I have the ?same arrangement my 12" Craftsman 101.07403 standard change gear lathe. ?My compound handle got broken for reasons I'd rather not discuss right now. ?This feed screw now has the larger cross feed handle.?
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For me, its SOP to always have the compound set at 90* from the cross slide, parallel to the ways. ?With the carriage clamped for taking facing cuts, I can easily take a precise amount off by advancing the compound using the graduated index collar.
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For threading, my SOP is to also have the compound set as above. ?The first few passes are taken with the tool directly plunged into the work. ?Subsequent passes (for right hand threads) are taken with the compound advanced a few thousandths and the cross slide again plunged to increase the thread depth. ?For left hand threads, retract the compound. ?
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Proceed in this manner with advance and plunge until the required thread depth is obtained.
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?The advantage of this method is you're still putting most of the cutting on the tool bit's leading edge, but there's no confusing calculating to allow for the compound's 29.5* offset. ?(As if you could really set the compound to exactly 29.5*)?
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I first read about this setup in one of the British model engineering magazines, and after trying it, I won't do it any other way.?
