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THREADING
Tapping Essentials

In this Tip-of-the-Day video, Mark Terryberry goes deep into the art 
of tapping, giving you valuable insight into which tap to use, and 
when to use it. Whether you are a beginner or advanced machinist, 
you will definitely learn something from this video.
Scan QR code to watch the 
Tapping Essentials video under 
the Cutting Taps Overview
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2.
Taps 
C
utting Taps are used to cut screw threads in pre-drilled or punched holes. The cutting edges 
of the tap remove material from the workpiece, pushing the chips either in front of the tap, or 
drawing them up the flutes, depending on the type of tap. There are two primary characteristics 
to consider when choosing the right cutting tap for the job: Cutting Angle and Chamfer Length.  
There are three primary choices for each of these characteristics.
Cutting Angles come in various styles, and the style is always included in 
the tap name (Spiral Point, Spiral Flute, Straight Flute). The cutting angle 
determines whether the chips are drawn up the flutes and out of the hole, or 
pushed in front of the tap and into the hole.
Chamfer Length is the second characteristic to consider when buying taps. 
There are three primary types of chamfer: Taper, Plug, and Bottoming. 
You can purchase any cutting angle (Spiral Point, Spiral Flute, Straight 
Flute) tap in any of the chamfer types, but Plug and Bottoming are most 
commonly used in CNC machine applications.
Coatings
• Non-Coated/Bright • Hardslick  • TiAlN • TiCN • TiN 
Primary Workpiece Material:
1. Roll Tap  |  2. Spiral Flute Tap  |  3. Spiral Point Tap  |  4. Straight Flute Tap
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