Trapezoidal taps from BAER - how to get things moving

Trapezoidal tap for trapezoidal thread

When you think of threads, you probably think of nuts and bolts. In other words, areas of application in which threads are primarily used to hold components firmly together. In addition to this group of fastening threads, however, there is a completely different type of thread: the movement thread. Here, it is not a good clamping effect that is important, but above all to enable continuous movement.

Among the movement threads, certainly the best known is the trapezoidal threadwhich can be cut with the help of a trapezoidal tap. As the central mechanism of a screw press, the trapezoidal thread has had quite a career. Screw presses were already popular tools in the Middle Ages when high compressive forces had to be generated. They were used to strike coins and the invention of letterpress printing would not have been possible without them.

So you are following in big footsteps when you decide to use a trapezoidal tap! Fortunately, thread cutting has become somewhat easier since the Middle Ages. At least if you pay attention to high-quality tools! You can't go wrong with trapezoidal taps from the screw tap manufacturer BAER.

Trapezoidal taps explained simply

A screw press is all well and good, but what exactly is a trapezoidal tap? It is called trapezoidal because of the striking profile of the trapezoidal tap in the shape of an isosceles trapezoid. The threads are thicker than those of colleagues with a triangular profile and do not taper to a point. The thread angle is 30°. Standardised are metric trapezoidal thread according to DIN 103. In the BAER online-shop and everywhere else you can recognize trapezoidal taps by the abbreviation Tr. The designation also includes the nominal diameter and the pitch. Tr 14 X 4 thus designates a trapezoidal thread with 14 mm diameter and 4 mm pitch.

What the trapezoidal thread does on a physical level is transfer a rotary motion into an axial motion. Turn the trapezoidal threaded spindle and the nut moves along the axis of the threaded rod. Due to the wide threads and the large pitch, trapezoidal thread is able to withstand high axial forces. At the same time, trapezoidal thread has a so-called self-locking feature. This means that the nut or spindle does not move until it is forced to do so by an external force. This is a desirable effect in many areas because it makes an additional brake superfluous.

Trapezoidal taps from BAER

Enough theory, now you probably want to get started right away. As usual, you will find everything you need to cut your desired thread in our comprehensive range. And don't worry, with high-quality trapezoidal taps from BAER, your work will be just as easy as with metric standard threads or other thread standards.

Our trapezoidal taps are manufactured with the highest precision from high-speed steel. This high-quality material is characterised by excellent temperature resistance and high breaking strength. It is also easy to grind and regrind.

Trapezoidal taps for manual use

A trapezoidal thread can also be made by hand. This variant is ideal if you only want to cut a trapezoidal thread once or at least rarely and also do not have a well-equipped workshop with large machines. With a tap wrench, you can operate these hand trapezoidal taps with pure muscle power and are thus even independent of electricity. In the BAER online-shop you will find the matching hand tap sets.

When cutting threads manually, three different trapezoidal taps are used with successive action to better distribute the required force. These are called taper tap (No. 1), intermediate Tap (No. 2) and finishing tap (No. 3). If you do not already own a trapezoidal tap of the size you require, you can buy all three tools in one set. Of course, each trapezoidal tap can also be purchased individually.

Trapezoidal taps for machine use

For industrial and series production, we stock our machine nut taps in the trapezoidal tap range, with which you can produce large quantities in a short time. Since the effort here is borne by the machine, the entire job can be done in one step.

The trapezoidal taps for machine use have a long overflow shank that can hold several cut nuts. This means you don't have to interrupt work as often to remove finished nuts. Trapezoidal taps are available for both right-handed and left-handed use.

Trapezoidal thread cutting dies

The nut is perhaps the main focus at trapezoidal thread, but the threaded rod also wants to be cut. That's why, in addition to trapezoidal taps, we also have trapezoidal thread cutting dies in our range, with which you will succeed effortlessly in this task. You can use them either with a die stock or in the machine. And here, too, you can choose between the left-handed and the right-handed version.

Plug gauges and ring gauges

Particularly with trapezoidal threads, reliable dimensional accuracy is important. In the course of time, the trapezoidal tap may show signs of wear or damage, which can then lead to the profile of the trapezoidal tap no longer complying with the narrow specifications of the standard for the metric trapezoidal thread. Effective tools exist to check this at regular intervals. Thread plug gauges and thread ring gauges show you without much effort whether the tested trapezoidal tap is good or rejects. You don't have to measure anything, you don't have to compare numerical values with tables and you don't run the risk of producing a wrong result due to careless mistakes.

Always there for you and your questions about trapezoidal taps: The BAER customer service

Cutting a metric trapezoidal thread is not witchcraft with a precise trapezoidal tap. However, there are a few special features to consider. But don't worry, at BAER you as a customer are never on your own. We see a friendly customer service at the highest professional level as the absolute heart of our company. And we encourage you to make extensive use of it. No matter what phase of your project you are in: one phone call is enough and we will help you. Support with your purchase decision? Technical question about the use of the trapezoidal tap or another tap? Or a specific problem that you cannot solve on your own? Contact us and benefit from our extensive experience in the field of tapping. We look forward to support you in your venture!