Thread Adapter - What You Call It?

[CrufflerSteve]

I'm setting up a milling table which uses 9/16" T-nuts. The problem is that one tool I want to attach is a vise with smaller feet, somewhere between 1/4" to 3/8". I just wondered if there were such things as threaded sleeves so that a smaller bolt could be able to go into the larger nut. Is there some such thing at a place like McMaster Carr and what is it called?

Steve

[Byte Stryke]

Paging BPTactical....

[henpecked]

use the clamps that came with the clamp set
or mill the slot to fit the larger diameter bolt
or make a new set of T's with a smaller thread size

[StagLefty]

Just a guess-heli-coil ?

[Marlin]

"Temp fix" or a "permenent fix"

[BPTactical]

What you are looking for is known as an offset coupling nut. The problem is they are fairly long and I doubt if you have the space for one. I would think it would be easier to : A- find a stud with the 2 different thread sizes you need. B- turn and thread a piece of round stock to fit. C- turn an existing stud and thread.(Probably the cheapest and easiest)
Unless the smaller vise has keys to lock into the T slots of the table I would hesitate to open up the slots on the vise, you stand a chance of putting the vise out of square relative to the spindle.
Making the T nuts is a PITA.
I can make the studs or turn down an existing one or two for you if you don't have a lathe. Just cost you some gas money...
My number is under the contact sticky for me in the Industry Partners section. Feel free to call me if I can help.

[BigBear]

HAHAHA... BP said "nut"!

[BPTactical]

Just a guess-heli-coil ?

Nope-wont work- the OD threads on Helicoils are oddball sizes.
You want to mess with somebody? Give them a HeliCoil tap to thread a standard hole

[Troublco]

You want to mess with somebody? Give them a HeliCoil tap to thread a standard hole

That's just plain mean. What do you do then, sell them the heli-coil at 500 times the going rate?

[BPTactical]

That's just plain mean. What do you do then, sell them the heli-coil at 500 times the going rate?

No, we would just watch them in their bewilderment wondering why the hole they just tapped was too big

I used to build bucket and boom trucks and there were holes that needed to have HeliCoils installed for accessories. The FNG's were the ones tasked with drilling and tapping the holes. Only they did not know that the inserts were installed after the truck came back from paint. We would tell them to go ahead and install the accessories and watch them as they could not get the bolts to tighten. If the FNG was fairly bright we generally would not mess with them too bad but if they were cocky or just plain knuckleheaded they were toast.

We used to have fun when they were learning to wire up the back of the truck too. A backup alarm stashed in a toolbox made for great fun when they were testing the wire work they just did. Hit the turn signals-the backup alarm sounded. Hit the brakes-the backup alarm sounded. Turn on the running lights, test the trailer brakes, E flashers the backup alarm sounded.

Pure evil