Guhring UK’s sales manager Dave Hudson says: “it can sometimes be difficult for engineers to determine the most suitable tap or threading tool for specific applications. Over a period of time, we have developed a threading range with various geometries, optimised them and put them into a range that covers over 85% of industry applications. This is all now in the new Pionex 20-page catalogue.”
The Pionex series includes 45° helix geometry with a reduced rake angle, back tapering and improved relief. An h6 shank tolerance features for use in all types of clamping chucks, while the forming tap within the range has a newly designed lubricating groove to improve thread formation.
“We developed a new profile of flute-less taps together with enhanced geometries, coatings and surface finishes, and this has resulted in much longer tool life and massively reduced cutting forces,” says Hudson. “The new extension to the range is the cut tap, with a range of spiral points and spiral flutes, which helps the end user with regard to swarf control.
“A major issue with tapping is always swarf control; more taps break through poor swarf control than for any other reason,” he adds. “This is particularly the case in retraction, when the tap is in reverse. The biggest challenge is always to make the swarf fall away from the tap rather than get wrapped around it, and we’ve certainly achieved that with the new Pionex.”
Pionex threading tools are manufactured from HSS-E or PM30 with Guhring’s new aluminium nitride or zirconium coating technology.
“The diverse capabilities of the Pionex range, through its innovative swarf controlling geometry, mean it can be applied effectively to materials that range from standard low carbon steels to tougher steels and stainless steels,” says Hudson. “For exotic materials, we have a very diverse range that caters for all types of heat-resistant alloys.”
Pionex is available with metric threads in course or fine pitch, as well as UNC, UNF, BSP in all diameter and pitch variants. A complete line of special thread designations is also available upon request.
