceive both observation and hearing simultaneously. But when I'm trying to watch what you're doing in the video, it is a distraction to have to keep stopping to read the text, splitting my attention away from what I'm trying to see in your action. This is a neat little lathe and I hope to see more about it.

[@machinist_matt]

Thanks for watching. I understand a voice over would be easier for most. Unfortunately I have a thick regional accent (Yorkshire) which uses a lot of slang and shortened words. It can be difficult to understand and it's not easy to disguise! 😅😬

[@r1273m]

@@machinist_matt If you have a piece of good silverware you don't try and hide or polish out the hallmark!

[@RoyatAvalonFarms]

@@machinist_matt thanks. I appreciate your response.

[@Bitterrootbackroads]

I’m missing the brass follower for 1 of the 4 leaders I have. I may make up a brass blank and put the correct concave radius on the end, mount it up, then with a little hand assistance & turning by hand, get the leader to mark the threads in follower. Maybe follow those marks with a hand engraver type tool, maybe a little disc in a dremel. Seems once you get the correct thread established repeated use will wear the threads into the brass, or at least show you where it’s making contact for a guide to continued hand fitting. Might work you think?

[@tonywright8294]

E up tha nose , stage one emergency put kettle on 😁

[@gangleweed]

What a contraption..........someone has twisted thinking.

[@stanburdick9708]

Damn that things cute😎hope you gotta big thread project after all that mucking around 🙄how can you tell what thread size ??