How Do You Tap On A Bridgeport Milling Machine?
Whether you are tapping steel or a soft metal such as aluminum, you can use a Bridgeport manual mill for your tapping needs. By applying liberal amounts of tapping fluid, you can prevent the heat buildup that is present with any cutting operation. By setting the RPM to suit the material you are threading, you can tap hundreds of holes on a Bridgeport Milling Machine with no problems. Insert a Tapmatic tapping head into a collet. The Tapmatic tapping head has a 1-inch shank, so use the proper collet to hold it into place. Place the collet into the spindle and tighten the rod with the nut located on the top of the spindle head. You want to use as much force as possible as the tap will be very rigid as it enters and exits the metal for tapping. Set your stop for the correct tap depth according to the print specifications. Use the top of the material and the bottom of the tap for your zero Z point. Reset your micrometer wheel on the front of the spindle. Move the tap away from the work pie
