Spiral flute tap with continuously increasing helix angle

Abstract

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.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.