Every year, billions of threads are formed by way of the threading process. Whether it’s a subtractive accomplishment, such as tapping and dieing, or an additive one, like 3D printing, there are many approaches used when it comes to threading. Sandvik Coromant is the leading name in threading tool production and has made a name for itself in several industrial markets, including automotive and aerospace.
Cutting tools that craft screw threads, threading tools are typically made of high-speed steel or carbide. As the tool rotates, flutes that have been machined along its surface partake in a cutting action, penetrating the workpiece and consequently forming the thread. These flutes spiral around the circumference of the tool.
Threading tools come in many varieties, and it is essential to choose the right one for a successful processing. The three primary choices one can take are taps, dies, and thread mills.
An extensive selection of sizes and patterns is accessible for constructing and cultivating threads within an enclosed area. The most commonplace option is the manual tap, employed to construct coils in a sealed inside. The choreography of the hand tap’s spirals creating the cut is then easily dispersed through the core.
Lending a helping hand to the production process, dies have especially earned their worth for their impressive ability to create external threads in many different sizes and shapes. And, out of them all, round dies remain the most popular choice due to their unparalleled ability to shape cylindrical components. Unlike taps that cut away materials through drilling action, a die embarks on this attempt with chip-ejecting motion executed through an opening on the side.
Thread mills represent a versatile solution for producing internal and external threads. These tools come in a vast array of sizes and shapes, as well as applicable for a diverse range of materials. Utilizing a cut-and-eject process akin to that of tapping or die cutting, the thread mill cuts away material, expelling the chip from a side-located opening.
Selecting a pertinent threading tool is indispensable for obtaining a successful threading operation. There are three core components to think about when choosing such a tool – the thread type, the material to be threaded, and the accepted tolerance level.
Whatever thread is being cut, the appropriate tool must be selected. Metric threads will need a metric tap or die, imperial threads an imperial model, and pipe threads call for a pipe tap or die. Basically, the type of thread being cut steers the choice of the threading tool.
When choosing threading instruments, the materials that must be worked on should be taken into keen consideration. Most commonly, steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and brass are cut using the instrument, each possessing properties that necessitate carefully selecting the correct device.
When it comes to picking the right threading tool, the amount of imprecision allowed – in other words, the tolerance – requires consideration. This comprises three key varieties: plus/minus, angular, and form tolerances.
When stability and exactness are not prerequisites, plus/minus tolerances are usually the way to go. Angular tolerances, however, are necessary when the angle between the threads must be accurate. Similarly, form tolerances are needed to ensure that the shape of the thread follows a specific pattern.
When selecting a thread cutting tool, there are several key factors to consider for successful threading. These include the type of thread, the material it will be used on, and the required degree of accuracy. Making an informed choice is paramount to the success of this operation.