drill / tap combination tool ??

[pimij]

Anyone out there tried a drill/tap combination bit?

 

What are your thoughts on these over a 2 tool cycle.

How do you set it up in mastercam?

 

Just looking for some ideas- we are drilling a short run of 36 parts - 48 holes each - thought one of these might shave some time off.

 

Thx Jimi

[Shady]

What size holes? The only ones I have tried were prone to breakage and ended up costing me more in the long run....if I remember right they were #10-32. I have never programmed them in Mastercam but I would assume it would be as 2 seperate tools and drill portion would need to clear the part befor the tap portion makes contact. Not much help.~~~~~~~~~Shady

[pimij]

5/16 - 18UNC holes if that helps.

 

part is only 1/4" thick holes straight through

[Shop Wench]

Personally, I have never tried these. Depending on the part tolerance & material, I would stub drill & tap, which is what you are probably already doing!

[JayMan]

I've used them before called "draps", and they worked well on the manual machines..never heard of anyone trying to program for one..

[pimij]

Yeah, I hadn't heard of anyone programming for one either but I thought I'd ask.

[Thee Cutterman]

Have tryed these drill/taps a couple of times and not had much luck. Even got the supplier to come out and set up to prove to me that they would do the job. After breaking a couple of them himself he was politely told to leave.

Heard of them being used with success in brass and copper but no good reports being used on steel

quote:

---

and they worked well on the manual machines..never heard of anyone trying to program for one..

---

Same here.I was programming in ISO (no M/C at that time)

 

Good luck

Darren

[CAM-mando]

I can't see these being economical except if automatic tool change is not available. Compromised speeds, more expensive tool etc.

[cadcam]

I used to do the door rails for alott of the Haas machines years ago and at the ends and middle they had 1/4-20 taped hopes and I used this type tool still have some in my tool box.

 

used them on a Haas VF4 all day worked great.

Oh and programed on MC-V5.

 

What is the Material? I was taping 1018.

[pimij]

Its an extruded T of aluminumn - not sure on the spec.

How did you set your programs? Two cycles - smae tool? Or a single cycle with peck depth for drill then tap?

[Paul McGarr]

quote:

---

I've used them before called "draps", and they worked well on the manual machines..never heard of anyone trying to program for one..

---

Then you might remember "dreamers"!

[Fig sign]

You will gain nothing at the end ,only the headache .JMHO

[somename75]

If you have at least 1000psi through spindle coolant, you could try one of these, pretty spendy though. But they do work

 

http://www.emuge.com/news_events/circular_thriller.html

[stonker]

I use them in .09 thick alum with great success. We drap M3 holes first drilling using the tip on all holes then going back and tapping. It does save a tool change but more importantly frees up a pocket for another tool. If machine has a small tool magazine combination tools are helpful.