Spiral Flute Taps

WESTport manufactures Special Spiral Flute Taps for customers who require precision thread cutting tools designed specifically for blind-hole applications and specialized machining requirements. Unlike standard straight flute taps, spiral flute taps feature helical flutes that lift chips upward and out of the hole during tapping. This design greatly reduces chip packing, improves thread quality, and minimizes the risk of tap breakage when machining blind holes or interrupted holes. WESTport offers Special Spiral Flute Taps manufactured to customer specifications for demanding industrial applications where standard catalog tooling is not sufficient. WESTport's special spiral flute taps are available with slow spiral (25–30° helix) or fast spiral (45–50° helix) designs and are offered in right-hand configurations.

Every WESTport Special Spiral Flute Tap is manufactured using premium High-Speed Steel (HSS), cobalt, powdered metal, or carbide depending on the application requirements. Precision grinding ensures accurate thread geometry, excellent surface finishes, and consistent dimensional control throughout production. Our engineering team can manufacture taps for Unified, Metric, ACME, Pipe, and numerous proprietary thread forms while accommodating special thread lengths, diameters, chamfers, coatings, and customer drawings.

Spiral Flute Taps are particularly effective when machining blind holes because the helical flute design continuously evacuates chips toward the shank instead of forcing them deeper into the hole. They are also commonly selected for applications where the tap must bridge keyways, cross holes, or interrupted features while maintaining excellent thread quality. Selecting the proper helix angle, coating, cutting geometry, and workpiece material allows WESTport to optimize tool performance for virtually any manufacturing process.

Whether you require a prototype, replacement tooling, or production quantities, WESTport works directly with manufacturers to provide custom Spiral Flute Taps that improve machining efficiency, increase tool life, and produce consistent, high-quality threads. Since 1989, WESTport has supplied precision quality assurance products and custom manufacturing solutions to manufacturers throughout North America and around the world.

Benefits

• Efficient chip removal from blind holes
• Reduced risk of chip packing
• Improved thread finish
• Longer tool life
• Increased machining productivity
• Manufactured to your exact specifications
• Excellent repeatability for production environments

Typical Applications

• Blind holes
• Aerospace components
• Automotive manufacturing
• Hydraulic manifolds
• Medical devices
• Valve bodies
• Precision machined parts
• Tool and die manufacturing
• OEM production
• General industrial machining

Technical Information

WESTport Special Spiral Flute Taps are available with multiple helix angles to match specific workpiece materials and machining conditions. Slow spiral designs are commonly selected for general-purpose applications, while higher helix angles improve chip evacuation in ductile materials and deeper blind holes. Our engineering team can customize flute geometry, chamfer length, coating, thread form, and overall dimensions to maximize performance for your manufacturing process. WESTport also offers special taps manufactured directly from customer prints or engineering specifications.

Why Choose WESTport?

Since 1989, WESTport has been a trusted supplier of precision measuring instruments, thread gages, hardness testing equipment, calibration services, and custom threading solutions. Our experience manufacturing special taps allows us to provide customers with tooling engineered specifically for their applications. From one-piece prototypes to production quantities, WESTport delivers precision manufacturing, responsive customer service, competitive pricing, and dependable quality that manufacturers rely on.