Tapping blind holes and difficult-to-machine alloys with conventional taps carries a constant risk of tool jamming and breakage, which often leads to scrapping the entire workpiece. Helical interpolation thread milling eliminates this problem: the tool ensures consistent chip breaking, reduces spindle load, and prevents workpiece damage if the cutting edge wears out.
The Metallekt catalog range covers requirements from precision micromachining to high-volume coarse-pitch threading:
Series Overview and Technical Capabilities:
- Wide Range of Long and Standard Reach Options (Series 3004): A versatile line for internal threading, covering dimensions from ultra-small M0.8×0.2 to standard M16×2.0. The series includes cutters with an extended cutting neck length (L_1 up to 48 mm) and an overall length of up to 100 mm for deep-hole thread milling.
- Milling Hardened Steels up to 62 HRC (Series 3005 and 3006): A specialized carbide substrate and coating allow metric thread milling (from M1.6 to M12) directly in heat-treated workpieces with hardness up to 62 HRC. This eliminates distortion and thread pitch deformation caused by post-machining hardening.
- Combined Operations: Threading + 45° Chamfering (Series 3007 and C3007): The cutter design features an additional 45° cutting edge. In a single pass, the tool machines the lead chamfer and cuts the thread profile (from coarse-pitch M6 to M16 and fine-pitch up to M48), shortening cycle times and saving tool magazine pockets.
- Universal Partial-Profile Thread Mills (Series 3002 and C3002): The 60° partial profile tool accommodates a wide pitch range (from 0.35 to 2.5 mm and 72–10 TPI). A single cutter can mill threads of various diameters with identical pitch, significantly reducing tooling inventory costs.
- Deep-Hole Thread Milling with Neck Relief (Series 3008 and C3008): Tools with reduced-neck shanks (L_2 up to 50 mm) are designed for machining threads from 0.5 to 3.5 mm pitch in deep cavities and housing parts.
- Through-Tool Internal Coolant Supply (Series with "C" Designation): Models C3001, C3002, C3007, and C3008 feature an axial through-coolant hole delivering coolant directly into the cutting zone. This ensures prompt chip evacuation from blind holes and extends cutting edge life.
Workpiece Materials and Modifications
The tooling is designed to machine all ISO material groups: from unalloyed steels (P), stainless steels (M), and cast irons (K) to non-ferrous metals (N), heat-resistant titanium/nickel-based alloys (S), and hardened steels (H).
By default, all catalog items are supplied with a smooth cylindrical shank (type HA) or a Weldon flat (type HB). Custom-engineered tools based on standard parts can also be ordered to meet specific machining process requirements.
Complete item tables, geometry drawings, and engineered cutting data (speeds, feeds, and minute feed calculation formulas) are available in the Metallekt manufacturer catalog.