Product category:
Threading tools
News Release from: LMT Fette | Subject: HPF thread forming taps
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 20 June 2007
Forming taps increase hole threading
speeds
A forming tap threading system that uses an interchangeable solid carbide insert with through the holder coolant increases blind and through hole tapping speeds at lower cost.
Regarded as a major breakthrough for the internal threading of blind and through holes, a thread forming tap system enables higher processing speeds It also provides extended tool life and stronger and higher quality thread forms
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 13 Aug 2007 at 8.00am (UK)
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LMT Fette has developed its HPF forming taps.
The threading system uses an interchangeable solid carbide insert with through the holder coolant feed direct to the cutting zone.
As well as raising productivity, HPF forming taps have a lower replacement cost of the carbide threaded insert that should also be less than that of a one-piece solid carbide tap.
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The HPF design incorporates a special toolholder that is secured by a central locking screw.
It accepts a solid carbide insert with a choice of metric, UNC, UNF and BSP thread forms.
The HPF forming taps produce thread depths up to a ratio of three times the diameter.
Because the thread form is rolled, rather than cut, the forming tap generates a compacted grain flow.
The resulting thread is stronger and has a hardened, burnished surface to high orders of precision and consistency.
The HPF forming taps provide excellent levels of security in the machining process.
The use of a coated solid carbide insert extends tool life as it enables flank wear to be reduced.
Also chipping of the flute is eliminated and breakage is unlikely, even when the tool is driven by a high torque spindle in difficult materials.
Applications in materials with an elongation co-efficient of more than 8% and tensile strength up to 1,000N/mm2 are ideal.
Fette TiCN Plus PVD multi-layer coated thread inserts are available in M8 x 1.25 p to M18 x 2.5 p, 5/16 to 3/4 UNC and UNF and between G 1/8 to G 1/2 inch BSP thread forms.
The toolholder body has high torsional stiffness with a series of unevenly spaced drive dogs to ensure the mating carbide threading insert is positively located in the correct position.
Side coolant ducts in the body, set at an inclination of 5 deg to the axis of the tool, automatically align with the lubrication feed grooves on the periphery of the threaded insert.
A tough, wear resistant fine-grain carbide is used for the insert.
A central locking screw secures the insert and the number of forming edges is optimised according to the pitch of the thread.
Also, the crest of each thread has a specially developed form to ensure a strong adhesion of the coating.
Recent applications include engine connecting rods in C70 steel where a M16 x 1.5 blind hole was threaded 40mm deep.
The spindle speed was able to be doubled to 20m/min, tool life increased by 60% to 3,100 threads and over a batch of 500,000 components.
It represented a total saving of GBP 137,000.
A union nut produced out of nickel chrome steel and tapped M18 x 1.5 by 10mm deep into a blind hole enabled tool life to be improved by a factor of 13 times.
Meanwhile, a saving of 2.6s/part was achieved on M10 x 1.5 threaded bush with a 12mm deep blind hole thread that ensured the lead time for a batch of 4,000 parts was reduced by 29h.
A range of heavy duty, solid carbide drills are also available from LMT Fette to suit the thread sizes.
Also Bilz SCN Synchro slim chucks provide up to 4mm of length adjustment and options of internal coolant supply.
Bilz is an LMT company.
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