Drilling and tapping may appear similar at first. They both involve inserting a tool into a piece of metal to remove material and create the desired type of hole. They do not, however, create the same type of hole or serve the same purpose, and they require different equipment to be performed.
What is drilling?
When you rotate a drill bit or end mill to create a hole in a piece of metal, wood or plastic, that is drilling.
What is tapping?
Tapping is the process of cutting a thread inside a hole to allow screws to be inserted. A variety of different tapping machines are available.
How are they related?
Both drilling and tapping involve tools that are used to create or modify holes in a variety of materials. Sometimes the hole will be smooth, sometimes threaded. There is even a device called a tap drill that can be used to combine the functions of a tap and a drill.
Main differences
There are a few notable differences between drilling and tapping. Drilling can create a new hole, whereas tapping modifies the hole that is already there. One uses drill bits, the other tapping machines.
You also measure and prepare the hole differently. A drill just goes straight through, whilst a tap follows a defined route.
Which to choose
Cutting and drilling tools come in many forms . Whether you use drilling, tapping or another method depends on the size, shape and materials of the piece being modified and what its eventual purpose will be.
Tap drills can be more precise than just drilling, work faster with fewer errors than tapping, and can be used without a lubricant. You want the simplest and most convenient method that can be used safely and provide reliable results.
They may have some obvious similarities but drilling and tapping are two distinct purposes with their own advantages and disadvantages. You need to consider all aspects carefully before deciding which is most appropriate for the work you need to do.