THE EFFECTS OF CUTTING CONDITIONS ON THE CUTTING TORQUE AND TOOL LIFE IN THE TAPPING PROCESS FOR AISI 304 STAINLESS STEEL

In this study tapping operations were carried out using taps of different diameters and with different cutting parameters on AISI 304 austenitic stainless steel. The cutting performances of the taps were determined according to the cutting torques created during the threading and the depth of cut for each cutting feed (Q). With the aid of the obtained experimental data the solution suggestions to the problems in the threading operations for AISI 304 steel were developed. As a result it was specified that the increasing amount of cutting in each pass directly affected the cutting torque. It was determined that there was a tendency to decrease the cutting torque with the increasing depth of cut for each cutting feed. The best tool-life results for an M5 tap were obtained at a 5-mm Q value, whereas for M6 taps it was at a 3-mm Q value.