Millwright Level 1 Practice Exam

Which type of machine tap pushes the chip out ahead of the tap?

1. Spiral point (gun) tap

2. Bottoming tap

3. Taper tap

4. Threading tap

The correct answer is: Spiral point (gun) tap

The type of machine tap that pushes the chip out ahead of the tap is known as a spiral point (gun) tap. This tap features a pointed leading edge and has flutes that are designed specifically to facilitate the movement of chips away from the cutting area as the tap advances into the material. The design of the spiral point allows for effective chip removal because it directs the chips forward, which reduces the risk of chip buildup in the hole and aids in maintaining a clean and consistent thread. This is particularly beneficial in applications involving blind holes, where chip removal can be more challenging. In contrast, other types of taps, such as bottoming taps and taper taps, are typically designed for different purposes. Bottoming taps are used when you need to create threads all the way to the bottom of a blind hole, and taper taps help to start the threading process more easily due to their gradual taper. Threading taps, while a general term, sometimes don't push chips ahead as effectively as a spiral point tap does. Thus, the spiral point tap's unique design makes it the ideal choice for effectively managing chip removal during the tapping process.