Gummy, Stringy Material Meets its Match with Cut Taps, Thread Mills

Threading shouldn’t be an afterthought, though it doesn’t seem to rank high on everyone’s top 10 problems that require immediate attention. That is, until you consider the potential loss that scrapped parts can result in after a significant amount of machining has been invested in high-value parts. Where the material being threaded is aluminum there are tried and true ways to ensure the reliability and consistency of the threading process. Selecting the right tool for the right application begins with consideration of the key properties of aluminum, the pros and cons associated with the main choices of tools, cut taps or thread mills, and advances in tooling technology including coatings and coolant-through capability.