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Taps and Dies. Drill America Tool School. www.DrillAmerica.net. What are Taps and Dies?. Taps and dies are cutting tools used to cut new threads and clean or fix existing screw threads. Tap. Die. To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos.
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Taps and Dies Drill America Tool School www.DrillAmerica.net
What are Taps and Dies? Taps and dies are cutting tools used to cut new threads and clean or fix existing screw threads. Tap Die To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
Tap and Die Basics • A size is determined by the diameter and the number of threads per inch • Example ¼”-20 Tap (or die) means the diameter is ¼” and the threads per inch (also called TPI) is 20 • Taps and Dies Come in Two Materials • Carbon Steel for cleaning up or “fixing” threads • High speed steel for making new threads • Multiple styles of taps (next slide) • Two shapes of dies, Hex and Round Pictured above is a taper, plug and bottoming tap along with hex and round dies. To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
Types of Taps The most common types of taps are: • Hand Taps (Bolt Taps) • Taper • Plug • Bottoming • NPT Taps (National Pipe Taper) • Spiral Point (Gun Tap) Less common types of taps: • Acme Taps • NPS Taps (National Pipe Straight) • British Standard • Extension Taps • Nut Taps To keep things simple we will only discuss the common types of taps in this presentation.
Hand Taps Hand Taps are the most versatile taps for hand use. • Popular for use in general hand tapping • Appropriate for tapping the vast majority of materials in through or blind holed conditions • 3 Types - Taper, Plug and Bottoming. • One of each type makes up a Tap Set Taper Plug Bottoming Pictured above is a tap set - 1 taper, 1 plug and 1 bottoming tap. To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
Taper Taps • Also called a starter tap • Slightly pointed tip, 7-10 thread chamfer • Starts the thread square with the workpiece • Very gradual cutting action • Most often used when the material to be tapped is difficult to work (e.g., alloy steel) or the tap is of a very small diameter and thus prone to breakage • More cutting edges on the workpiece will distribute the load/pressure to cut the threads
Plug Taps • The most versatile and commonly used type of hand tap • 3 - 5 thread Chamfer • Generally used in thru holes • Assist in aligning and starting the tap into an untapped hole • Also used to cut threads until the point of the tap reaches bottom of the hole • High speed steel taps normally have a center drilled hole on the shank for aligning purposes
Bottoming Taps • Flat top with a continuous cutting edge with almost no taper • 1 - 1-½ thread chamfer • For use in cutting threads to the bottom of a blind hole • Usually used to cut threads in a hole that has already been partially threaded using a taper or plug tap • The tapered end ("tap chamfer") of a bottoming tap is too short to successfully start into an unthreaded hole
Spiral Point (Gun) Taps • Also called “machine taps” and “gun taps” • Gun taps are used for production with a tapping head • Tap shoots chips ahead of the cutting action, thus reducing loading and clogging in the flutes. • They are recommended for use in through or blind holes which allow for chip accumulation in the bottom of the hole. • Ideal for threading a wide variety of ductile materials, copper and copper alloys, brass and non-metallics • Plug style is the standard for gun taps, bottoming is also available To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
Hand Taps in Action To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
National Pipe Taper (NPT) Taps • For use on threaded pipes and pipe fittings • Commonly called “Pipe Taps” • The size of a Pipe Tap is that of the pipe fitting to be tapped, not the actual size of the tap • Not to be confused with NPS which is National Pipe Straight To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
Round Dies • Round dies are typically made of high speed steel • Can be used to make new threads or re-thread • OD (Outside Diameter) can range from 5/8” - 4” • A die stock (also called die handle) is required for use. Die stock size corresponds with the die’s OD To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
A Round Die in Action Step 1 To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
A Round Die in Action Step 2 To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
A Round Die in Action Step 3 To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos
Hex Rethreading Dies • Hex dies are typically made of carbon steel • Can be used to “clean up” or fix damaged threads • Most cost effective way to clean up threads • Ideal for maintenance in the shop or field • No special die handle is required, normal wrench works for turning To view these products in action check out our product videos! www.drillamerica.net/videos