In-Die Services Part III: Tapping In-Die and Off-Line with Metal Stamping in Minneapolis, MN

March 18th, 2016 · No Comments

This is Part III of a three-part series covering In-Die Services. Part I covers spot welding, and Part II covers staking.

Creating a final product for our customers requires work beyond the initial operations in the stamping process. To complete expert parts, many companies must perform separate, additional operations. At Thomas Engineering Company, we offer specific in-die services that streamline the process and eliminate the need for extra time, costs, and machines with our metal stamping in Minneapolis, MN.

One operation we offer with our part production and finalization process is tapping. A vital operation for many parts, tapping is offered both in-die and off-line at TEC, ensuring the best option is available, depending on the part.

Understanding Tapping:

Tapping is part of a system used to create threads for screws inside a part (female threads), and the external pairing to those threads (male threads).

A tap cuts into a part to form the threads for the female half, for example, the nut in a nut and bolt system.  A die cuts into a separate piece to form the threads for the male half, for example, the bolt in a nut and bolt system.

Though tapping refers to only forming the female threads, in many cases both tap and die actions must be performed to complete a finished part.

Tap Types:

Bottoming taps cut with a continuously-cutting edge. The tip of a bottoming tap is not tapered and must be used on an already partially-threaded tap. These taps have between 1 and 1.5 threads, which allow them to cut into a blind hole (a drilled hole that does not break through the opposite side of a part).

Plug taps have slightly-tapered tips and cutting edges that allow the tapping of an untouched tap hole. Plug hole threads number from 3-5, and they are the most commonly-used tap types.

Taper taps are similar to plug taps but have a sharper taper at the tip and range from 8-10 threads. This tap cuts more gradually than other fast and aggressive taps, and works well for tapping small, more-fragile parts.

At Thomas Engineering Company, we understand the importance of a comprehensive finish for all parts, combined with the efficiency of an in-die, streamlined production process. For more information about our precision metal stamping, contact us at 763.533.1501.

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