ThreadTracer Overview

This guide will cover and document all of the functionality and the different options and settings of ThreadTracer.

You can use the Search field top left to search for keywords in the documentation, search for 'blunt start' to find and highlight all places in the documentation where the word 'blunt start' is mentioned.

Documentation is being worked on to make it more comprehensive, its a work in progress.
The basic process of setting up a thread profile is very easy, and most of the functions are self explanatory.

You can set any crest and root diameter, radius and flank angles to define almost any thread profile and machine your thread using ordinary turning tools.


For questions or if anything is unclear about ThreadTracer, dont hesitate to write me an email at support@threadtracer.com

Screen Windows

These small informational windows shows info about current thread profile and machining statistics.

The Machining Statistics and Thread Profile window are updated when clicking the Do It button.

Machining Runtime shows the calculated estimated time for machining, for all Roughing and Finishing passes combined.

To improve the time estimate, you can set your machine tool Rapid Feedrate in the Settings tab. Your machines rapid feedrate can be found in the parameters of the machine.
As there are as many rapid moves as feed moves in machining a thread, setting the correct rapid feedrate will allow for a more precise time estimate.

If you work in metric, set the Rapid Feed in millimeters/minute. If you work in inch, set the Rapid Feed in inches/minute.

Render Speed and Tool Fade

Use the speed slider to slow down the rendering speed, slowing down can be useful to inspect the progress of passes being calculated.

The tool fade slider can be used to keep all visual tool outlines on screen in the off position, or drag the slider to the right to add a slight delay before the visual tool is removed from screen.

Visible Layers

Use the checkmarks in the Visible Layers windows to toggle visibility of the different layers. To hide the workpiece or the visual toolpaths lines, just toggle the checkmarks.

Control buttons

Use the 'Do It' button to start generating current defined profile.
The two small buttons to the right side toggle on or off Roughing ▒ and Finishing █ passes.

Keep the Roughing ▒ and Finishing █ off so it doesnt calculate any passes while setting up the thread profile.

Roughing disabled, Finishing disabled

Roughing enabled, Finishing disabled

Roughing disabled, Finishing enabled

Roughing enabled, Finishing enabled

When the thread profile is set up, enable Roughing ▒ and Finishing █ and click 'Do It' to generate all threading passes for machining.

The post processor will only generate g-code for roughing passes and/or finishing passes if the toggles are enabled.

If you only need to post the finishing passes, disable Roughing ▒ and keep Finishing █ enabled and press 'Do It' before opening the post processor.

Webclient Quick Save

Threadtracer keeps track of every change in the interface by utilizing the local HTML Web Storage API in your browser.

Web storage stays locally in your browser, and large amounts of data can be stored without affecting website performance and information is never transferred to the server.

This makes it very convinient for you to work on and resume any thread setup without thinking about saving underway, you can close down the tab or close down the browser, and next time opening up ThreadTracer Webclient it will remember and restore the last state it was in.

For saving a thread setup permanently as a project file, use the Project tab and save the setup to local disk.