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Precision CNC Tapping Services

DEK tapping services cut UNC, UNF, metric and NPT threads with thread location held to ±0.005 mm. Tapping runs inside the same milling or turning cycle as your part, with no MOQ.

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  • ±0.005mm

    Thread Location

  • 3 Days

    Fastest Prototype

  • 98.6%+

    On-Time Delivery

CNC tapping head cutting internal threads into stainless steel block
ISO Certified ISO 9001, ISO 13485, AS9100D
Finished tapped stainless steel fittings with internal threaded holes

Precision Tapping Built Into Every CNC Program

Tapping cuts internal threads into a machined part, turning a plain drilled hole into a UNC, UNF, metric or NPT connection for a screw, stud or fitting. DEK programs it into the same 3-, 4- and 5-axis CNC milling and CNC turning cycles that make the rest of the part.

Custom tapped holes stay tied to the same datum structure as the surrounding features, with no extra handling step adding tolerance stack-up or lead-time risk. A single prototype and a 5,000-unit run get the same programming and inspection, as part of full CNC machining services.

DEK: Your Custom Tapping Supplier

Tapping is never farmed out at DEK: threads are programmed, machined and inspected in-house alongside every other feature.

  • Certified Documentation

    ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and AS9100D, obtained through TUV. Material certs, in-process records and FAI reports back every tapped hole.

  • 20+ Years of Machining

    DEK machines 1.2M+ critical parts annually for more than 2,300 global OEM clients, with threaded features on nearly every program.

  • Reliable Delivery

    An on-time delivery rate above 98.6%, because tapping runs in the same cycle as the part instead of a separate outsourced step.

  • No MOQ, Fast Prototypes

    No minimum order quantity. Prototypes with tapped holes ship in as fast as 3 days, and the same tapping route carries into production.

Engineer-Reviewed Quotes

An engineer reviews your thread callouts and returns a quote within 6 hours for most parts. Required thread depth is confirmed during drawing review, and validated designs move to production without a re-quote cycle.

CNC Thread Machining Capabilities

Thread standard, hole type, fit class, inspection and lead time each drive a different tapping strategy. Here is how DEK handles them.

  • Thread Types
  • Hole Types
  • Tolerance
  • Inspection
  • Lead Time

  • Threaded Holes: Standards We Machine

    Common thread standards are machined into both metal and plastic parts, with tap selection following the material and hole geometry on the drawing.

    • UNC and UNF for general fasteners and US-spec assemblies
    • Metric M-series for global OEM drawings
    • BSW for legacy or retrofit industrial components
    • NPT and NPTF for pipe fittings and fluid-control ports
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    Parameter Specification
    UNC / UNF Blind and through holes
    Metric (M-series) Blind and through holes
    BSW (Whitworth) Through holes
    NPT / NPTF Blind holes (fluid ports)

  • Blind Hole Tapping vs. Through Holes

    Chips that cannot escape a blind bore cause broken taps and torn threads, so each hole type gets its own strategy.

    • Bottoming tap to maximize thread depth in blind holes
    • Controlled chip evacuation in blind bores
    • Depth and minor-diameter control on through holes
    • Blind thread depth programmed and verified like any feature
    Explore CNC Milling
    Parameter Specification
    Blind hole tap Bottoming tap
    Blind hole chips Controlled evacuation
    Through hole control Thread depth, minor diameter
    Depth verification Programmed and verified

  • Thread Tolerance Classes & Fit

    Fit class sets the allowed pitch-diameter variation and is specified independently of the general part tolerance.

    • 2A/2B for general assemblies, 3A/3B for tight fits
    • ±0.005 mm coaxiality to a mating bore on fit-critical holes
    • ±0.003 mm on sub-10 mm micro components
    • ±0.01 mm profile on 5-axis surfaces
    Precision Machining
    Parameter Specification
    General fit class 2A / 2B
    Tight, low-clearance fit 3A / 3B
    Location and coaxiality ±0.005 mm (fit-critical)
    Micro components ±0.003 mm (sub-10 mm)
    Threads on 5-axis surfaces ±0.01 mm profile

  • Thread Inspection and QC Stages

    A thread that looks right under a loupe can still fail a fit check, so thread quality is confirmed at every QMS stage.

    • Go/no-go gauging of pitch diameter to the fit class
    • CMM check of thread location against the datums
    • FAI before any production run starts
    • Inspection by our QC team before shipment
    See QC Equipment
    Parameter Specification
    Incoming material IQC
    Thread dimensions IPQC (in-process)
    Before production run First article inspection
    Before shipment OQC
    Pitch diameter Go/no-go gauges
    Location and coaxiality In-house CMM

  • Tapped Parts From Prototype to Production

    Prototype and production drawings follow the same programming and inspection route, so the thread specification is never re-validated.

    Production Machining
    Parameter Specification
    Fastest prototype 3 days
    Typical prototype 3–5 days
    Small batches 4–7 days
    Quote turnaround Within 6 hours (most parts)
    Minimum order quantity None

Tapped Threads on Milled vs. Turned Parts

Tapping is layered onto whichever process makes the base geometry: milling for prismatic parts, turning for rotationally symmetric parts that need threaded ports.

Criteria This ProcessTapping Services CNC Milling CNC Turning
Role Cuts internal threads Makes base geometry Makes base geometry
Best for Screws, studs, fittings Housings, brackets, plates Shafts, bosses
Thread placement Same datum as the part Holes on 3-, 4-, 5-axis faces Axial or radial ports
Fit-critical tolerance ±0.005 mm ±0.01 mm on 5-axis surfaces ±0.005 mm shaft-bore fits
Extra handling None, same cycle Tapping in milling cycle Tapping in turning cycle

Industries That Rely on Tapped Parts

Threaded features appear on aerospace cabin and structural parts, medical devices, robotics, semiconductor equipment and automation components.

  • Aerospace

  • Medical

  • Automotive

  • Robotics

  • Semiconductor

  • Electronic

  • Telecom

  • Drone & UAV

  • Energy

  • Oil & Gas

  • Marine

  • Industrial Equipment

  • Construction

  • Agriculture

  • Consumer Products

  • Military & Defense

  • Mining

Tapping Challenges by Material

Thread quality depends on how a material work-hardens, how brittle it is at thin walls and how it reacts to tapping heat.

  • Tapping Aluminum

    6061, 6063, 5083 and 5052 are fast-cutting with low tap-breakage risk, common for lightweight aluminum housings.

  • Tapping Stainless Steel

    17-4PH and 316LVM work-harden quickly, so stainless gets controlled speed and coolant to avoid galling.

  • Titanium Threads

    Ti-6Al-4V has low thermal conductivity that concentrates heat at the cutting edge, so titanium needs slower feeds.

  • PEEK Threads

    PEEK is dimensionally stable under load and taps cleanly, without the melt-and-reform issues of softer plastics.

Thread Failures We Prevent

  • Broken Taps in Blind Bores

    Chips trapped in a blind bore break taps and tear threads. Controlled chip evacuation and a bottoming tap keep usable depth near the bottom.

  • Galling in Stainless

    Stainless work-hardens fast at the tap. Controlled cutting speed and coolant keep the thread clean and the tap intact.

  • Thread Pull-Out in PTFE

    Soft PTFE pulls threads out if tapped wrong, so tap geometry and speed are chosen to prevent it.

  • Off-Axis Threads

    A tapped hole drifting off datum is a field failure. Cutting it on the part datum and CMM verification keep coaxiality to ±0.005 mm.

ISO Certified Machining for Threads

Every tapped hole is documented under ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and AS9100D, obtained through TUV.

  • AS9100D and ISO 9001 certification logo
    AS9100D

    Aerospace Quality Management System

  • ISO 9001 certification logo
    ISO 9001:2015

    Quality Management Standard

  • ISO 13485 certification logo
    ISO 13485

    Medical Devices Quality Management

Materials for Tapped Parts

Material changes the tap style and cutting parameters, not the control applied. Tapping plastics needs its own tap geometry and speed.

Metals

Copper & Plastics

Need a different alloy or polymer? Browse the full material list

View Metals

How to Order Custom Tapped Parts

  • 1

    Send Your Drawing

    Call out thread standard, size, depth (blind or through), fit class and base material.

  • 2

    Engineer Review

    An engineer confirms thread depth and returns a quote within 6 hours for most parts.

  • 3

    Programmed Tapping

    Threads are cut in the same milling or turning cycle, on the same datum as the part.

  • 4

    In-Process Checks

    IPQC on thread dimensions, FAI before the run, go/no-go gauges and CMM inspection.

  • 5

    OQC and Shipping

    Outgoing parts pass OQC and ship with material certs and the FAI report.

Tapping Services FAQ

Cost, thread tolerance, blind holes and lead times for tapped parts.

How much do tapping services add to the cost of a machined part?
You pay for added cycle time and tap tooling, not a separate outsourced operation, since tapping runs in the same milling or turning cycle. Thread count, depth, fit class (3B costs more than 2B) and material drive the price; stainless and titanium tap slower than aluminum. Engineers quote most parts within 6 hours, no MOQ.
What thread tolerance can you hold on tapped holes?
Pitch diameter is verified with go/no-go gauges to the drawing fit class, 2B for general assemblies or 3B for low-clearance fits. Location and coaxiality to a mating bore hold ±0.005 mm on fit-critical features. CMM confirms position, recorded in the FAI report under ISO 9001, ISO 13485 and AS9100D.
Can you tap blind holes in stainless steel and plastics?
Yes. Blind hole tapping in stainless steel uses controlled speed, coolant and a bottoming tap to keep thread depth near the bottom without galling or tap breakage. PTFE gets a tap geometry and speed that prevent pull-out, and PEEK taps cleanly. Call out thread depth and the engineer confirms it at drawing review.
How fast can I get tapped parts?
Prototypes with tapped holes ship in as fast as 3 days, 3–5 days typical; small batches run 4–7 days. Production lead time depends on part count, material and thread complexity and is confirmed on the quote. With no MOQ, prototypes and multi-thousand-unit runs follow the same route.

Request a Tapping Services Quote

Send your drawing with thread callouts and base material. DEK quotes tapping as part of the full machining job, with no separate outsourcing step.

  • Engineer-reviewed quote within 6 hours
  • UNC, UNF, metric, BSW and NPT threads
  • Blind and through holes, 2B or 3B fit
  • Prototypes in as fast as 3 days
  • No minimum order quantity
Request an Aerospace Quote

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