Threading & Tapping

For many in the machining community, tapping is the preferred method of threadmaking on a CNC machining center. Yet others contend that thread milling is better. Kip Hanson breaks down the long-running argument.

WIDIA has announced a special collaboration with H. Gerstner & Sons to bring two shop originals together in a limited-edition H. Gerstner & Sons tool chest. H. Gerstner & Sons has been recognized for more than 100 years as the manufacturer of iconic tool chests designed to store journeyman's tools and precision measuring tools.

Constructed of rugged MT8 carbide with Carmex's exclusive BLU coating, the new FMT thread mill delivers accurate thread geometry and fine surface quality in short cycle times. Unlike conventional taps, the FMT can thread up to the bottom of a blind-hole while delivering the high reliability necessary for complex parts.

Emuge Corp. has announced its thread making tool quality is available in a Self-Lock integrated locking system. Emuge Self-Lock threading tools offer a high-quality alternative in thread locking for vital safety applications in a variety of industries.

Mitsubishi Laser has added the new M800 control technology to its Advanced 800 Series eX-F fiber laser machine. The company says it has been working hard to perfect and offer the new technology for its popular fiber laser machine.

Bob Warfield of the CNC Cookbook offers seven tips for avoiding breaking taps in the 11th episode of the CNC Chef, a Cutting Tool Engineering video series produced in conjunction with the CNC Cookbook.

Allied Machine & Engineering adds the AccuThread T3 to their existing thread mill line. The new AccuThread T3 is built for machining hardened or hard-to-machine materials, such as stainless steel, tool steel and high-temperature alloys.

The new M800 EDM control is now included in Mitsubishi wire EDMs to increase productivity and help keep track of production jobs. MC Machinery Systems Inc., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corp., says it continues to invest in technologies to better serve its customers and make them more competitive.

The boost in productivity that the latest cutting tools provide enables manufacturers to reduce the amount fracking companies pay for parts.

Cutting threads is an important element of machining. Even if you aren't into making your own, custom-sized threads, it still helps to know how to create them. We've seen customers get pretty creative with their machines and cutting methods, but with a Tormach mill, there are three main ways to cut threads.

Spindle bolts are made from difficult-to-machine, high-strength superalloys. They have very tight dimensional tolerances, which makes thread cutting a challenge. As a result of facing several thread-cutting problems during process development, we have learned important lessons at Mitsubishi.

Resharpening dull taps by hand is probably not a good idea when you could be making parts. Plus, a thorough reconditioning requires a grinder designed for grinding the actual tap form. So resharpening dull taps is one job best left to the experts.