Solid carbide taps for improved tapping speed and durability

Kennametal’s KC7542 solid carbide taps for tapping steels and irons and KC7512 for tapping aluminum and other non-ferrous materials are ideal for lean programs aimed at reducing cycle times and costs. The KC7542 grade when used in steel (up to 32 HRc) prevents chipping experienced with conventional carbide taps. The patented tools can be run up to two times conventional tapping speeds in aluminium and up to four times tapping speed in steels and will often produce four times the tap life of standard HSS versions. Both taps’ fully cylindrical shank are designed for use with precision round tool holders including hydraulic, shrink fit, and precision collet holders. They are best suited to applications demanding high precision and lower total tapped cost per hole, such as in automotive and general engineering, where CNC machine tools are employed for synchronous (rigid) tapping. Enhanced tap precision and design give exceptional thread quality and superior accuracy. Thread gauging, therefore, is more predictable, reducing scrap and rework costs for oversized or undersized tapped holes. Non-standard TPI or metric pitches, non-standard pitch diameters, or optional overall lengths are available.