Spiral flute taps are used for threading blind holes in aluminum, brass and softer steels. The flute geometry draws the chips away from the hole where chip disposal may be an issue.
Thread limit refers to a standard notation indicating a range of tolerance outside the basic thread size of the tap. The limits are identified by a letter "H" for inch or a "D" for metric, followed by a number.
Number of flutes refers to the number of grooves or valleys that are cut into the body of the tap. Higher numbers of flutes increase the strength of the tap and reduce space or chip flow.
Chamfer refers to the length of the tapering threads at the front of the tap. Both the chamfered portion of the tap and the first full thread beyond the chamfer produce the finished thread of the part.
Modified bottoming chamfers are similar to bottoming chamfers, but they are longer and have more teeth. They are used for threading blind holes and have 2 to 2-1/2 threads.
elektraLUBE(R) prevents welding, loading and galling between the tap and the workpiece. It is commonly used on stainless steels, high nickel alloys, aluminum and copper. elektraLUBE(R) is a proprietary coating exclusive to OSG Tap and Die, Inc.
Hardslick combines the hardness of TiAlN and the outside lubricity of a tungsten carbide/carbon coating for better wear-resistance and toughness. It is commonly used on aluminum, low carbon steel and stainless steel.
Nitride/oxide is harder than oxide and used to prevent galling, welding and loading. It is commonly used on low carbon steels, stainless steels and non-ferrous metals.
Oxide is a coating that prevents chip building, galling and welding on the workpiece. It is commonly used on low carbons, stainless steel and iron based ferrous metals.
THL is similar to TiN and TiCN, but provides better chip formation. It is commonly used on high speed steels, cast iron and aluminum alloys. It can be used with or without coolant.
Titanium aluminum nitride (TiAlN) has a higher hardness than TiN and TiCN. It is extremely heat-resistant and commonly used for high speed applications on stainless steels, nickel and titanium alloys.
TiAlN/TiN is a multi-layer coating that combines the high hardness of TiN and the heat-resistance of TiAlN. It is commonly used on softer materials in general purpose applications.
Titanium nitride (TiN) is a multi-purpose coating that increases chip flow in softer materials. The heat and hardness resistance allows the tool to run at higher speeds than uncoated tools.
Material
The material that the tap is made of. Choosing the right material for your workpiece can shorten work time, reduce cost and prevent premature wear.
Cobalt vanadium high speed steel combines the properties of cobalt and vanadium high speed steel for better wear and toughness. It is commonly used in general applications on stainless steels, high silicon aluminums and difficult-to-machine materials.
Solid carbide provides better rigidity than high speed steel. It is extremely heat-resistant and used for high speed applications on cast iron, non-ferrous materials, plastics, and other tough-to-machine materials.
Vanadium high speed steel (HSSE) is made of high speed steel, carbon, vanadium carbide and other alloys to increase abrasive wear-resistance and toughness. It is commonly used in general applications on stainless steels and high silicon aluminums.
Spiral flute taps are used for threading blind holes in aluminum, brass and softer steels. The flute geometry draws the chips away from the hole where chip disposal may be an issue.
Threading
