Tap

The Tap feature is used to create a tapped hole using the Center Drill, Drill, Chamfer, and Tap operations. The operations that make up the Tap feature can be defined at the global or part level by right-clicking Milling Tools under CAM Part in the CAM tree and selecting Tool Pattern under Default or Part. When you insert a Tap feature into the CAM tree, the system adds the following items.

Geometry - This item is used to assign geometry used to create the toolpath. Right-click this item to produce a shortcut menu with the following options.

• Re/Select - Select this option to enable selection mode and assign the appropriate geometry to this feature.

• Remove - Select this option to remove any geometry associated with this feature.

Drill Tap - Right-click this item to produce a shortcut menu with the following options.

1. • Edit - This opens the feature wizard so you can modify the settings used to create the toolpath. View the Tap Wizard to learn about the options available for this feature.

   • Compute Toolpath - When selected, the system calculates the toolpath.

   • Post Yes/No - This option determines if the feature is included in the posted NC program.

Center Drill - This operation changes to a center drill tool and spot drills the pilot hole for the feature.

Drill - The Drill operation drills the main hole for the feature to depth.

Chamfer - Normally optional, the Chamfer operation chamfers the top of the hole to the specified Chamfer Depth.

Tap - The Tap tool creates the desired thread in the hole.

Right-click any of the previous operations to access a shortcut menu with two options for modifying the computed toolpath.

1. • Color - When selected, a dialog box appears allowing you to change the color of the toolpath.

   • Blank - When selected, the system hides the toolpath if it is visible or shows the toolpath if it is hidden.