Drilled and Tapped Stainless Steel Industrial Components

Drilling-intensive parts depend on hole position and thread quality. Holes are spot drilled first, then drilled with carbide tools using through-coolant for deep holes and peck cycles where chips must be cleared. Threads in stainless are often thread-milled, which avoids broken taps and produces accurate threads at controlled depth; smaller threads in brass and aluminum are tapped. Cross holes are deburred at intersections.

Stainless 304 and 316 work-harden if the drill dwells, so feeds stay constant and tools sharp. 303 stainless drills and taps more easily where corrosion demands allow. Aluminum and brass are fast to drill and tap. Thread inserts can reinforce aluminum threads. Finishes include passivation for stainless, anodizing for aluminum, and nickel plating for brass.

Hole positions are measured on CMM at first article, and every thread is checked with go/no-go gauges on critical parts. Critical dimensions are 100% inspected. Typical uses include pipe flanges, terminal blocks, bolted mounting plates, hydraulic connectors and instrument panels. Parts are washed to remove chips and cutting fluid from blind holes before packing, so threads are clean and ready for assembly on arrival.