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Thread: Tap Follower

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    Supporting Member rossbotics's Avatar
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    Tap Follower

    Had to tap a 3/4-10 hole the other day in the mill and found out I had no way of driving that size of tap under power much less keeping it straight, I had a tap handle but no way to keep it straight while I hand tapped the block.

    This little tool is by no means new and probably everybody has one except me, I did however back in my apprentice days make one just for experience, whatever happened to it no one knows, that was many moons ago.

    It has a 3/4" diameter body for use in a collet with a spring loaded 7/16" diameter follower shaft that has a 60° hardened point, the follower shaft itself has an 1-1/4" of travel, it worked very well, I want loose this one, but probably never will use it again either.

    Here is a couple of photos
    Thanks for looking And happy machining

    Doug

    Tap Follower-1.jpg Tap Follower-2.jpg

    Tap Follower-3.jpg Tap Follower-4.jpg

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    Comments are always welcome
    Doug

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  2. The Following 20 Users Say Thank You to rossbotics For This Useful Post:

    baja (May 28, 2021), Captn Roy (Aug 4, 2018), EnginePaul (Nov 10, 2018), jackhoying (Jul 23, 2018), Jon (Jul 21, 2018), Ken Koch (May 15, 2019), markcawston (Feb 6, 2019), old_toolmaker (Apr 2, 2019), Paul Jones (Jul 23, 2018), PJs (Jul 22, 2018), Scotsman Hosie (Feb 6, 2019), Scotty1 (Nov 9, 2018), Seedtick (Jul 23, 2018), Shanty (Nov 9, 2018), suther51 (Jul 23, 2018), thevillageinn (Aug 5, 2018), Tonyg (Nov 9, 2018), Toolmaker51 (Jul 25, 2018), Tule (Feb 7, 2019), zarembak (Nov 9, 2018)

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    Supporting Member suther51's Avatar
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    It looks from the picture that the handle of the tap wrench will not clear the column of the mill, if so what is your technique to drive the tap? Thanks
    Eric

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    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
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    Eric At one time I had a very similar tool that Doug has made they work great especially if the pointed cylinder has a small enough and long enough shank diameter to allow the tap handle to be lifted off the tap for re-positioning when in cases such as it appears in the photo that the tap handle can not make a full 360 swing. Just turn it as far as it will go lift off the tap square and rotate back 90°. Having to re-position a handle 4 times per thread cut is a pain but the job still gets done
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
    When I have to paint I use KBS products

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    Paul Jones (Jul 23, 2018)

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    Supporting Member rossbotics's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by suther51 View Post
    It looks from the picture that the handle of the tap wrench will not clear the column of the mill, if so what is your technique to drive the tap? Thanks
    Eric
    You simply turn the handle as far as it will go and reposition the handle
    Comments are always welcome
    Doug

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  7. The Following User Says Thank You to rossbotics For This Useful Post:

    Paul Jones (Jul 23, 2018)

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    Thanks rossbotics! We've added your Tap Follower to our Tapping and Threading category,
    as well as to your builder page: rossbotics's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:




  9. #6
    Supporting Member suther51's Avatar
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    Kind of thought so but sort of hoped that there was some tricky solution to bend my mind with. Thanks
    Eric

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    Supporting Member ncollar's Avatar
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    Doug
    I like the huge follower. Everyone needs a bigger one.
    Looks good
    Nelson

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    I've one of the small ones for years. It was probably from MSC or Enco. I needed a cnc lathe project a couple of years ago so I made two with 2MT ends. The sliding portion can be flipped for a point or a cup.
    Dan Coleman

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    Supporting Member TrickieDickie's Avatar
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    Ross I do not have one and needed it many times. I am motivated to crank one out now.
    Thank you

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    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by suther51 View Post
    Kind of thought so but sort of hoped that there was some tricky solution to bend my mind with. Thanks
    Eric
    Well, there is one way. Most of us wouldn't for a single piece, multiples certainly. Run the ram out far enough to swing the tap wrench, then setup in position for that temporary centerline.
    In most job shop knee mills, somebody has felt-tipped a mark showing ram position that spans entire "Y" axis. They may have marked a fully retracted area also, when a little extra rigidity is needed. That flexibility makes Bridgeport pattern widely copied, not the best mill ever, but gets incalculable numbers of shops out of a bind.

    And with ncollar's comment below; many of us could have huge followings, if we had a bigger one. . .
    Sorry Nelson, couldn't restrain myself.



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    Toolmaker51
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