Drilling and Tapping

Description

Tapping is the process of creating threads on the inner surface of a drilled hole. A variety of taps
are available in the shop to match almost any screw type available, including metric and standard
measurements. Information required to select the drill bit includes thread count, diameter, thread
pitch, and coarse/fine threads.

Using Tap Guides

The tap guides, located in the same drawer as the taps, are crucial to creating a straight and
usable tap. When tapping on a machine such as the Mill or Lathe, the tap is automatically
centered and straight. Be wary of tap alignment when doing it manually, as the human eye isn't
as accurate as a perfectly 90 degree tap guide.

Using Oil

Oil is a necessity while drilling and tapping. It prevents overheating, helps clean out the chips
created by the bits, assists the cutting action, and prevents the bits from squealing.

Center Drills

Creating a drilled and tapped hole first requires using a center drill. This gives the larger bits a
center to align to, since most drill bits aren't perfectly centered when mounted in a drill chuck.
This ensures the larger bits will drill in exactly the right place and won't walk across the part.

Pecking

While either drilling or tapping, pecking helps ensure the bits won't overheat or break. Pecking is
the process of drilling into the part a way, then backing out to remove the chips and allow the
part to cool. Common practice is to rotate the handle being used about a full turn, then back a
half turn. Every time the bit/tap is pulled out, as many chips as possible should be removed and
oil should be added to the surface and the bit/tap.
Tapping Procedure

1. Select drill size from chart.

This is the first place to look when selecting a tap size. Usually the desired screw size is known,
so the drill bit can be selected directly from this chart.
2. Check cutting speeds for drill bit.

For center drills, a cutting speed of 1000 RPM is usually selected. However, under certain
circumstances, other speeds may be necessary.

For the normal drilling, speeds are selected based on material and diameter. (Note that the CNC
machines have maximum speeds that may not reach the recommended values.)
3. Make a center hole.

Set up the center drill bit in the drill chuck. Using oil on the tip of the bit and on the location to
be drilled, slowly lower the bit and cut between 1/16th inch and 1/8th inch, enough to seat a
larger bit's tapered end.

4. Drill hole.

Load the required drill bit in the chuck. The part should not be moved during this step, so the bit
will already be centered.

Apply oil to the bit and surface. Lower the bit until it comes in contact with the part and begin
peck drilling, adding oil at every pass. Drill to the desired depth.

If the hole is a through hole, be aware of the depth of your part. If it is a blind hole, use a
previously defined zero as a reference.
5. Add chamfer.

Additional features sometimes desired for screws are chamfers and countersinks. Spindle speed
for best results should be between 150 and 250 rpm

6. Get a tap guide.

The final step is to manually tap the hole. This is done using the taps and guide blocks available
in the tool chest near the manual mills. The guide blocks have several holes for different sized
taps. Select the one closest to the size tap being used, and place it over the drilled hole.
7. Tap the block.

Using the tap wrenches, peck tap by applying a gentle pressure while turning the wrench a full
turn in, then a half turn out, and repeating. Once the tap is sufficiently seated, disconnect the
wrench from the tap, remove the guide from the tap, replace the wrench, and continue peck
tapping to depth.
8. Complete the tap.

Don't keep applying pressure if the tap refuses to go any further; it has likely reached the bottom
of the hole. Any pressure applied at this point is likely to break the tap. The smaller the tap, the
more likely it is to break while in use, so exercise caution in speed and pressure applied.