[JOHNSMITTY]

That's pretty much it. Should I use a cut or a roll tap when tapping thin sheet metal? Specifically around 14,15 gauge stainless steel with 10-32, 8-32, 6-32 screws.

[john-100]

to maximise the number of threads in thin sheet metal
using a friction drill forms a tube instead of a cut edge to the hole that can be tapped with a thread roll or cut thread tap
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friction_drilling


if its for your own product have a look at Taptite II® Thread Rolling Screws

John

[JOHNSMITTY]

Yea I've know about friction drilling and self tapping screws and all that but we don't have any of that here and we don't really have enough time to order new tools, so is it a crap shoot between cut/roll, I'm leaning towards cut tapping them so that they have better thread engagement but i'm thinking that a roll tap might push more material around and put more threads down because of the rollover on the top/bottom of the sheet.

[john-100]

with the limited time you have available

I would cut and roll threads in a test piece and try a pull out test

the rolled thread will have more thread because of the way the material flows effectively making the sheet thicker
and have stronger threads

John

[awerby]

It doesn't seem like you'll have enough threads in the material to hold those screws very effectively. Can you use sheet metal screws instead?