Punch Tap's Tooth Geometry Threads Faster
The tooth geometry design of Emuge's Punch Tap line consumes less energy and reduces threading time, according to the company.
Emuge Corp.’s Punch Tap line forms helical thread in cast and wrought aluminum alloys and similar lightweight materials. The product is made from a HSSE-PM alloy optimized for toughness and long wear. Its tooth geometry design shortens tool paths to e produc internal threads in less than half a second, consuming less energy and reducing threading time by 75 percent, according to the company. This makes the product ideal for high-volume applications.
Before threading, the tool punches into a pre-drilled hole and the first tooth of each flute creates a helical groove, which helps guide the tap to the application depth. The thread is then produced with a half left turn, and each tooth of the tap produces half a thread. After the threads are formed, the tap is retracted in a helical movement from the hole via the grooves. The finished, cold-formed thread is interrupted by two helical grooves offset by 180 degree. This design enables a tool path that is approximately 15 times shorter for an M6 thread with a depth of 15 mm compared to traditional cutting or cold-forming taps, the company says.
Thread strength is said to be comparable to conventionally machined threads from a thread depth of 2×D. This product is used for blind and through-holes, and the production of metric threads from M3 through M10 with thread depths ranging to 2×D (also available in sizes ranging #8 through 5/16"). The taps have internal coolant supply using emulsion or minimum quantity lubrication (MQL). They are designed to be used on CNC machines programmed with a specialized punch tap cycle. Machine parameters will require adjustment for some applications.
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