Bent shank taps can be made from various materials, each with its own advantages and ideal applications:

1. High-Speed Steel (HSS):

• Most common material for bent shank taps.
• Offers a good balance of hardness, wear resistance, and toughness.
• Suitable for a wide range of materials and tapping applications.

2. Cobalt High-Speed Steel (HSS-Co):

• Contains cobalt for increased heat resistance and hardness.
• Performs well at higher cutting speeds and temperatures.
• Ideal for tapping difficult-to-machine materials like stainless steel and nickel alloys.

3. Powdered Metal High-Speed Steel (PM HSS):

• Made from powdered metal for improved wear resistance and toughness compared to traditional HSS.
• Offers finer grain structure and better edge retention.
• Suitable for high-volume production and demanding tapping applications.

4. Carbide:

• Extremely hard and wear-resistant material.
• Offers the highest cutting speeds and longest tool life.
• Ideal for tapping abrasive materials and applications requiring high precision.

5. Carbide-Tipped HSS:

• Combines the toughness of HSS with the wear resistance of carbide.
• Features a carbide tip brazed onto an HSS shank.
• Offers a cost-effective alternative to solid carbide taps.

Additional Considerations:

• Coating: Bent shank taps may be coated with materials like titanium nitride (TiN), titanium carbonitride (TiCN), or aluminum titanium nitride (AlTiN) to further improve wear resistance, reduce friction, and extend tool life.
• Surface Treatment: Other surface treatments like steam tempering or cryogenic treatment can enhance the tap's performance and durability.

The choice of material for a bent shank tap depends on factors like:

• Material being tapped: Softer materials may require different tap materials than harder ones.
• Tapping speed and feed: Higher speeds and feeds may necessitate more wear-resistant tap materials.
• Production volume: High-volume production may warrant the use of more durable tap materials.
• Cost considerations: Carbide taps are generally more expensive than HSS taps.

By considering these factors, you can choose the most appropriate material for your specific bent shank tap application.

Coatings significantly enhance bent shank taps' performance and longevity. Here are some of the common coatings used:

Titanium Nitride (TiN):

• Gold-colored coating
• Improves hardness and wear resistance
• Reduces friction and heat generation
• Extends tool life
• Suitable for general-purpose tapping

Titanium Carbonitride (TiCN):

• Dark grey or black coating
• Harder and more wear-resistant than TiN
• Excellent for high-speed tapping and abrasive materials
• Reduces galling and built-up edge
• Ideal for tapping stainless steel and other hard materials

Aluminum Titanium Nitride (AlTiN):

• Purple or blue-grey coating
• Superior hardness and oxidation resistance at high temperatures
• Excellent for dry tapping and high-speed machining
• Reduces friction and heat generation
• Ideal for tapping difficult-to-machine materials and exotic alloys

Titanium Aluminum Nitride (TiAlN):

• Similar properties to AlTiN
• Excellent wear resistance and thermal stability
• Reduces friction and tool wear
• Suitable for high-speed machining and dry tapping

Diamond-Like Carbon (DLC):

• Amorphous carbon coating with diamond-like properties
• Extremely hard and wear-resistant
• Low coefficient of friction
• Ideal for tapping abrasive materials and non-ferrous metals

Other Coatings:

• Chromium nitride (CrN)
• Zirconium nitride (ZrN)
• Multilayer coatings combining different materials

The choice of coating depends on the specific application and the desired properties:

• Material being tapped: Harder materials may require more wear-resistant coatings.
• Tapping speed and feed: Higher speeds and feeds may necessitate coatings with better heat resistance and lubricity.
• Tool life requirements: Longer tool life may be achieved with harder coatings.
• Cost considerations: Some coatings are more expensive than others.

By carefully selecting the appropriate coating, you can optimize the performance and longevity of your bent shank taps, leading to increased productivity and reduced costs.

Bent shank taps are primarily used in the following areas:

High-Volume Nut Production:

• Industries like automotive, aerospace, and electronics manufacturing rely on bent shank taps for efficient and continuous tapping of large quantities of nuts.

Automatic Tapping Machines:

• Bent shank taps are designed for use with automatic tapping machines, where their unique shape enables continuous tapping without needing to reverse the machine or manually remove nuts.

Thread Production in Nuts:

• Bent shank taps are specifically designed to create internal threads in nuts made of various materials, including steel, stainless steel, aluminum, and brass.

Applications Requiring Speed and Efficiency:

• Due to their continuous tapping capability, bent shank taps are preferred in situations where high productivity and reduced cycle times are essential.

Here are some specific examples of where bent shank taps are used:

• Automotive Industry: Tapping nuts for engine components, chassis parts, and interior fixtures.
• Aerospace Industry: Tapping nuts for aircraft structures, landing gear, and control systems.
• Electronics Industry: Tapping nuts for circuit boards, connectors, and enclosures.
• Construction Industry: Tapping nuts for fasteners used in buildings and infrastructure.

Additionally, bent shank taps may be used in other industries and applications where high-volume nut tapping is required.

Overall, bent shank taps play a crucial role in enabling efficient and automated production of threaded nuts, contributing to various industries' productivity and cost-effectiveness.

Bent shank taps find extensive use across various industries due to their efficiency in high-volume nut tapping. Here are some key industries:

Automotive Industry:

• Bent shank taps are crucial for manufacturing threaded fasteners used in engine components, chassis parts, interior fixtures, and body panels.

Aerospace Industry:

• They are employed in tapping nuts for aircraft structures, landing gear, control systems, and interior components.

Electronics Industry:

• Bent shank taps are used to create threaded holes in nuts for circuit boards, connectors, enclosures, and other electronic devices.

Construction and Fastener Industry:

• They play a vital role in producing threaded fasteners used in construction projects, including bolts, screws, and nuts for structural components, machinery, and equipment.

Industrial Machinery and Equipment:

• Bent shank taps are used to manufacture threaded fasteners for various industrial machinery and equipment components, ensuring secure and reliable connections.

Furniture Manufacturing:

• They are employed in tapping nuts for furniture assembly, particularly in high-volume production environments.

Medical Device Manufacturing:

• Bent shank taps are used to create precise threads in nuts for medical devices, ensuring the safety and functionality of these critical components.

Other Industries:

• Bent shank taps find applications in numerous other industries, including appliance manufacturing, agricultural equipment, and sporting goods, where threaded fasteners are essential.

In general, any industry that requires high-volume production of threaded nuts for assembly or fastening purposes can benefit from using bent shank taps. Their unique design and compatibility with automatic tapping machines make them ideal for optimizing production efficiency and reducing costs.

Bent shank taps are primarily designed to be used with specific machines that leverage their unique 90-degree bend for efficient and continuous tapping of nuts. These machines include:

Rotary Transfer Tapping Machines:

• These machines use multiple spindles and workstations to perform various operations on nuts, including tapping. Bent shank taps are ideal for these machines due to their ability to continuously tap nuts without the need for reversing the machine.

Vertical Nut Tapping Machines:

• These machines are designed specifically for tapping nuts and often feature multiple spindles for increased productivity. Bent shank taps are commonly used in these machines to tap nuts in a vertical orientation.

Automatic Nut Tapping Machines:

• These machines automate the entire nut tapping process, from feeding the nuts to tapping and ejecting them. Bent shank taps are well-suited for these machines due to their continuous tapping capability and compatibility with automated systems.

CNC Tapping Centers:

• While not exclusively designed for nut tapping, CNC tapping centers can be programmed to perform this operation efficiently. Bent shank taps can be used in these machines to tap nuts with high precision and repeatability.

Special Purpose Tapping Machines:

• Some manufacturers design custom tapping machines for specific nut tapping applications. These machines may incorporate bent shank taps to optimize the tapping process for their particular needs.

Key features of machines that use bent shank taps:

• Multiple Spindles: Many machines have multiple spindles to tap multiple nuts simultaneously, increasing productivity.
• Automatic Nut Feeding: Machines often have mechanisms to automatically feed nuts to the tapping stations, reducing manual labor.
• High-Speed Capability: Machines are designed to operate at high speeds, enabling rapid tapping of large quantities of nuts.
• Precision and Repeatability: Machines ensure accurate and consistent thread quality in tapped nuts.

By utilizing bent shank taps in conjunction with these specialized machines, manufacturers can achieve efficient and high-quality nut tapping for various industries and applications.

At Baucor, we pride ourselves on being more than just a manufacturer of bent shank taps. We're your partners in precision. We understand that every application is unique, which is why we offer a comprehensive suite of design and engineering support services.

Design Support:

• Custom Tap Design: We collaborate closely with you to craft bent shank taps that perfectly align with your specific needs, whether it's a unique material, thread size, or geometry. Your challenges become our inspiration.
• Material Selection: Our expertise extends to helping you choose the ideal tap material for your workpiece, considering factors like tapping conditions and desired tool life. High-speed steel, cobalt, or carbide – we have the knowledge to guide your decision.
• Coating Selection: We recommend coatings like TiN, TiCN, or AlTiN, not just to enhance performance, but to optimize it. Increased wear resistance and lubricity translate to tangible benefits for your operation.
• 3D Modeling and Simulation: Our cutting-edge 3D modeling isn't just about visualization; it's about prediction. We simulate tap performance to ensure functionality and minimize surprises before they happen.

Engineering Support:

• Technical Expertise: Our seasoned engineers aren't just a call away; they're your problem-solving partners. Whether it's technical advice, troubleshooting, or optimization, we're in it with you.
• Performance Testing: We rigorously test our taps, not just to meet industry standards, but to exceed them. We share the data with you, so you have confidence in your tooling.
• Application Support: From on-site to remote, our support ensures seamless integration of our taps into your processes. We optimize parameters and troubleshoot challenges, so you can focus on production.

Beyond the Basics:

• Training and Education: We believe in empowering our customers. That's why we offer training programs on tap usage, maintenance, and troubleshooting. Knowledge is the key to maximizing your investment.
• Tool Management: We understand the importance of efficiency. Our tool management services help you track tap usage, optimize inventory, and ultimately, save money.
• Regrinding and Sharpening: We extend the life of your taps through professional regrinding and sharpening. It's a commitment to sustainability and cost-effectiveness.

At Baucor, we're not just providing tools; we're delivering solutions. Our design and engineering support is your pathway to achieving optimal results, maximizing productivity, and experiencing the true potential of bent shank taps. Your success is our mission.

Designing bent shank taps requires careful consideration of various factors to ensure optimal performance and longevity. Here are the key design guides:

Thread Specifications:

• Pitch Diameter: The pitch diameter should match the internal thread size of the nut being tapped.
• Thread Form: The thread form should be consistent with the nut's thread standard (e.g., Unified, ISO, metric).
• Lead Angle: The lead angle should be optimized for the specific material being tapped and the desired thread quality.

Shank Geometry:

• Bend Angle: The bend angle should be 90 degrees to ensure proper nut ejection and continuous tapping.
• Shank Length: The shank length should be sufficient to reach the bottom of the nut while allowing for clearance in the tapping machine.
• Shank Diameter: The shank diameter should be compatible with the tapping machine's spindle and provide adequate strength.

Flute Design:

• Number of Flutes: The number of flutes should be appropriate for the tap diameter and material being tapped.
• Flute Type: The flute type (e.g., straight, spiral, interrupted) should be chosen based on the chip evacuation requirements and material properties.
• Flute Relief: Sufficient flute relief should be provided to prevent chip clogging and ensure smooth tapping.

Cutting Edge Geometry:

• Rake Angle: The rake angle should be optimized for the specific material being tapped and the desired cutting action.
• Chamfer Length: The chamfer length should be chosen based on the nut's thread depth and the desired thread engagement.
• Chamfer Relief: Proper chamfer relief should be provided to prevent chip buildup and ensure smooth thread starting.

Material Selection:

• The tap material should be chosen based on the workpiece material, tapping conditions (speed, feed, lubrication), and desired tool life. High-speed steel (HSS), cobalt (HSS-Co), and carbide are common choices.

Coating:

• The appropriate coating should be selected to enhance tap performance, wear resistance, and lubricity. TiN, TiCN, and AlTiN are popular options.

Manufacturing Tolerances:

• Tight manufacturing tolerances should be maintained to ensure dimensional accuracy, thread quality, and consistent performance.

Application-Specific Considerations:

• Design adjustments may be necessary for specific applications, such as tapping thin-walled nuts or materials with unique properties.

By adhering to these design guides, manufacturers can produce high-quality bent shank taps that deliver optimal performance, longevity, and thread quality in various nut tapping applications.