Tapping UHMW?

[mechengdude]

Anyone have any experience drilling and tapping UHMW?

thanks

 

[handleman]

Yes.

 

[mechengdude]

didn't know everyones funny bone would be turned on this morning. I'll try and be more engineer like:
1. Can UHMW be drilled and tapped?
2. What is the smallest tapped hole you have successfully put into UHMW? The largest?
3. Is there a depth to diamter ratio for succesful drilling and tapping of the material?
4. How does the material behave during tapping? Does it tend to gum or fuzz as opposed to creating a nice chip?
5. Is there a torque limit table or guide for the tapped holes in the subject material.

thanks

 

[MikeHalloran]

1. Yes.
2. 6-32, 1/8 NPT
3. It's plastic.
4. You can't cut a _thin_ chip; it moves away. You need super sharp tools that are not used for any other material. Given that, it cuts clean and smooth.
5. It's plastic. It's soft. Through holes or counterbored holes, with sleeves, are better than tapping.





Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[blitz97]

or you can tap the UHMW bigger and then use a Keensert to provide a stronger thread.

They work well in aluminum, should work here too.

 

[boo1]

We also found that recycled materials behaved differently than virgin UHMW

 

[Philrock]

My experience is that the hole closes in somewhat after tapping. If you use the same tap you'd use in metal, you end up with a hole that is useable but tight - you can't thread the screw in more than a 2 or 3 turns by hand.