Re: Speed of Tapping Head?

Peter,

I have a lead screw (actually change gears) tapping machine. Looks
very much like a drill press. Capacity is 5/16". It came from the
factory with only has two speeds, 1000 & 2000 rpm.

One important factor about tapping speed is whether you are depending
on the tap to pull itself into the material and determine it's own
lead (like using a drill press tapping attachment) or whether the
machine somehow determines the lead. The difference being when the
lead is determined by the machine, not so much load is on the tap and
much, much higher speeds are possible. Rigid tapping on CNC
machining centers typically run up to 5000rpm!!

With my tapping machine I mostly use the 1000rpm speed, but for
anything about 32 tpi or finer pitch I'll use 2000rpm. We very
seldom break a tap, and when we do it's not because of the speed.

I think your 30 to 60 rpm is much too slow. That can be almost as
bad as too fast.

Doug

--- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Peter Homann" <peter.homann@a...> wrote:
> Hi Dave,
>
> Thanks for the reply. Surely the 2000rpm is for the input spindle
of the
> tapping head? Is the tap turning that fast, or is it geared down by
the
> tapping head. I was expecting something like 30- 60 rpm.
>
> Thanks
>
> Peter Homann
> <mailto:peter.homann@a...>
> Work : +61 3 8530-7755
> Adacel Technologies Ltd Fax : +61 3 9596-
2960
> 250 Bay St, Brighton 3186, VIC, AUSTRALIA Mobile : 0421
601665
> http://www.adacel.com.au Australian Software Engineering
Excellence
>
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: turbulatordude [mailto:davemucha@j...]
> > Sent: Friday, 26 July 2002 9:12 PM
> > To: CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y...
> > Subject: [CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO] Re: Speed of Tapping Head?
> >
> >
> > My Procunier manual says that for my #1 tapping head, that 3,000
RPM
> > is the maximum tapping speed. This one handles up to a 1/4 inch
tap
> > in aluminum, or an 8mm threadforming tap.
> >
> > the maximum for my #2 head is 2,000 RPM. and that one handles up
to
> > a 1/2 inch tap in aluminum.
> >
> > I usualy tap at much lower speeds (500 rpm) (thank goodnes that
there
> > are no metric time units to convert) as I think tap life would be
> > increased and since I am not a production shop, tap life is way
more
> > important than speed of making a part. Also since I usually tap
at
> > 1/4 in in aluminum on the #1 and 1/8npt on the #2.
> >
> > If you wanted to figure out exactly the most desirable maximum
speed
> > for your part, figure the tap circumference to determine sfpm of
the
> > cutter. Then you can look up the metal you are tapping and figure
> > the cutting speed. Kind of like figuring lathe rpm by surface
feet
> > per minute. Then with the tap material, probably HSS, you can
locate
> > the best cutting speed SFPM.
> >
> > and remember to keep the taps well lubricated. probably the
single
> > biggest thing to keep tap life.
> >
> > Hope that helps.
> >
> > Dave
> >
> >
> >
> > --- In CAD_CAM_EDM_DRO@y..., "Peter Homann" <peter.homann@a...>
wrote:
> > > Hi,
> > >
> > > I'm looking at constructing a small electronic tapping head for
my
> > Taig CNC
> > > Mill. By electronic, I mean that the tapping head will be
driven by
> > a small
> > > 12 dc motor geared down to an appropriate speed. The direction
will
> > be
> > > controlled by micro switches and possibly a PIC microprocessor.
> > >
> > > The tapping head is to tap up to 6mm (1/4"), and if I can 8mm.
My
> > question
> > > is:
> > >
> > > What is an appropriate speed for a tapping head?
> > >
> > > Thanks in advance.
> > >
> > > Peter Homann
> > > <mailto:peter.homann@a...>
> > > Work : +61 3 8530-7755
> > > Adacel Technologies Ltd Fax : +61 3
9596-
> > 2960
> > > 250 Bay St, Brighton 3186, VIC, AUSTRALIA Mobile : 0421
> > 601665
> > > http://www.adacel.com.au Australian Software Engineering
> > Excellence
> >
> >
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