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GWS Tool Group Announces Acquisition of North American Tool Corporation

3/3/2021

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The acquisition of North American Tool Corporation extends custom product capability into the threading space, a new offering for GWS that adds a powerful dimension to the already robust product and service portfolio.
TAVARES, Fla., Feb. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- GWS Tool Group is pleased to announce it has acquired North American Tool Corporation (NATC). 
Located in Northern Illinois, North American Tool is a world-class supplier of special taps, dies, and gages. From solid carbide threadmills to high-speed steel taps and thread gages, North American Tool delivers high-quality, specialized threading tools purpose-built for applications across multiple industries, including automotive, aerospace, medical and general engineering. With the addition of NATC, GWS further strengthens its reputation as the premier multi-disciplinary manufacturer of high-performance, custom cutting tools in the marketplace today.
GWS Tool Group Announces Acquisition of North American Tool Corporation
"NATC is an exciting add for us," said Rick McIntyre, GWS' CEO. "Their customer service model is one of the best in the business, and their focus in taps and threadmills fits in like a perfect puzzle piece to our dynamic and holistic offering. We are very excited to be continually expanding our value proposition for our customers with highly additive acquisitions like this," McIntyre continued

"North American Tool is very excited to be joining GWS Tool Group, a company that embodies the attributes that have long made us successful," said Curt Lansbery, NATC President & CEO. "A customer-centric approach to business rooted in a commitment to quality and quick delivery marry perfectly with our model here at North American Tool. We have no doubt that this move to join GWS will be positive for our associates and will ensure the continued growth of the legacy that we have worked to develop."

The team at NATC will continue to operate from the Illinois facility as a manufacturing arm of GWS Tool Group, and the company expresses intent toward continued investment in the facility, machinery and equipment, and human resources. Customers of NATC are said to expect continuity of the NATC offering and customer service disposition under cover of the GWS ownership.

About GWS Tool Group
GWS Tool Group is a U.S.-based, vertically integrated manufacturer of highly engineered custom, standard, and modified standard cutting tools, primarily servicing the aerospace and defense, power generation, automotive and medical sectors. GWS Tool Group has acquired multiple businesses in the course of its growth, which now serve as the respective manufacturing divisions of the Company.
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3 Benefits of Using HSSE Taps from Allen Benjamin

11/12/2020

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If your operation requires you work with tough, difficult materials, HSSE taps may be the solution that you’re looking for. Engineered to withstand even the most challenging materials and applications, Allen Benjamin’s high speed steel taps offer unparalleled tool life and increased wear resistance.

Because of this, they’ve become the go-to solution for applications that demand a durable, lasting solution. In today’s post, we’re going to discuss three reasons you should consider taps from Allen Benjamin.
Allen Benjamin color coded hsse taps
1. BUILT TO LAST
Designed to tap even the hardest materials, HSSE taps are made from high speed steel, which contains a higher concentration of cobalt and vanadium. This composition lends incredibly high resistance to wear, resulting in much longer average tool lives. Due to this, you can be confident that you’re purchasing a lasting, durable solution.
2. COLOR CODED
When selecting taps, the number of available options can often be intimidating. To address this, Allen Benjamin color codes all of our products. With six color rings available, you — and your employees — will be able to easily locate the exact tap that they need, when they need it, thus reducing downtime, increasing efficiency, and preserving profits.
3. A TRUSTED SOURCE
When you source from Allen Benjamin, you can rest easy knowing that you’re working with the industry’s most trusted supplier of HSSE and carbide taps. Just like F&L Technical Sales, Allen Benjamin is committed to treating our customers to a better experience, we focus on delivering high-quality products and — more importantly — attentive, knowledgeable customer service.

Our F&L Technical Sales team will work with you to understand your application, recommend potential solutions, and supply you with the taps that you need. So, if you’ve been considering a new supplier for your operation’s carbide taps, HSSE taps, or smart tapping fluid, be sure to browse our website and contact us with any questions you have.
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The Fundamentals of Thread Forming Taps

3/11/2020

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Cold Forming Taps, also called Roll Taps, create threads by extruding the material in the drilled hole up into the thread form instead of removing material.  This leads to a stronger thread because the material rearranges the material in the hole. Tap life is also increased because you are forming the thread instead of cutting the thread so there is nothing to wear out at the cutting edge.

Roll Form Taps are en excellent choice for nickel based alloys that are prone to workhardening.  The cold forming process causes the substrate material grain structure to be re-arranged and "squeezed" into the thread form. This cold working will increases the hardness of the substrate material.

The following information is courtesy of Allen Benjamin .
Thread Forming Tap nomenclature
THREAD FORMING TAP ENTRY LENGTHS
Entry taper length is measured on the full diameter of the thread forming lobes and is the axial distance from the entry diameter position to the theoretical intersection of tap major diameter and entry taper angle. Whenever entry taper length is specified in terms of number of threads, this length is measured in number of pitches (p).

BOTTOMING LENGTH = 1-1/2 to 2-1/2 PITCHES
PLUG LENGTH = 3 to 5 PITCHES

The chamfer on BOTTOM style form taps is approximately 2 threads long and requires a drilled hole depth 3-4 pitches beyond the full thread required. When a controlled maximum chamfer shorter than 2 threads is required, an additional charge will apply. Allen Benjamin will not guarantee the performance of taps with the shorter chamfer.

Entry diameter, measured at the thread crest nearest the front of the tap, is an appropriate amount smaller than the diameter of the hole drilled for tapping. See below for tap/drill size formulas, and formulas to determine maximum and minimum drill hole sizes for appropriate percent of thread.

TAPPING SPEEDS
Form taps operate most efficiently at spindle speeds 1-1/2 to 2 times faster than those recommended for conventional cutting taps, especially in softer materials and/or with fine pitch forming taps.
LUBRICATION
As higher speeds are attained, adequate lubrication is essential for prolonged tap life and thread quality.

Since it is more important to ‘lubricate’ the cold-forming tap than to ‘cool’ the tap, these
taps should be used with conventional lubricating cutting oils or EP (extreme pressure) rated oil...soluble oils and similar coolants are not recommended.

PRE-TAPPED HOLE SIZE
Forming taps require a LARGER pre-tapped hole size than conventional cutting taps. To insure a properly tapped (cold formed) hole, adhere to the following formulas below.

FORMULA FOR TAP/DRILL SIZEs

In both cases below, for inch and metric, use a whole number for % of thread.
In the examples below you will see 65%, using 65, not .65.

DECIMAL/INCH FORM TAPS
Picture
Here's an example:
To determine drill size for a 1/4-20 thread forming tap at 65% of thread:
Allen Benjamin Tap Drill Formula example
METRIC FORM TAPS
FORMULA FOR TAP/DRILL SIZES FOR METRIC FORM TAPS
There is no true method of predicting percent of thread that will be obtained when tapping with forming taps due to the many variables involved.

As a starting point, however, 55% for maximum drill size and 75% for minimum
drill size can be used as a guide. Any desired percent of thread can be approximated by using drill sizes in between. To determine theoretical maximum and minimum drill sizes (for average operating conditions), see formulas below.
UNIFIED INCH Threads
60° Metric Threads
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Thumbnail Guide to understanding Chamfers for Thread Cutting Taps

9/18/2019

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Here's a short guide on understanding Cut Tap Chamfers. This is an excerpt from Allen Benjamin's Technical Tap Guide Engineering Data.
Allen Benjamin Understanding Tap Chamfers
A tap chamfer is the tapering of the threads to distribute cutting action over several teeth. The type of hole to be tapped has much to do with the chamfer style of that tap that’s best suited.

Some holes go all the
way through. Some, while not through-holes, are relatively deep. Some are quite shallow (a little deeper than diameter).

Each of these three kinds of holes - through,
deep-bottoming blind, and shallow bottoming - has a tap chamfer best suited to specific threading requirements.

Allen Benjamin Taper Taps
Allen Benjamin Taper Tap

Taper Taps

This style, with a 7-10 thread chamfer, has the longest chamfer of the three to distribute action over the maximum number of teeth; and the taper also acts as a guide in starting the cutting action in the hole. Taper style taps start the thread square with the workpiece. Taper taps are commonly used in through holes and in materials where a tapered guide is necessary.

Allen Benjamin Plug Tap
Allen Benjamin Plug Tap

Plug Taps

This style, with a 3-5 thread chamfer, is most widely used in through holes and where there is sufficient room at the bottom in blind holes.

Semi (or Modified) Bottoming Taps

This style, with a 2 to 2.5 thread chamfer, should be used when-ever possible in difficult material applications in blind holes, when threads are not required to the bottom of the hole

Allen Benjamin Bottoming Tap
Allen Benjamin Bottoming Tap

Bottoming Style

This style, designed with a 1 to 2 thread chamfer, is made with just enough chamfer for starting in the hole; as the name implies, it is designed to thread blind holes to the bottom.
PLEASE NOTE: Taper, plug and bottoming taps as a set, in a given size (for example: 1/4-20 NC) are identical as to size, length and vi-tal measurements; the difference is in the chamfered threaded portion at the point. As a rule, such taps when used by hand are furnished in sets of three of a given size...namely, taper, plug and bottoming (and should be used in that order)
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Tapping into Tapping Terms

5/15/2019

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Getting a good understanding of the definitions of the parts of a tap will help you to better understand the functions of  tap designs.  Special thanks to Allen Benjamin for letting us share their short and simple explanations!
Allen Benjamin Tap Terms
ALLOWANCE
Minimum clearance between two mating parts; the prescribed variations from the basic size.

ANGLE OF THREAD
The angle included between the sides of the thread measured in an axial plane.AXISThe imaginary straight line that forms the longitudinal centerline of the tool or threaded part.

BACK TAPER
A gradual decrease in the diameter of the thread form on a tap from the chamfered end of the land towards the back which creates a slight radial relief in the threads.

BASE OF THREAD
The bottom section of the thread; the greatest section between the two adjacent roots.

BASIC SIZE
The theoretical or nominal standard size from which all variations are derived by application of allowances and tolerances.

CHAMFER
The tapering of the threads at the front end of each land of a tap by cutting away and relieving the crest of the first few teeth to distribute the cutting action over several teeth; Taper taps are chamfered 7-10 threads; plug tapsare chamfered 3-5 threads; semi-bottoming (or modified bottoming) taps are chamfered 2-2.5 threads; bottom-ing taps are chamfered 1-2 threads; taper pipe taps are chamfered 2-3.5 threads.
Picture
CHAMFER RELIEF
The gradual decrease in land height from cutting edge to heel on the chamfered portion, to provide clearance for the cutting action as the tap advances.

CREST
The top surface joining the two sides or flanks of the thread; the crest of an external thread is at its major diameter, while the crest of an internal thread is at its minor diameter.

CUTTING FACE
The leading side of the land in the direction of cutting rotation on which the chip forms.

FLUTE
The longitudinal channels formed in a tap to create cutting edges on the thread profile, and to provide chip spaces and cutting fluid passages.

HEEL
The edge of the land opposite the cutting edge.
HEIGHT OF THREAD
The distance, measured radially, between the crest and the base of a thread.

HELIX ANGLE
The angle made by the advance of the thread as it wraps around an imaginary cylinder.

HOOK
The undercut on the face of the teeth.
Allen Benjamin Tap Hook Positive Negative NeutralAngle
HOOK ANGLE
The inclination of a concave cutting face, usually specified either as Chordal Hook or Tangential Hook.
  • Chordal Hook Angle: The angle between the chordpassing through the root and crest of a thread form at the cutting face, and a radial line through the crest at the cutting edge.
  • Tangential Hook Angle: The angle between a line tangent to a hook cutting face at the cutting edge and a radial line to the same point.

INTERRUPTED THREAD TAP
A tap having an odd number of lands with alternate teeth along the thread helix removed. In some cases alternate teeth are removed only for a portion of the thread length.

LAND
The part of the tap body which remains after the flutes are cut, and on which the threads are finally ground. The threaded section between the flutes of a tap.

LEAD
The axial distance a tap will advance along its axis in one revolution. On a single start, the lead and the pitch are identical; on a double start, the lead is twice the pitch.

MAJOR DIAMETER
Commonly known as the “outside diameter.” It is the largest diameter of the thread.

MINOR DIAMETER
Commonly known as the “root diameter.” It is the small-est diameter of the thread.

PERCENT OF THREAD
One-half the difference between the basic major diam-eter and the actual minor diameter of an internal thread, divided by the basic thread height, expressed as a percentage.
Allen Benjamin Pitch Diameter
PITCH
The distance from any point on a screw thread to a cor-responding point on the next thread, measured parallel to the axis and on the same side of the axis. The pitch equals one divided by the number of threads per inch.

PITCH DIAMETER

On a straight thread, the pitch diameter is the diameter of the imaginary co-axial cylinder...the surface of which would pass through the thread profiles at such points as to make the width of the groove equal to one-half of the basic pitch. On a perfect thread this occurs at the point where the widths of the thread and groove are equal. On a taper thread, the pitch diameter at a given position on the thread axis is the diameter of the pitch cone at that position.
Allen Benjamin Positive Negative Neutral Rake Tap
RAKE
The angular relationship of the straight cutting face of a tooth with respect to a radial line through the crest of the tooth at the cutting edge.
  • Negative rake means that the crest of the cutting face is angularly behind the balance of the cutting face of the tooth.
  • Neutral or Zero rake means that the cutting face is directly on a radial line.
  • Positive rake means that the crest of the cutting face is angularly ahead of the balance of the cutting face of the tooth.

RELIEF (or Thread Relief)
The removal of metal from behind the cutting edge to provide clearance and reduce friction between the part being threaded and the threaded land.
ROOT
The bottom surface joining the sides of two adjacent threads, and is identical with or immediately adjacent to the cylinder or cone from which the thread projects.

SPIRAL FLUTE
A flute with uniform axial lead in a spiral path around the axis of a tap.

SPIRAL POINT
The angular fluting in the cutting face of the land at the chamfered end; formed at an angle with respect to the tap axis of opposite hand to that of rotation. Its length is usually greater than the chamfer length and its angle with respect to the tap axis is usually made great enough to direct the chips ahead of the taps cutting action.

STRAIGHT FLUTE
A flute that forms a cutting edge lying in an axial plane.

TOLERANCE
In producing a tap to given specifications, tolerance is: (a.) the total permissible variation of a size; (b.) the differ-ence between the limits of size.
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