Vertical Tapping Machine

[northwest]

So, I am going to build myself one of these:



I have always fancied one and now I have a couple of quid in the "new tools" fund thanks to all of the people on here buying all my stuff. I have ordered two lengths of 1" square 10 gauge wall tube for the parallel arms and a good quantity of roller thrust washers for the pivot points. I have plenty of bolts and nuts and a good stock of ally for the bracketry.

Firstly, has anyone built one or has anyone any experience of one, what are the pitfalls? Second, I have identified a pneumatic tapping head on ebay that seems to be popular, it is THIS ONE again, has anyone tried one of these? The absolute max I would need to tap is less than the quoted capacity of the tool so I am quite happy with that, especially knowing the Chinese propensity for over quoting the capacity of everything.

Any and all help gratefully received.

 

[waddycall]

From what I recall there are some springs in there somewhere.

 

[mtt.tr]

From what I recall there are some springs in there somewhere.

top arm had a gas strut to push it up, i haven't built one but wouldn't deem it complicated

Id personally draw it in cad and have all the plates laser cut going by my last quotes wont cost much.

That tapping head is tempting

 

[RaceDiagnostics]

Abom got his working last night, looked very good, but expensive. If I tried to build one, no way would it end up with a vertical spindle.

 

[brightspark]

try and pick up a tapmatic head then make the rest yourself sometimes they come up at a good price

 

[northwest]

If I tried to build one, no way would it end up with a vertical spindle.

Why not if I may ask?
I have looked for a Tapmatic head but they are just a bit much and all too often I think we want to build stuff and spend so much time looking for the right bits at the right price we never get started sometimes. Would be nice though, I'll see what else I can sell. I am on a promise not to buy any more kit.

I won't be getting the plates laser cut, I am going to Mill from solid the brackets.

 

[Parm]

Now for the silly question from someone that doesn’t know (me)

Why would you need that sort of contraption?

 

[Paul.]

Why would you need that sort of contraption?

They keep the tap square to the job.

 

[brightspark]

Now for the silly question from someone that doesn’t know (me)

Why would you need that sort of contraption?

a tapping machine is very handy if your doing a lot of it , its fast even if your only doing a few . its nice to make something if u can and u have all the gear . personal satisfaction. ive spent a few days making something that could be bought for 100 quid and I could have gone out and made 400 and bought one no fun in that. you could make a simple one. there similar to a bench pillar drill but have a hand crank handle and just slide up and down

 

[cianh91]

Now for the silly question from someone that doesn’t know (me)

Why would you need that sort of contraption?

when your tapping a lot of holes it’s a must .
We have one in work was about 5000 for it but it does m4-m27 . Ours broke and if you get used to having one it’s like losing a hand( we tap between 400-1000 holes a week) if you want any close up pics or measurements let me know il try get you them

 

[northwest]

if you want any close up pics or measurements let me know il try get you them

Thank you for your kind offer. I will bear it in mind.

Yes, the Baileigh (?) in my picture at the top is about five grand, the late John Stephenson had a couple he had built in his workshop but when I was there last we stuck to the business in hand and I forgot to subject him to the Spanish inquisition about it. Sadly he has since passed away. He was a great friend, always down to earth and very knowledgeable.

If you are cracking on with a job and you have a load of holes to tap it is the best and fastest solution, every hole is perpendicular to the workpiece. I tend to stick a tap in the cordless drill but one of two things (well three really) happens. I snap a tap as I am tapping small holes recklessly or the tap spins in the chuck as the bigger sizes grip. Or, the third possibility is I tap the hole on the wonk. Never good. What has brought this on I suppose is that I am just starting to build the tooling plate for the fourth axis for my Mill and I am looking at a fair few tapped holes. Also, I have no drill press which can be used as a tapping head, I have two mills. And no space.

 

[AndersK]

On my to-do list too, but simplified

 

[Dcal]

I can see why you would want one.
I just drilled and tapped 20 odd mixture of 6 and 8mm by hand after starting them off in the vertical drill to get them plumb.
But I don't do enough for it to be worthwhile for me.

Will be watching with intrest though.

 

[brightspark]

I start off with pedestal drill or in the lathe then in the vice. if I hadn't made tons of other stuff id probably knock one up

 

[pressbrake1]

Aboms one is very nice and very expensive, I imagine he was given it as there’s no way it would pay for itself for him.
Something I’ve fancied doing but I’m too grumpy for projects.
Power source is going to be a wait and see what comes along at the right money job

 

[mtt.tr]

Aboms one is very nice and very expensive, I imagine he was given it as there’s no way it would pay for itself for him.
Something I’ve fancied doing but I’m too grumpy for projects.
Power source is going to be a wait and see what comes along at the right money job

That arm is ridiculous, i like that later in the last video he then tapped the casting manually the had drilled a stud out off.

Made me laugh as when i had finished mounting the loader to the tractor i found all sorts of stuff to move about

@northwest if you machine from solid you will certainly end up with something well and truly exceeding the baleigh one

 

[Spark plug]

Are these things not still known as a “happy tapper” in the trade these days?

I’ve always wanted one since spending the required duration of my apprenticeship I charge of one, but could never justify the expense. I will keep an eye on this and see how it pans out.

 

[Parm]

They keep the tap square to the job.

Ahh, ok. I didn’t know such a thing existed.

I use the drill press or lathe, but can see this being handy if tappimg many holes

 

[Robbie260]

Some mag drills come with tapping features you can then make a stand for the to sit on and use with a vice to allow you to make use of it with materials not compatible with the magnet either too thin or non ferrous. May be a bit more versatile for you just a suggestion of something different to do the same job.

As for making one of the above should be eaisly do able if you have mills too hand. Looking at it you are basically wanting to copy the arm movemet of an angle poise lamp while the head remains perfectly perpendicular if im not mistaken. May be a place to get dimensions from to then beef and scale up.

 

[James1979]

The good bit I thought about Abom's flexarm was the magnetic tool that you could use for getting it square to the job. Is there anything downloadable from flexarm like spec sheets?

Id never be able to justify one but I could see the appeal for repetitive production jobs.