Spiral point taps are used for tapping through holes. They have a flute geometry that shoots chips ahead of the cutting action to reduce loading and clogging within the flute.
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.
Chrome is a corrosion-resistant coating applied to a tool in a thin or heavy layer. It is commonly used on steel, aluminum, brass, copper and other non-chromium materials.
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 is 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 nitride (TiN) is a multi-purpose coating which increases chip flow in softer materials. The heat and hardness resistance allows the tool to run at higher speeds than uncoated tools.
Titanium nitride plus chromium carbide carbon (TiN+CrC/C) is made of wear-resistant titanium nitride base and a chromium carbide carbon coating. It is commonly used on ferrous and non-ferrous materials.
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.
Powdered metal cobalt high speed steel provides the highest performance of the powdered metals. It is used at extremely high temperatures and cutting speeds on highly abrasive 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 point taps are used for tapping through holes. They have a flute geometry that shoots chips ahead of the cutting action to reduce loading and clogging within the flute.
Threading
