b'The tap has to run in a condition where theres no pushing,pulling or pressure on the flank surfaces.Thread Without Dread To solve this problem, both Emuge-Franken and Tapmatic offer tapholders designed to provide a minor amount of positional compensation during rigid tap-position than floating tapping, rigid tapping keepsping. The result, according to both companies, is much getting more and more accurate as machines getbetter thread quality and significantly longer tap life.better, he said. Its really helped with tool life and thread quality. Suitable TapsAlthough the rigid or synchronized tapping cycleWhen tapping titanium, Gillilan noted, tool life will al-is very accurate, it cant prevent small discrepanciesways be shorter than it would be if the operation were between the machine synchronization and the ac- performed on a material that is less difficult to machine tual tap pitch. While small, these differences can and a worst-case scenario is tap breakage during cause big problems when tapping titanium. the process. An easy way to minimize these tool-re-The tap has to run in a condition where theres nolated downsides is to use a tap made for titanium.pushing, pulling or pressure on the flank surfaces,A lot of job shops might try to use a universal said Mark Hatch, product director at Emuge-Fran- tap, he said, which can be done as long as its of ken USA, a tool manufacturer in West Boylston, Mas-sachusetts. If the feed is off, youre going to get anFeaturing patented technology that separates torque transmission imperfection in the thread form and uneven cuttingand axial force, the Softsynchro tapholder helps to enable precise forces on the tool that can cause premature failure. feed control during synchronous tapping of titanium.KOMAPRECISION.COM / 1-800-249-5662 ROTARY TABLESUNLOCK YOUR POTENTIAL TODAY!16JANUARY 2023 Tapping.indd 16 12/15/22 1:20 PM'