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They make tap sockets, you could use a socket driver in the drill with one
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Tapping arm discussion
- Thread starter Dan Dubeau
- Start date
The little machine shop tapping chuck is adjustable for different sized taps. It does not seem to have any ability to 'float'. Other tap chucks on amazon for eg claim to have float but seem to require a different collet for each tap size - also the asian ones seem to only have metric sizes available. How important is 'floating'? I've done some tapping in my cnc mill - often busting taps. Usually the problem is the size of the hole required for the type of tap (cutting taps vs form/roll taps) I am using. if you get it wrong then I think a broken tap is inevitable. You can't feel the tap of course when it is in the machine. Perhaps I should try to tap the hole first manually with the same tap to gauge the force required to turn the tap? Would a 'floating' tap holder help prevent tap breakage?
Former Member
Guest
Years ago I was tapping a blind 6-32 hole (about 800 of the $&@#%*). Ended up buying and using a tapping head on the mill. The float is important as it ensures alignment. I ended up using forming taps as they produce very little scarf with a 50% thread depth (form taps produce a stronger thread), compared to about 70% for cut.
Learning curve was about $200.00 in broken taps till I got it consistant.
Now I avoid blind holes when ever possible specially in more than a few holes where manual application is time prohibitive.
That is nice but can you start those threads with a reference post ie "This thread will carry on from this thread "...." please?
I kept looking for page zero to figure why the thread was starting in the middle of a conversation.
.A good segue....
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
I already asked that question earlier, to no response. The original (my) post (from the you tube thread) makes zero sense in the context of this thread. I'm not sure why a new discussion on tapping arms wasn't just started from scratch.
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
Just so I have an on topic post in this thread....lol. Here's some tap holders I made quite a few years ago. I made them to be used in a 12v hitachi hex driver (not impact) that has gone to the big tool graveyard in the sky (actually it's on my workbench waiting for me to get the time to replace the burned out brushes in it if I can).
Top to bottom is 1/4-20 all the way down to 4-40 and it will hold a 2-56. The hitachi was amazingly nimble enough to power tap a 4-40 no problem (If I did my job). 1/4-20 was pushing it sometimes depending on material, and the freshness of the tap, but it was doable (probably what smoked it
). I usually use my 18v makita drill for that, and bigger taps.
I originally made a pile of these blank hex adapters from some 3/8" o1, for a right angle hex driver I had for things like drills and countersinks etc to get into tight places at work. I got the bright idea for these, then made a set. I pursued a patent idea back at the time, but deemed it really not worthwhile (I was broke and didn't have the money to do so....). The small round bit poking out the end was inserted after so they would fit better in my hitachi driver. I've used these also in the right angle driver, and along with 1/4" hex extensions to get into tricky spots (think pulley tap).
It's really just a hole with an intersecting slot the width of your square drive. As you can see on the 5mm on (2nd from top) I had to prick punch the bottom to provide a bit of snap fit on some of them. Otherwise the fit was great, and they don't fall out despite being easy to swap in and out for different taps.
I want to make another set along with a floating holder for my tormach, but just haven't got around to it yet. Same idea, just a different interface.
With the boom of 1/4" hex impact drivers maybe I should pursue selling these to a tap manufacturer. The could not only sell these, but would sell more taps due to people tapping with an impact driver lol.
Top to bottom is 1/4-20 all the way down to 4-40 and it will hold a 2-56. The hitachi was amazingly nimble enough to power tap a 4-40 no problem (If I did my job). 1/4-20 was pushing it sometimes depending on material, and the freshness of the tap, but it was doable (probably what smoked it
). I usually use my 18v makita drill for that, and bigger taps.
I originally made a pile of these blank hex adapters from some 3/8" o1, for a right angle hex driver I had for things like drills and countersinks etc to get into tight places at work. I got the bright idea for these, then made a set. I pursued a patent idea back at the time, but deemed it really not worthwhile (I was broke and didn't have the money to do so....). The small round bit poking out the end was inserted after so they would fit better in my hitachi driver. I've used these also in the right angle driver, and along with 1/4" hex extensions to get into tricky spots (think pulley tap).
It's really just a hole with an intersecting slot the width of your square drive. As you can see on the 5mm on (2nd from top) I had to prick punch the bottom to provide a bit of snap fit on some of them. Otherwise the fit was great, and they don't fall out despite being easy to swap in and out for different taps.
I want to make another set along with a floating holder for my tormach, but just haven't got around to it yet. Same idea, just a different interface.
With the boom of 1/4" hex impact drivers maybe I should pursue selling these to a tap manufacturer. The could not only sell these, but would sell more taps due to people tapping with an impact driver lol.
I edited the first post so it makes a little more sense. If you become a premium member post editing is included. It's $5/month.
That is better @Janger . Thank you. Would be awesome to actually paste the other thread in there, but beggars won't be whiners.....I will take what I can get.
As for the ability to edit....yea,...... Thanks to typos, grammar, and after thoughts, worth every penny....
Dan Dubeau
Ultra Member
Well, I didn't make plans, but TBH I don't think they really need any. The critical dimensions are the diameter of the hole to fit the taps (just drilled), and the cross slot. I guess the 1/4" hex is too. Those are easy to measure from a tap in your hand, and from there easy to sketch the placement of the cross slot. Nothing is really all that critical. As you can see from mine, they were just made from scrap pieces of random sizes. Trust me, they were not that hard to make, as I was a very green machinist when I made them lol.
IMO the hex would be the hardest part and would require a collet block, or other indexing device. Followed by the cross slot. I was cutting some hex gauge pins one day in the CNC, and just decided on a whim to cut a few extra hex adapters for yet to be named accessories back when I made mine. A few months went by before I got the idea to turn them into tap holders. I should probably make some more, as I wish I had them at home sometimes. The problem of being a machinist by day, and also having a home shop is you need 2 of everything lol.
IMO the hex would be the hardest part and would require a collet block, or other indexing device. Followed by the cross slot. I was cutting some hex gauge pins one day in the CNC, and just decided on a whim to cut a few extra hex adapters for yet to be named accessories back when I made mine. A few months went by before I got the idea to turn them into tap holders. I should probably make some more, as I wish I had them at home sometimes. The problem of being a machinist by day, and also having a home shop is you need 2 of everything lol.
You can only edit your own posts. Ya, try logging in again.
I'm expecting that to work immediately... Log out and log back in? Please let me know? @Jwest7788 heads up here...
You should see edit button as below.