Thread Milling Vs Tapping

Thread milling and tapping are two ways of making a threaded hole. Tapping is more popular, but thread milling has several advantages that might be important dependant upon the specific requirements of your application.

A thread milling tool can tackle a range of hole diameters instead of just one. The thread mill can place threads closer to the bottom of a blind hole, and can easily machine threads in large holes. The thread mill, unlike a tap, can combine various hole-making operations into a single tool and it also allows room for chips to fall away.

Thread milling produces superior results over a tapped hole; this can be seen by comparing two holes under a microscope. Tapped holes look jagged as a tap works from the top down, leaving no room for the chips to fall away.

Clearly both approaches have their pros and cons. Tapping is generally more suited to smaller holes, although this should not be the only consideration. The number of holes to be threaded, thread quality, the computer program, taps breakage and the cost of the tool and the machine driving the tool must also be taken into consideration.

At Ultra Precision, we try to make the purchasing process as simple as possible by offering our customers a comprehensive service.  Our experienced production engineers will be happy to advise on which production methods and machines will be most suited to your coponent engineering requirements. Please contact us for further information.