Tapping tool?

[eskimobob]

The Z axis on my mill is driven by a stepper (I either drive the stepper as CNC from PC or using a hand operated jog wheel). I can't therefore easily tap threads because I can't feel the insertion or retracting force of the tap.

I've seen a clever gadget which makes tapping on a drill press very fast (I'm surprised it works as I always throught it was one turn forwards and half back etc). Here's a link to a [ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_tkCZgNutI&feature=related]Tapmatic gadget[/ame] on youtube.

Now that is overkill for what I want so is there anything I can buy which will fit in the Jacobs chuck of my mill and allow me to tap by hand?

I guess I could make something but am not sure where to start :

 

[doc1955]

WE had a drill press set up with that tapping head it is dedicated to tapping on that drill press.
I've used it on taps from 1/2-13 to 8-32 in steel they work very well. Plus it eliminated a lot of broken taps.
never tried it on a n/c machine.
You could by a floating tap holder. They have about .5 of travel in z. We used on on our n/c machine in the shop that didn't have a tapping cycle. They work pretty good.

tap holder

about half way down on page.

 

[Tin Falcon]

These are handy

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INSRAR2&PMAKA=325-5179&PMPXNO=5810267
Tin

 

[eskimobob]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Tin, just from looking at the device you suggested, I don't understand what it does??

I have come across something on a UK supplier website - does this look suitable do you think?

 

[putputman]

Martin, is this what you are looking for? If it is, there is a PFD in the download section with prints of all the details.
http://www.homemodelenginemachinist.com/index.php?topic=3739.0

 

[doc1955]

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Tin, just from looking at the device you suggested, I don't understand what it does??

I have come across something on a UK supplier website - does this look suitable do you think?

Those are just tap guides you still need to manually tap they work good to keep tap in the right orientation to the hole thus less broken taps.

 

[eskimobob]

Thanks Arv, that looks very useful 8)

 

[BobWarfield]

Those tapping heads are available pretty cheap on eBay used. I have played with Harbor Freight's and found it marginal.

FWIW, I bought Enco's tap adapter for a socket wrench (made by an outfit called Irwin) and I use it with my butterfly impact wrench. Taps really quickly:

Eventually I will make a tapping arm from that setup: http://www.cnccookbook.com/CCTappingArm.htm

It'll be real handy having that gizmo available for quick tapping. FWIW, form taps are quite a bit stronger than spiral taps and hence less likely to break. I don't tap anything too small, but I've done 8-32's with that setup and have not broken a tap (yet, knock on wood, DOH!).

For my CNC, I will be looking at floating tap holders, probably from www.maritool.com.

Best,

BW