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IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking Machines > Uncategorised MetalWorking Machines > tapping head vs hand/cordless tapping machine....
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  1. #1

    tapping head vs hand/cordless tapping machine....

    I need to thread a bunch (about 200) of 6-32 holes in 3/8" thick brass and stainless.

    I'm thinking of getting a tapping head for my Sieg x2 mini-mill, or a small drill press OR a small hand tapping machine connected to a small cordless drill.

    Any suggestions?

    Thanks!

    -Jeff

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Posts
    2849
    tapping head will be as much as the Sieg...better have a few taps on hand if you decide to go without a tapping head and aren't doing it manually. If doing it manually make yourself a guide block.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Posts
    1880
    I havent done it in awhile but I used to do these big stainless plates about .25" thick that had about 215 holes per plate. I did them on the nc but you still had to change the drill and tap after every plate.

    What taps are you using?

    I must have tried every tap out there and the one that worked (in stainless) the best was a standard uncoated 2 flute (aluminum style) tap. Go figure non of the engineers at these tap companies could make thier expensive high faluting taps work were a 2.00 dollar tap kicked butt!.

    and oh ya! what Vipertx said!
    thanks
    Michael T.
    "If you don't stand for something, chances are, you'll fall for anything!"

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    524
    Look for a Tapmatic tapping head on ebay. That's where I bought mine. I got two small ones for $250 (the pair). There always seem to be some out there.

    Ken
    Kenneth Lerman
    55 Main Street
    Newtown, CT 06470

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2003
    Posts
    1365
    I picked up a tapping head up off of ebay a month ago or so, Got it new with multiple arbors for $140. I havent tapped many holes yet with it, I was tapping 1/4-20s with it, if I would go too fast I would stall the spindle on the stock motor, keep that into consideration. I dont think theres enough torque for stainless work, especially that deep?

    I am now 200 miles away from mine and cant test it out for you(nor do I have the mill with stock motor anymore)

    Another thing is that you wont have enough travel for a part in a vice and a tap hanging out of the tapping head for anything. thats another big issue becides the power.
    In my cnc, I have .7" from the point of a 1/4-20 tap to the top of a .25" thick part thats half in the vice. My mill has slightly more travel than stock(top of the column)

    Jon

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    524
    Put the tapping head in a drill press. The tapping head has lots of "float", so it doesn't have to be aligned dead center.

    Ken
    Kenneth Lerman
    55 Main Street
    Newtown, CT 06470

  7. #7
    Thanks for the tips everyone!

    I'll let you know how it turns out.

    -Jeff

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