Blog

Hole Size – What Does it Matter?

admin — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 19:09:53 +0000

If a tap doesn’t create the hole, why is the hole size so important?

Tags: #CuttingTools #Manufacturing #CNC #Machining #MadeInUSA #ISAPartners #NATool

Job Shadow: Emily Torres

admin — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 14:21:52 +0000

What can you gain by shadowing a prospective career choice?

Tags: # Machinist, #BlackHawk Technical College, #Career, #CNC, #College, #Hendricks CareerTek, #ISA Partners, #Job Shadow, #Machining, #Made in USA, #Manufacturing, #Metalworking, #North American Tool, #South Beloit High School, #Trades

Interview with an Intern: Marcus Schellinger

admin — Fri, 26 Jul 2019 13:46:03 +0000

Can you work and learn at North American Tool?

Tags: # Machinist, #Career, #CNC, #Hendricks CareerTek, #Internship, #ISA Partners, #Machining, #Made in USA, #Manufacturing, #Metalworking, #North American Tool, #Rock County High School #Rock County Economic Development Committee

Deep-Hole Tapping: Into the Abyss?

admin — Wed, 24 Apr 2019 16:42:01 +0000

What tap should be used for deep holes with extra thread length? Why do some applications cause a “No Quote" or “No-Guarantee on Performance” response?

From the perspective of a tap manufacturer, any thread length more than 1-1/2 times diameter is considered “excessive”. It’s a general rule that has been spoken to me for as long as I can remember. It’s a good rule in terms of tap performance. Acceptable strength of thread as determined by . . .

Thread Mills Designed For Aluminum? It's as if we knew aluminum was ubiquitous in the machining world!

admin — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 21:07:47 +0000

If you have a shop (or a customer) that machines aluminum and aluminum alloys as its go-to substrate, why are you selling/buying general purpose tools?

You are working with the most popular-to-machine material. How does your company stand out from your competitors who machine aluminum?

Tags: aluminum, thread mills

The Right Tool For The Job - Why do exotic materials require a different thread mill?

admin — Wed, 27 Feb 2019 20:36:05 +0000

If you deal with exotic alloys like Inconel, titanium, Hastelloy, etc., this blog post is written especially for you.

Exotic alloys are alloys designed for high temperature applications (think aerospace), perform in corrosive environments (think underground), or have the highest strength to weight ratios (think earth moving applications). The machinability of these materials is NOT the first consideration. As much as it would be nice to have an aluminum firewall in a helicopter from the machinist’s viewpoint, as the pilot or passenger you want flame retardant and strong.

Tags: exotic alloy, North American Tool, special taps, thread mills

It's Mostly Greek To Me - A Brief History of Screw Threads

admin — Thu, 17 Jan 2019 16:18:50 +0000

When discussing Screw Threads, it may be helpful to understand a little of the history behind them.

Let’s start with helical forms. Records dating to around 250 BC establish that it was Greek mathematician Archimedes who explained the mechanical principle of the screw as a form of wedge. He went on to formulate the mathematical characteristics of a helix. This was a precursor to the invention of the “water screw”, which provided a means to move water for irrigation, and as a method for...

North American Tool Appoints Metal Working Solutions

admin — Mon, 07 Jan 2019 19:23:49 +0000

SOUTH BELOIT, IL – JANUARY 2, 2019: It is with great pleasure North American Tool announces Metal Working Solutions has been appointed as the Independent Manufacturer Representative for North American Tool’s line of special taps, thread mills, dies, and gages for the TOLA Region (Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana).

Tags: Metal Working Solutions, North American Tool

Cutting Tap Chamfers 101

admin — Thu, 20 Dec 2018 21:24:31 +0000

Most cutting taps are available in three chamfers. Taper, plug and bottom are how they are referred to in most of the current literature. Why do we choose one over the other and what are the advantages?

Tags: Bottom Tap, Chamfer, Cutting Taps, Plug Tap, Taper Tap

North American Tool "CON-DU-IT" for you!

admin — Fri, 30 Nov 2018 15:19:47 +0000

North American Tool “CON-DU-IT” for you when you have a thin wall application.

PG Steel Conduit Taps manufactured to DIN 40430 are commonly used for thin wall applications. Typically a conduit type product is where a hose or cable is passed through the center and there is a concern that a standard tap might break through a thin wall.

How is this accomplished?

Tags: Conduit Taps, North American Tool, PG Tap

Why Is The Premier Manufacturer Of Special Taps Making "Treadmills"? Taps vs. Thread Mills: Things To Consider When Choosing A Tool

admin — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 15:28:13 +0000

Treadmills? If you Google Thread Mills they will offer to “correct” your search to treadmills. Only in the last two months has Google caught on to the term “thread mills” and begun to return websites offering this tool. Google still features a picture of a treadmill to remind you of your potential spelling error.

Tags: special taps, thread mills, treadmills

North American Tool Announces 2018-2019 Taylor Memorial Scholarship Recipients

Matt — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 14:17:58 +0000

Roger and K.Y. Taylor, founders of North American Tool Corporation, had great affection for all the people that worked with them. They were greatly interested in the joys as well as the sorrows in their lives. There was no greater joy than a new life, a baby. Through the many family activities of the company, Roger and K.Y. kept in touch with these young people as they matured.

Tags: North American Tool

Happy Independence Day!

admin — Fri, 29 Jun 2018 19:17:32 +0000

Click below to watch video greeting.

Put A Cork In It!

admin — Wed, 20 Jun 2018 14:52:47 +0000

Overcoming Torqueing and Stalling

Are your special taps creating too much torque, or stalling? Teeth chipping? Common machinist’s wisdom says, “when having difficulty tapping a drilled-hole, make the hole diameter larger”. This assumes that the tap, with less material to remove, will cut easier. It’s common sense at first glance, but other things need to be considered.

Tags: Special Tap, Standard Tap, tap chamfer

Industry Standard - A Moving Target!

admin — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 20:41:25 +0000

The intent of defining a list of tools as “Standard” is to provide uniformity in manufacture, integrity, and use. This “uniformity” allows for ease of service, and provides interchangeability of common parts for the user, and ultimately for the consumer. It is also meant to assure quality of function for which the thread is intended.

In the United States, there are three primary organizations that contribute to those definitions. The descriptions of the entities below are meant to be simple for the purpose of illustration to show basic scope of involvement.