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IndustryArena Forum > MetalWorking Machines > Tormach Personal CNC Mill > What type of taps to use on Tormach?
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
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    What type of taps to use on Tormach?

    Considering a reversing tapping head attachment and am wondering if standard hand taps will work or should I invest in some spiral taps was well? What type of taps work best on a reversing head on the Tormach?

    Ken

  2. #2
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    Jul 2007
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    Hand taps aren't a good idea. Somewhere in their documentation Tormach recommends against them. In aluminum, form taps are probably your best bet.

    bob

  3. #3
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    Nov 2007
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    Cool... thanks! Will have to order some new taps.

  4. #4
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    Actually I read Tormachs documents last night and did not get the impression they recommended non-standard taps. However, the first time I read it I did get that impression and bought all spiral taps...(Maybe reading a third time should break the tie?).

    Anyway, I think it goes to what type material and tapping head you have. I switched from spiral to standard on my 4-40 and 3MM taps and have had better success, less breakage. Not sure why, my thinking is there doesn't appear to be much core left on a spiral tap on the smaller sizes.

  5. #5
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    Nov 2007
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    Am reading the tech doc myself... it mentioned for reversing tap... tread forming taps are not recommended. I'll look into some spiral taps.

    What are the differences between a hand tap,Spiral Flute Tap and Spiral POint tab. Looking through Enco as well as googling and can't find the answer.

    Ken

  6. #6
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    It would help if you specify what material is to be tapped and if the tapped holes are thru holes or blind holes. Also the tap sizes and if you are using flood coolant or tapping fluid.

    Don

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Don Clement View Post
    It would help if you specify what material is to be tapped and if the tapped holes are thru holes or blind holes.

    Don
    Sorry... Material is Aluminum through-hole and blinds for the batch I'm about to make. I am hoping for somewhat of a universal tap set (if it exist) so I can use it for metal, aluminum and ABS and delrin plastics.

    Ken

  8. #8
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    I have tapped tens of thousands of blind 4-40 holes in aluminum with a reversing tap head using a balax forming tap and Relton A9 tapping fluid. YMMV

  9. #9
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    Feb 2006
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    1051
    Quote Originally Posted by apeman88 View Post
    What are the differences between a hand tap,Spiral Flute Tap and Spiral POint tab.
    Ken, a spiral point tap will push the chip ahead of the tap, and is best for through-tapped holes. A spiral flute tap will push the chip back up the flutes, and is best for blind holes. I've used both by hand but I think a hand tap is just a generic straight-flute, straight-point, "three steps forward, one step back" kinda tap...at least to the best of my knowledge...

    Randy

  10. #10
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    Dec 2010
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    66
    Quote Originally Posted by zephyr9900 View Post
    Ken, a spiral point tap will push the chip ahead of the tap, and is best for through-tapped holes. A spiral flute tap will push the chip back up the flutes, and is best for blind holes. I've used both by hand but I think a hand tap is just a generic straight-flute, straight-point, "three steps forward, one step back" kinda tap...at least to the best of my knowledge...

    Randy
    Yes, the reason that hand taps exist is for hand tapping. Hand Taps have 4 opposing lands that provide a degree of self allignment to the hole. Hand taps do not manage the chips that are produced. Consequently when using a hand tap, the chips bind the tap. As everyone knows, the solution is to periodically back the hand tap to grind up the chips and reduce the binding. If a hand tap were used for machine tapping (no periodic backing), the resulting binding due to the chip interference will break the tap. You therefor would never want to use a hand tap in the Tormach.

    Machine taps (spiral point and spiral flute) do manage the chips -- either by pushing them forward or back. Machine taps rely on the spindle to provide accurate allignment so there is not the need for the four opposing lands that are used on the hand tap. Instead, the machine tap, using only two or three lands, will have enough flute space to provides the chip management function thereby allowing continuous forward tapping.

  11. #11
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    Forming taps produce no chips. That's why I prefer forming taps when used on blind holes in material such as aluminum. In addition the threads are forged and stronger than a cutting tap.

    Don

  12. #12
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    I use all balax form taps as recommend from Don with a TC head. They have lasted a very long time and work great for thru holes. I've tapped over 200 products easy.



  13. #13
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    Nov 2007
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    Nice!! I guess I'll have to buy a few taps to experiment and see which works best for me. Already bought a few spiral points from a member here and will look into form taps.

    Thanks!!

    Ken

  14. #14
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    Feb 2008
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    Here is a tormach video where they use a roll form tap with the T/C head.
    [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6fKpdeFvIM]‪Roll Form Tapping with Tormach PCNC 1100‬‏ - YouTube[/ame]
    Christian

  15. #15
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    Here is a video showing tapping 2-56 blind holes using a reversing tapping head with a Balax form tap on my Tormach. Tapping 2-56 on Tormach video by miltons_stuff - Photobucket

    Don

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Don Clement View Post
    Forming taps produce no chips. That's why I prefer forming taps when used on blind holes in material such as aluminum. In addition the threads are forged and stronger than a cutting tap.

    Don
    Are thread forming taps a good solution for all materials or is it better to avoid their use for some material? I'm wondering how well they work in plastics, for example. Say PVC, HDPE, and Delrin/acetal.

    Mike

  17. #17
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    Jan 2007
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    I tried forming taps on Delrin but found cutting taps work better on Delrin material. Also use cutting taps on Turcite X & Turcite A. The taps work best if really sharp so only use that particular cutting tap on plastic only. For thru holes a HSS 3 flute spiral point gun tap works best for me on Delrin and Turcite. Gun taps have plenty of clearance for stringy plasic chips.

    Don

  18. #18
    Join Date
    May 2011
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    180
    I am using spiral flute tapes with the compression/tension head from Tormach. They work very well (unless you forget to set the tool offset, in which case you end up with a 2-3 piece tap! )

    I ordered from Enco

    319-7084 which is a 1/4-20 Spiral Flute Bottoming tap
    314-6001 which is a 1/4-20 Spiral Flute Plug tap

    The Plug tap has a taper for the first several threads and seems to do a better job on the first couple of threads. The bottoming tap is used for blind holes. Both did an adequate job making threads, but the bottoming tap doesn't have as much of a starting taper.

    If you haven't ordered them, there are various tolerances. I selected H3 taps.

  19. #19
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    May 2011
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    BTW: I did do some research on the subject:

    Tap and die - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

    Threading (manufacturing) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia is about thread forming and rolling.

  20. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by twocik View Post
    I use all balax form taps as recommend from Don with a TC head. They have lasted a very long time and work great for thru holes. I've tapped over 200 products easy.



    That's a nice computer rendering

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