A tap 1 has a threaded portion 2 including a cutting blade 5 on an outer circumferential surface, a flute portion 3 that divides the threaded portion 2 in a circumferential direction, and a shank portion 4 formed continuously from the threaded portion 2 and the flute portion 3 along a central axis O. The flute portion 3 includes, in a cross-sectional view, a first flute 31 formed continuously from the cutting blade 5 of the threaded portion 2, a second flute 32 formed continuously from the first flute 31, and a ridge line portion 33 being a boundary between the first and second flutes 31, 32. A distance “e” from the central axis O to the ridge line portion 33 is longer than a distance d1 and a distance d2, respectively.

A spiral flute tap includes a body having an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The body has a cylindrical shank portion adjacent the axial rearward end, a threaded fluted portion adjacent the axial forward end, a non-threaded fluted portion between the cylindrical shank portion and the threaded fluted portion, and a central, longitudinal axis. The spiral flute tap further includes a plurality of helical flutes formed at a helix angle, HA, with respect to the central, longitudinal axis of the tap that continuously increases in magnitude in the threaded fluted portion. In other words, the lead of the plurality of helical flutes continuously decreases in magnitude in a rearward direction for a predetermined distance. In one example, the helix angle, HA, varies at a rate of between 0.5 degrees/mm to 4.0 degrees/mm. A method of making the spiral flute tap is also disclosed.

A tap 1 has a threaded portion 2 including a cutting blade 5 on an outer circumferential surface, a flute portion 3 that divides the threaded portion 2 in a circumferential direction, and a shank portion 4 formed continuously from the threaded portion 2 and the flute portion 3 along a central axis O. The flute portion 3 includes, in a cross-sectional view, a first flute 31 formed continuously from the cutting blade 5 of the threaded portion 2, a second flute 32 formed continuously from the first flute 31, and a ridge line portion 33 being a boundary between the first and second flutes 31, 32. A distance e from the central axis O to the ridge line portion 33 is longer than a distance d1 and a distance d2, respectively.

A spiral flute tap includes a body having an axial forward end and an axial rearward end. The body has a cylindrical shank portion adjacent the axial rearward end, a threaded fluted portion adjacent the axial forward end, a non-threaded fluted portion between the cylindrical shank portion and the threaded fluted portion, and a central, longitudinal axis. The spiral flute tap further includes a plurality of helical flutes formed at a helix angle, HA, with respect to the central, longitudinal axis of the tap that continuously increases in magnitude in the threaded fluted portion. In other words, the lead of the plurality of helical flutes continuously decreases in magnitude in a rearward direction for a predetermined distance. In one example, the helix angle, HA, varies at a rate of between 0.5 degrees/mm to 4.0 degrees/mm. A method of making the spiral flute tap is also disclosed.

In one aspect, thread forming taps are described herein. In some embodiments a thread forming tap comprises a shank disposed at a first end adapted to engage a tool holder and an elongated working portion disposed at a second end. The working portion comprises at least one helical thread and a plurality of longitudinally-extending linear grooves. The longitudinally-extending linear grooves intersect the helical thread forming a plurality of lobes, wherein adjacent lobes differ from one another in relief type and/or relief rate.

The tap tool (10) has an axis of rotation (Cr) and machines a pilot hole (6) so that the same becomes a screw hole (6) in a state where the axis of rotation has been matched to a central axis (C6) of the pilot hole which is provided to a workpiece, wherein the tap tool (10) is characterized by being provided with: a thread section (14) having a blade section (14a) for machining a thread groove of the screw hole; pad sections (15, 16) located behind in a direction of rotation of the blade section, and engaging with the thread groove machined by the blade section during the machining of the thread groove; and a non-engagement section (17) for forming a space (20) between said section and the screw hole in a cross-sectional view where the axis of rotation and the central axis of the screw hole have been matched. The space has a size that enables simultaneous release of the engagement between the thread section and the thread groove and the engagement of the pad sections and the thread groove, in a case where the tap tool has shifted in a direction orthogonal to the axis of rotation within the screw hole, such shift being from the state where the axis of rotation and the central axis of the screw hole have been matched.