1. Techniques and tools

1.1 Common principles of tapping techniques

Cutting taps produce threads by material removal, while forming taps operate without material removal (figure 1 ). Despite this essential difference, which has numerous consequences on the properties of these techniques and the threads produced, there are characteristics common to both tapping techniques and the tools they use.

Taps, whether cut or deformed, are made up of several parts, each with its own function (figure 2 ). With the exception of threaded taps, the tap shank is cylindrical...