VERSADRIVE DRILLTAPS – TECHNICAL GUIDE

VersaDrive DrillTaps are designed to drill and tap a hole using one tool. This HMT technical guide covers material suitability, drilling machine selection, material thickness, lubrication, compatible adapters, recommended impact torque, rotary RPM and best practice.

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Which Materials Can VersaDrive DrillTaps Be Used On?

Structural Steel

All HMT tooling in this category is suitable for common grades of steel.

Hardened Steel

VersaDrive DrillTaps are not generally recommended for hardened steel applications.

Stainless Steel

VersaDrive DrillTaps are suitable for stainless steel when used with the appropriate reduced spindle speed, sufficient torque and suitable cutting lubricant.

Non-Ferrous Metals

All HMT tooling in this category is suitable for non-ferrous materials.

Which Machine Should I Use With DrillTaps?

Suitable machines for VersaDrive DrillTaps
Machine Suitable? Guidance
Impact Wrench Yes Impact wrenches and impact drivers are recommended for this application. Correct torque settings should be used.
Rotary Pistol Drill Yes DrillTaps in this category are suitable for pistol drill use up to around M20 diameter. Larger diameters may generate high resistance and drill kick-back.
Compact Magnet Drill Generally No Compact magnet drills are not usually suitable for DrillTapping because they may not have the correct features, such as reversing or variable speed.
Large Magnet / Pillar Drill Yes, where suitable These units can be suitable where they have variable speed and reversing functions.

DrillTap Suitability by Material Thickness

Sheet Metal

Up to 4 mm

Standard Plate

5–12 mm

Medium Plate

12–25 mm

Heavy Plate

Above 25 mm

  • DrillTaps in this category are suitable for each of these thickness ranges.
  • Maximum tapping thickness is generally related to the drill/tap diameter.
  • A typical tap-hole specification is threaded to the same depth as the diameter.

Recommended Lubrication

SpeedLube

Recommended for general-purpose drilling applications. SpeedLube is the preferred lubricant for tapping operations.

BioCut Paste

Recommended for overhead drilling and other applications where liquid lubricant is not suitable.

BioCut Blue

Recommended for general-purpose drilling applications.

Compatible DrillTap Adapters

Impact Adapters

Most tools in this category are suitable for use in impact wrenches and impact drivers. Refer to the appropriate torque guidance.

Pistol Drill / Chuck

The VersaDrive Hex shank fits into any standard drill chuck.

VersaDrive extension arbors can be used where additional reach is required.

Weldon Adapters

VersaDrive DrillTaps can be adapted for use in magnetic drills using the appropriate HMT adapter.

Morse Taper Adapters

VersaDrive DrillTaps can be adapted for use in Morse Taper drills using the appropriate HMT adapter.

VersaDrive DrillTap Best Practice

Do I need a pilot hole or centre punch?

Spiral flute DrillTaps do not require a pilot hole.

Heavy-duty DrillTaps require a pilot hole.

When pilot drilling, the pilot hole should be approximately 70% of the required final hole diameter.

What is the correct feed pressure?

Apply firm, steady feed pressure throughout the cut.

Excessive feed pressure can increase heat build-up and reduce tool life.

How many holes can I expect the cutting tool to last?

There is no single fixed number.

Tool life varies considerably depending on the application, material, machine, lubrication, torque, speed and operating technique.

How can I prevent chipping or breakage?

Avoid lateral movement or tilting, as this can damage the tooling.

Do not use excessive feed pressure.

Apply steady feed pressure and maintain a consistent flow of swarf.

How important is alignment?

When DrillTapping in box section, ensure the tip of the tooling does not contact the opposite side of the box section.

Ensure the DrillTap is inserted squarely into the hole. Poor alignment or an off-centre tap will greatly increase the risk of breakage.

Drill Section – Recommended Impact Torque and Rotary RPM

The drilling section requires settings appropriate to the drill diameter, material thickness and material being drilled. The impact torque recommendations vary according to material thickness, while rotary spindle speed varies according to material type.

Drill section recommended impact torque (Nm) and rotary spindle speed (RPM)
Diameter Range IMPACT TORQUE – Nm SPINDLE SPEED – ROTARY RPM
Sheet up to 4 mm Plate 5–12 mm Plate 12–25 mm Plate over 25 mm Structural Steel – 30 m/min Hardened Steel – 8 m/min Stainless Steel – 12 m/min Non-Ferrous – 50 m/min
4–6 mm 140–160 160–180 240–280 265–310 1860–2655 210–320 850–1215 2660–3980
7–9 mm 160–295 195–360 300–520 330–570 1240–1590 140–185 565–730 1770–2280
10–12 mm 320–350 395–430 580–635 640–700 930–1120 105–130 425–510 1330–1590
13–15 mm 370–375 445–455 675–690 745–760 795–860 85–100 365–390 1060–1225
16–18 mm 455–580 580–720 880–1120 970–1230 620–695 70–80 285–320 885–995
19–21 mm 685–685 845–845 1245–1245 1370–1370 530–555 60–70 245–255 760–835
22–24 mm 720–720 900–900 1360–1360 1500–1500 505–505 50–60 160–175 665–725

Tap Section – Recommended Impact Torque and Rotary RPM

The tapping section requires different torque and spindle-speed settings. Select the appropriate values according to thread size, material thickness and material being tapped.

Tap section recommended impact torque (Nm) and rotary spindle speed (RPM)
Thread Size IMPACT TORQUE – Nm SPINDLE SPEED – ROTARY RPM
Sheet up to 4 mm Plate 5–12 mm Plate 12–25 mm Plate over 25 mm Structural Steel – 30 m/min Hardened Steel – 8 m/min Stainless Steel – 12 m/min Non-Ferrous – 50 m/min
M3–M4 95–110 105–120 160–180 N/A 730–960 610–809 490–650 2060–2700
M5–M6 125–130 135–140 200–240 N/A 485–585 405–485 325–385 1455–1750
M8–M10 140–160 150–170 280–300 430–480 295–365 245–310 195–245 870–1095
M12–M14 170–180 185–190 320–340 512–544 210–240 175–200 140–162 625–730
M16–M20 190–295 200–315 360–400 576–640 145–185 125–155 100–125 440–550
M24–M27 N/A N/A 600–740 960–1184 105–120 90–100 75–85 330–370
M30–M33 N/A N/A 800–N/A 1200–1400 84–95 68–80 51–60 265–310
M36–M42 N/A N/A N/A–N/A 1640–2440 40–72 32–58 24–44 126–228

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