Shops all across the country are continuously looking for ways to improve their processes. An Ohio manufacturer specializing in custom roll threaded products was looking to do just that. Seeing that their old drill press was on its last leg, they were on the hunt for a replacement that would work for their Acme tapping process.
When they came upon the FlexArm, they were immediately drawn to its ease of use. However, they were concerned that the FlexArm wouldn’t be able to push their 2″-4 Acme-2G tap. Because of this, they were thinking about purchasing a radial drill instead.
Confident in the FlexArm’s capabilities, the Flex team suggested sending in parts to prove the solution in a tap test. The end-user agreed to send in their bronze parts and have them tested on a hydraulic tapping arm.
The tap test required the GH-60 hydraulic tapping arm due to the substantial amount of torque needed to turn the large Acme tap.
Tap Specs
2″-4 Acme 2G
Major Diameter – 2.02/2.04
Minor Diameter – 1.7500/1.7625
Threads Per Inch – 4
Length of Thread – 2.75
After setting up the fixturing, we tapped the bronze nut running the tap between 30 RPM-50 RPM. The GH-60 tapping arm tops out at 811 ft/lbs of torque, which was just the right amount to create perfect Acme threads with ease.
If you have a similar application or looking for a quick and easy tapping solution, give us a call at 1-800-837-2503 or schedule a tap test today.
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Auto Stand-Off – This is currently defined to be surface stand-off and not to be confused with vector stand-off in 5-axis mode. The current auto stand-off is based on a changing surface and will adjust vertically based on the angle of the “A” Axis, so there is five (5) axis taken into account during the calculations, but this is not the same as the tool vector stand-off. There is the ability to do the vector stand-off change while the machine is running manually with buttons on the screen.
Z-Reader Probe – The Z-Reader is a device for mapping the location of the surface. It can be controlled manually & programmatically. The option is NOT active while cutting & is retracted out of harm’s way. It can be triggered to verify the surface at every pierce before the cutting process starts, or it could be used to drive surface mapping of the whole part before cutting starts. It begins with initialization or zeroing of the device to the surface at the beginning of a program and then accumulates or tracks the difference from that zeroing effort.
Automatic Edge Finder – The edge finder is or can be utilized manually (Jogging Method & Screen Buttons), programmatically (M & G codes), or fully automatic routine (dedicated program). This option sets offsets & program rotation to match the orientation & location on the cutting table.
AC Unit Installed on Electrical Cabinet – The unit is mounted on the cabinet’s High Power (480v) side. It is close to the location where the drives are mounted. This option keeps the cabinet temperature stable and allows heat dissipation faster. The servo drives for all axes are the most significant contributors to heat inside the electrical cabinet.
5-Axis Renishaw Calibration – The calibration unit is a Renishaw model APCA45 with a modified spherical stylus. The device has a retractable cover and air purge to clear debris & dust during the activation process. It mounts to a swing arm controlled by a pneumatic rotary, so it is out of the way during regular operation and swings into the calibration position for calibration only.