Tapping Cast Iron Parts Horizontally & Vertically

An end-user out of Indiana was interested in taking their tapping operations offline. They offer CNC services for customers in the automotive, heavy truck, and agricultural industries, so they deal with many cast iron parts. The problem they were facing was that they were breaking too many taps and scrapping too many parts. Tapping cast iron presents a challenge because it emits small chips of metal. If not careful, the hard spots can cause tap breakage. The end-user wanted to see if the FlexArm was a solution to their problems, so they sent in their parts for a tap test.

The GHM-18 (signified with the ‘M’ in GHM) was selected for the tap test because it allows vertical and horizontal tapping. First, we used an m10 tap to tap both the through and blind holes on top vertically. We then adjusted the multi-head by aligning it horizontally to the part using the alignment plug. The alignment plug ensures the tap stays perpendicular to the workpiece, helping maintain thread consistency.  

Next, we replaced the alignment plug with the m14 tap and tapped the blind holes horizontally. The FlexArm was able to quickly and easily go from vertical to horizontal tapping in no time at all. The FlexArm did not have an issue with the hard spots in the cast iron material. The built-in mechanism in the tap holder clutches out anytime it encounters an obstruction, preventing tap breakage before it can occur. 

If you are having issues tapping cast iron, or you’re just looking to take your tapping operations offline. Contact us, and learn more about our tapping arm solutions. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Standard Features

  • Hand Pendant
  • 22″ Touch Screen Monitor
  • Omron FlexCNC Controller
  • Mobile Control Panel
  • Through Spindle Coolant 
  • Auto Tool Changer 
  • Flood Coolant
HP
Max RPM
FT/LBS
Series

18

4000

92

C-20-02 / C-10-02

18

6000

61

C-20-02 / C-10-02

33

12000

61

CM-20-02

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 CalibrationThe 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. 

HP
Max RPM
FT/LBS
Series

18

4000

92

G-20-06 / G-10-06

18

6000

61

G-20-06 / -10-06

40

4000

217

GM-20-06 / G-20-06 / G-10-06

40

6000

145

G-20-06 / G-20-06 / G-10-06