Thread milling, and tapping are two techniques for machining threads in a hole. Tapping is more popular, but thread milling has several advantages that could prove to be important to an application. In particular, thread milling is the best choice If more flexibility is needed, there is a range of thread sizes and types and the job requires the ability to adjust thread fits. In short, the primary advantage of thread milling is the ability to control the fit.

Try to imagine a day without threads. There would be no screw caps for items like mayonnaise or ketchup and no screws to hold or tighten a car engine or eyeglasses.

Although not as widely used as thread turning, thread milling achieves high productivity in certain applications. Thread milling should always be the application of choice when:

• Machining asymmetric/non-rotating components
• Machining materials that cause chip breaking and chip evacuation problems
• Machining tough materials that create high cutting forces
• Machining against a shoulder or close to the bottom of a blind hole
• Machining thin-walled components
• Component setups are unstable
• Tool inventory needs to be minimized
• You do not want to risk tap breakage on expensive parts—thread mills can always be removed from the component completely
• A machine tool capable of simultaneous movement in the X, Y, and Z-axis directions is required

BlackHawk Supply offers a complete line of thread mills for various thread size ranges. Please see all our cutting tools and Supplies. Our trained professionals at BlackHawk Industrial are happy to help you with any of your cutting tools and threading questions. We welcome you to contact us here:  https://www.bhid.com/ContactUs or call us TOLL FREE at (855) 610-1001.