Self-Reversing Tapping for Faster Production

Need to tap repeated holes without reversing the machine spindle after every thread? Sutton Tools RX Series Tapmatic tapping heads are designed for productive machine tapping, combining self-reversing operation, adjustable torque control & rapid reverse for workshops using suitable drill presses, milling machines & rotating-spindle equipment.

Unlike rigid CNC tapping holders, an RX Series Tapmatic handles reversal mechanically through the tapping head. Once the required thread depth is reached, the tap can reverse out while the machine spindle continues rotating in the same direction. That makes the system particularly useful for repetitive tapping where reducing manual machine operations can improve workflow.

The family includes RX30, RX50 & RX70 Tapmatic tapping heads, giving machinists different capacities for smaller, mid-range & larger taps. Choosing between them starts with the thread size, then moves through tap type, collet compatibility, machine mounting, operating speed & material.

Building the wider threading setup? Browse  Tap & Die Sets for related threading tools or  Workshop Equipment for the equipment surrounding the machining process.

Why Self-Reversing Tapping Changes the Production Cycle?

Cutting the thread is only half the movement.

The tap still has to come back out.

With a conventional machine-tapping approach, that can mean stopping or reversing the machine spindle before withdrawing the tap. RX Series Tapmatic tapping heads incorporate their own reversing mechanism, allowing the tap to reverse without requiring the machine spindle itself to change direction.

That distinction becomes increasingly valuable as quantities rise.

One saved operation may feel insignificant.

Repeat it across 50, 100 or 500 threaded holes & the workflow starts to look very different.

RX30, RX50 or RX70? Start With the Thread.

Don't choose an RX tapping head by physical size. Choose it around the taps it needs to run.

The three models occupy different working ranges.

RX30 – Smaller Thread Production

The RX30 Tapmatic is the compact option for smaller threading applications, with published steel tapping capacity extending approximately from M1.4 to M7.

Its maximum operating speed reaches approximately 2,000 RPM, while compatible Rubber-Flex collet families cover the smaller tap-shank range.

That makes RX30 worth investigating when fine & smaller threads dominate the production schedule.

RX50 – Mid-Range Machine Tapping

Moving into common workshop thread sizes, the RX50 Tapmatic covers apprb

For machine shops regularly moving through sizes such as M5, M6, M8, M10 & M12, RX50 provides a useful middle ground without automatically stepping into the largest RX tapping head.

RX70 – Larger Tapping Applications

When the work moves into larger threads, RX70 Tapmatic extends the published steel tapping range to approximately M5 to M18.

Maximum published operating speed is approximately 1,200 RPM.

This makes RX70 the model to investigate when larger taps & higher-torque threading operations move beyond the working capacity of RX50.

Three Thread Sizes Tell Three Different Stories

Specifications become easier to understand when they're placed into actual workshop situations.

Running M5 Threads All Day?

An M5 cutting tap can sit within RX30 or RX50 capacity.

The decision therefore doesn't need to be based on diameter alone. Look at the rest of the work passing through the machine.

A workshop primarily producing smaller threads may find the RX30 range better aligned with its tooling. Another regularly moving from M5 through M10 or M12 may have more reason to investigate RX50.

Moving Up to M10?

M10 changes the shortlist.

RX30 is no longer the appropriate capacity range, while RX50 covers the application comfortably within its published steel tapping range.

Now the decision moves to the next questions: tap style, Rubber-Flex collet, machine mount, operating speed, torque setting & workpiece material.

Need to Produce M16 Threads?

The range narrows again.

An M16 cutting-tap application moves attention towards RX70, because the required thread falls beyond the published steel capacities of RX30 & RX50.

Thread size eliminates unsuitable options before you spend time comparing anything else.

Torque Control Protects More Than the Tap

A broken tap can turn a straightforward component into a recovery job.

RX Series tapping heads incorporate adjustable torque control so the clutch can respond when tapping resistance reaches the selected level.

That becomes useful when working with:

► Smaller taps vulnerable to breakage
► Repetitive production components
► Harder-to-machine materials
► Higher-torque tapping operations
► Roll-form taps
► Jobs where removing a broken tap would be difficult

Correct torque settings don't compensate for poor hole preparation or the wrong tap.

They give the tapping system another way to manage excessive load before failure becomes the only warning.

Rapid Reverse Attacks Non-Cutting Time

Once the thread is complete, the tap isn't producing anything while it withdraws.

RX Series Tapmatic heads use a 1.75:1 reverse ratio, allowing the tap to back out faster than its forward tapping movement.

That feature is easy to underestimate when looking at one hole.

Production changes the maths.

Imagine a bracket requiring six threaded holes. Multiply that by a batch of 100 brackets & the tapping head has to withdraw 600 times.

Reducing withdrawal time across those cycles is where rapid reverse becomes a productivity feature rather than simply a specification.

Rubber-Flex Collets Are Part of the RX System

Here's another important distinction from rigid tapping holders.

RX Series Tapmatic heads use Rubber-Flex collets rather than the ER collet arrangement used with Sutton's SFT rigid-tapping system.

RX30 uses compatible 21600 & 21700 Rubber-Flex collets.

RX50 uses 22100 & 22200 Rubber-Flex collets.

RX70 moves into 24100 & 24500 Rubber-Flex collet families.

That means replacement collet selection needs to consider both the RX tapping-head model & the actual tap shank.

Don't assume that because a tap falls within the nominal threading capacity of the head, every available collet will suit it.

Turn a Repetitive Drill-Press Job Into a Tapping Station

Consider a fabrication workshop producing mounting plates.

The holes are drilled first.

Each plate then needs four repeated threaded holes.

A compatible RX Tapmatic setup allows the operator to use suitable rotating-spindle equipment for the tapping operation without manually reversing the machine for every completed thread.

The component still needs accurate hole preparation.

The tap still needs correct lubrication.

The tapping head still needs the right setup.

Most importantly, the workpiece needs to be held securely.

For jobs where stable positioning is essential,  Clamps & Vises are a natural part of the surrounding machine-tapping setup.

Never Treat Workholding as Optional

Tapping generates torque.

Reverse generates torque too.

A component that feels easy to hold while positioning can become very different once the tap engages.

Secure the workpiece before starting the tapping cycle.

A practical setup check should include:

► Workpiece securely clamped
► Pilot hole confirmed
► Tap aligned with the hole
► Correct collet fitted
► Torque appropriately set
► Stop-arm arrangement established
► Machine speed selected
► Lubrication ready
► Clear withdrawal path available

The tapping head can control reversal.

It can't control an unsecured component.

The Stop Arm Makes Self-Reversing Operation Possible

The RX mechanism needs a reaction point.

That's the job of the stop-arm arrangement.

When the tapping cycle reaches the appropriate stage, the stop-arm system allows the internal reversing mechanism to operate while the machine spindle continues turning in its original direction.

Correct installation matters.

Avoid improvised extensions or makeshift setups that alter how the stop arm is intended to operate. Follow the tapping-head instructions & machine requirements when establishing the reaction point.

This is one of the clearest differences between selecting an RX tapping head & selecting an ordinary tool holder.

Pilot-Hole Diameter Can Make the Tap's Job Easier—or Much Harder

Before the RX head gets involved, the drill has already influenced the tapping load.

A pilot hole that's too small forces the tap to remove or displace more material.

One that's too large can compromise the intended thread engagement.

Before a production run, verify:

► Recommended tapping-drill diameter
► Hole depth
► Through-hole or blind-hole condition
► Required thread depth
► Workpiece material
► Tap geometry
► Cutting or forming method

For preparing the hole-making side of the operation, browse  Drill Accessories.

Cutting Taps & Roll-Form Taps Don't Load the Head the Same Way

A cutting tap removes material.

A roll-form tap displaces it.

That difference changes the torque requirement.

Tapmatic guidance for the RX system reduces tapping-head capacity when roll-form taps are used, reflecting the higher torque associated with thread forming.

So if a roll-form tap sits close to the maximum nominal capacity of an RX model, don't assume the standard cutting-tap limit applies unchanged.

Check the actual application before choosing the tapping head.

This is particularly important for workshops moving between conventional cutting taps & forming taps on the same machine.

Blind Holes Need Their Own Setup Logic

A through hole gives the tap somewhere to go.

A blind hole doesn't.

That means usable hole depth, thread depth, tap lead, chip behaviour & clearance all become more important.

Imagine a component needing an M8 blind thread.

Before setting the tapping cycle, the operator needs to know where the drilled hole actually ends—not just where the finished thread should end.

Allow room for the tap geometry & the material generated during the operation.

Automatic reversal is useful. Adequate clearance is still essential.

Mounting Compatibility Comes Before the First Thread

The correct tapping capacity doesn't guarantee the head will fit the machine.

RX Series attachments are available with different mounting configurations depending on model & version.

Before ordering:

► Identify the machine spindle or existing mount
► Check the exact RX model
► Confirm the supplied or required mounting configuration
► Verify available machine clearance
► Check the stop-arm arrangement
► Confirm the machine's usable speed range

This becomes particularly important in workshops running several drill presses or milling machines with different spindle arrangements.

Production Shops Should Record Successful Setups

When a tapping job runs cleanly, capture the setup.

Don't make the next operator rediscover it six months later.

A simple job record might include:

► Component number
► Thread size
► Pilot drill
► Tap type
► RX model
► Rubber-Flex collet
► Machine speed
► Torque setting
► Lubricant
► Thread depth
► Workholding arrangement

That turns one successful setup into a repeatable workshop process.

For measuring & confirming components during setup,  Measuring & Layout Tools can support the inspection side of machining work.

A Change in Tapping Behaviour Is Useful Information

Production processes usually tell you when something has changed.

The clue might be:

► Increasing torque
► Rougher threads
► Shorter tap life
► More difficult reversal
► Tap slippage
► Inconsistent depth
► Increased noise
► A different cutting feel

Don't immediately change everything.

Check one variable at a time.

Inspect the tap, pilot hole, collet, tapping head, lubricant, material & machine setup. A systematic approach makes it easier to find the actual cause rather than hiding it with another adjustment.

For broader equipment upkeep, How To Clean Your Gear Without Ruining It offers practical maintenance principles worth carrying into workshop routines.

When Does RX Make More Sense Than SFT?

This comes down to the machine & the tapping method.

RX Series Tapmatic is built around mechanical self-reversing operation.

SFT Tapmatic is built around rigid or synchronised machine tapping.

So the first question isn't:

“Which holder is better?”

It's:

“How does this machine perform the tapping cycle?”

If the application calls for a self-reversing tapping attachment on suitable rotating-spindle equipment, RX belongs in the conversation.

If the CNC performs synchronised rigid tapping & controls reversal itself, the holder requirement is fundamentally different.

Keeping those two applications separate prevents one Tapmatic category from being treated as interchangeable with the other.

Organise the Collets Before the Next Changeover

Small tooling components have a habit of becoming expensive when nobody can find them.

Keep RX tapping heads, Rubber-Flex collets, mounts & related accessories identified by model or working range.

This becomes increasingly valuable if the workshop runs multiple RX sizes.

Instead of searching drawers for a compatible collet while the machine waits, the operator can move directly from the job sheet to the correct tooling.

For building a more structured tooling area, Tools Storage & Organization can help keep machine-shop accessories protected & easier to identify.