Tap Drill Size (TDS)

Before a tap is used, the hole must be drilled to the correct tap drill size. This is the drill size that would leave the proper amount of material in the hole for a tap to cut a thread. The tap drill is always smaller than the tap and leaves enough material in the hole for the tap to produce !" of a full thread.

#mperial Threads
$hen a tap drill chart is not available, the tap drill size for any %merican &ational of 'nified thread can be found easily by applying this simple formula( TDS ) D * + T,#

TDS ) tap drill size D ) ma-or diameter of tap T,# ) number of threads per inch ./ample( 0ind the tap drill size for a 123 * 4 &5 tap. TDS ) * + 2 4

) .2 ! * .+++ ) . 673 The nearest size to . 673 is . 6!3. Therefore, 741673 is the tap drill size for a 123 * 4 &5 tap.

#mperial Screw Threads

To calculate 8a-or Diameter and Tap Drill Size( D ) 8a-or Diameter & ) 8achine Screw 5lassification 9 T,# ) Threads per #nch TDS ) Tap Drill Size D ) (& / .:+;) < .:6: TDS ) D * + T,#

./ample 5alculate the 8a-or Diameter and TDS for a 2*;= threaded hole. D ) (& / .:+;) < .:6: ) (2 / .:+;) < .:6: ) .+:7 < .:6: ) .+67 TDS ) D * + T,# ) .+67 * + ;= ) .+67 * .:;+ ) .+;;

8etric Threads
The tap drill size for metric taps is calculated in the same manner as for '.S. Standard threads. TDS ) tap drill size D ) ma-or diameter of tap , ) ,itch in mm TDS ) D * , TDS ) ma-or diameter in mm * pitch in mm ./ample( 0ind the tap drill size for a == * =.! mm thread. TDS ) D * , TDS ) == * =.! ) +4.!mm

>r += Tap Drill Size 5alculation ./ercise +. 5alculate the Tap Drill Size for a ;12 =7 &0 threaded hole. Show all wor?.

=. 5alculate the 8a-or Diameter and Tap Drill Size for a +:*=7 8achine screw thread. Show all wor?.

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5alculate the Tap Drill Size for a 8+6 / =.: threaded hole. Show all wor?.