tapping threads in large quantities of holes
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Posted by: CCR5600Design ®

03/23/2007, 08:31:05
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Have any of you folks had any experience with a threading a large amount of holes in sheetmetal? Up to now, we have utilized a hand-held, pneumatic, quick-reversing tap gun operating at approximately 1800 rpm for tapping threads in 11 gauge ASTM A1011 commercial steel. The thread size is #12-24UNC for about 95% of all of the holes we tap. Our most recent project will require over 200,000 holes(approximately 250 holes per part)to be tapped in a timely fashion in sheetmetal pieces that have already been formed. Currently, the holes are being tapped at a rate of about 2 per second with our hand-held tap guns.

Due to the proximity of the holes to a bend in the parts, tapping them prior to forming them is not an option as the threads will distort when the part is formed.

What I am looking for is information on procedures or equipment to help us to more efficiently tap large amounts of holes. It is really taking a toll on the guys in the shop right now and I would like to avoid carpal tunnel syndrome if at all possible.

Thanks,

Ron





"What we need are more people who specialize in the impossible." - Theodore Roethke


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Re: tapping threads in large quantities of holes
Re: tapping threads in large quantities of holes -- CCR5600Design Post Reply Top of thread Forum
Posted by: randykimball ®
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03/23/2007, 09:18:23
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Are the holes located in a pattern (such as produced by a turret punch)?

Assuming you have a large sheet with many holes...

If so, consider renting, leasing, purchasing a robotic arm (you know the type, like used to weld seams in auto bodies) to run the pattern, or a portion of a repeated pattern with progressive movement of the product.
If the pattern was produced by a turret punch, you have the pattern ready to program into the robot. The same guys can handle the product and feed the robot after a little help from a programmer. I'd consider having the robot run one part then index to a second position with another part. The robot will move from hole to hole in a hurry with less misses, as long as you can jig the product to repeatedly position accurately ... and quickly. This way the crew is setting up the next part while the robot is running the tap in the current one. So.... for the entire shift the tap never stops except to replace taps and for the brief second to shift to the other jig.





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Modified by randykimball at Fri, Mar 23, 2007, 13:49:27


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Re: Re: tapping threads in large quantities of holes
Re: Re: tapping threads in large quantities of holes -- randykimball Post Reply Top of thread Forum
Posted by: CCR5600Design ®

03/23/2007, 10:34:59
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Randy,

Thanks for the quick reply. A robotic arm would work well, I agree. The only thing I can forsee is a cost issue with the higher-ups. Let me see if I can get the powers that be to open up the purse strings...

They are so tight they screw their socks on!

Ron





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