Cutting VS Forming Taps

george tichbourne

george tichbourne

Joined
Apr 19, 1999
Messages
3,560
While looking at a chart of tap drill sizes today a came across referances to these two types of taps. I have a few questions.

Which type of tap is tougher for tapping Titanium?

Do forming taps require a power tapping unit to work or will they work in the old hand tapping jigs?
 
Since you are talking about Ti, George, I'll assume you are speaking about small sizes like 0-80 up to about 5-40. These small sizes can be done by hand, but you are better off using a tapping guide. I made one myself our of some billet aluminum and some stainless drill rod.

Tapper2.jpg


The aforementioned taps are held in with a 5-40 set screw.

Tapper3.jpg


The complete assy.

Tapper1.jpg
 
Like that design, much better than the two post one I made up for myself. This one gives much more access to the work area.

Yes I am working on folders, at least trying to finalize my techniques before I offer them to the public.
 
Jeff, that's some really nice setup! Good pics, too. You must be one of those tool and die guys, from the quality of your work.
 
indian george said:
Higgy: Ever think of making them and selling them?????Nice setup.
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I have given it some thought, IG. A nice gentleman by the name of Bob Rosenfeld makes a similar model. He sells them at shows and I think you can locate him through Alex Whetsall at CKD. Because I only made this one for myself, and Mr Rosenfeld depends on sales of his tappers for part of his livelihood, I'll not be offering any for sale. I will however be making a few of these this fall for "trading purposes"... ;)

John Andrews said:
Jeff, that's some really nice setup! Good pics, too. You must be one of those tool and die guys, from the quality of your work.
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Thanks, John. I'm an industrial mechanic, but I went to school for just about everything. Welding. Electrical. Machining. HVAC. Hydraulics. All this after I spent 15 years in the military working on jet planes. :)

Peter Nap said:
Did you knurl the knob Jeff. If so....I hate you!
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I hate to admit that I did knurl that knob. I'll also admit that it sucked so bad it took me about 6 tries to get it right... so I knurled out a dozen of them after that just in case I wanted to make more. :)

Indian George said:
We can tell Jeff has alot of free time at work.
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LOL no kidding! I guess I'm lucky in that when all the presses are running well I get a little more "Foxtrot-Oscar" time than most people.
 
Jeff, put me down on your "trading" list. You can bring it when you visit me later this year, I'd love to have one!
 
It sure looks like you are in the right profession Jeff. Nice clean work. I always have trouble knurling. I have tried every jig I can find and I still screw them up.

If you have no objection, I'd like to copy it for my own use. I have a supply of surgeons micro chucks that I can use so I don't have to make different stems for each tap!
 
peter nap said:
It sure looks like you are in the right profession Jeff. Nice clean work. I always have trouble knurling. I have tried every jig I can find and I still screw them up.

If you have no objection, I'd like to copy it for my own use. I have a supply of surgeons micro chucks that I can use so I don't have to make different stems for each tap!
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I don't mind at all, Don. I'm flattered! In fact, if you still haven't gotten around to making one by the time I make up a few, I'd be happy to trade ya for something. I'm always looking out for handle materials and damascus and stuff like that. :)

Hey Robert...

Maybe when you perfect that new twist you can make a me a damascus blank to trade for one?
 
We are looking at around October timeframe. Until then, I'm a busy little beaver! Heck, I can't even work up an inventory for the fall shows! Good thing I got a f/t job, eh? Then again if I were a f/t maker I'd be all set.

Apologies to George Tichbourne for hijacking the thread: Sorry bubba! I guess we got carried away. To answer your question about the thread-forming vs cutting taps in Ti I can only tell you that when I tried the forming taps, they worked well, but I always found myself having to flatten again after threading as the forming taps tend to raise up the surrounding material on thin liner stock. Not a real problem. Also, I never really had a problem with longevity of either when using a good tapping fluid.
 
Thanks for the Balax link, it is apparent that they suggest cutting taps over forming taps for titanium. I think that I will stick with my cutting taps for now.
 
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