Quick-Change Tapping Systems Overview There is a confusing array of different so called "Quick Change" Tap Adapter and Chuck systems. On this page I will try to convey some of my limited knowleage on the subject. Some adapters are cross-compatible with chucks from other systems, some are one-way compatible and some are totally incompatible. Most systems are available in various adapter shank (barrel) sizes that acommadate different ranges of tap sizes. Tap adapters can have various features and/or combinations of features, e.g. solid drive, adjustable torque limit, adjustable length, extended length, reduced insert depth, coolant thru, etc. Chucks are available with many different mounting shanks, e.g. Kwik-Switch, CAT, NMTB, Automotive, Straight, etc. Chucks can have various features, e.g. rigid, tension and/or compression compensation, radial float, coolant, etc. To further complicate the issue each manufacturer has thier own nomenclature and numbering system for each aspect or feature of the systems they offer. For example: Bilz uses "WES1" to define a size 1 tap adapter with "safety clutch", whereas the compatible Nikken type adapter with "torque limitter" is a "ZK12" and the Smith adapter with "torque control" is a "TA-TD-ANSI size 1".

Bilz Tang Drive System The Bilz Tang Drive System is the de facto industry standard. Tang Drive chucks use the tang to counter the rotational forces of tapping while retractable balls grab the groove at the bottom of the adapter shank barrel to keep it from falling out of the chuck. There are many manufacturers of "Bilz-Type Tang Drive" Quick-Change tap adapters and chucks, including: Bilz, Collis, Smith, Briney, SPI, Scully-Jones, Universal TSD, OSG, Wilton, Lyndex, Guhring, Nikken, SPV, Parlec. Independent of who actually made or marketed the item: In the product descriptions on this site I refer to any Quick-Change Tap Adapter or Chuck, that is compatible with genuine "Bilz Tang Drive System" components, as "Bilz-Type". Adapter Specifications Check Price and Availability of Chucks Check Price and Availability of Adapters
Smith Ball Drive System The Smith Ball Drive System is tangless, instead it has dimples in the base of the adapter shank (vs the Bilz system grove). The balls in Ball-Drive chucks engage the dimples in the adapter to both retain the adapter in the chuck and take the rotational loads of tapping. Smith Ball Drive adapters have the same basic barrel dimensions as Bilz Tang Drive adapters. Since Ball Drive chucks do not have a tang slot, you can not mount a Tang Drive adapter in a Ball Drive chuck. But, Smith Ball Drive adapters fit into Bilz Tang Drive chucks just fine and the combo will work. (Note: Several machinists have told me "it fits and has always worked for me so why not"). Smith Tool (possibly others) makes Ball Drive (tangless) Quick-Change tap adapters and chucks. (Note: Smith Tool also makes "Bilz-Type" Tang Drive tap adapters and chucks) Independent of who actually made or marketed the item: In the product descriptions on this site I refer to any Quick-Change tap adapter or chuck, that is compatible with genuine "Smith Ball Drive System" components, as "Ball-Drive". Adapter Specifications Check Price and Availability of BallDrive Chucks Check Price and Availability of BallDrive Adapters
Nikken Tang Drive System The Nikken Tang Drive System is almost identical to the Bilz Tang Drive. Nikken size 8 and 12 Tang Drive adapters and chucks are cross-compatible with Bilz size 0 and 1 Tang Drive adapters and chucks. However, the barrel of the Nikken size 16, 24 and 38 adapters are slightly smaller than the corresponding Bilz adapters (size 40, 2 and 3). -- Bilz Tang Drive size 40, 2 & 3 adapters will not fit in the corresponding     size Nikken Tang Drive Chucks (16, 24 & 38). -- But, Nikken Tang Drive size 16, 24 & 38 adapters will "work" in the     corresponding Bilz Tang Drive chucks (a sloppy fit, but functional for     manual home-shop tapping. However, I do not call them compatible     and do not recommend CNC or production use of the combination). Nikken size 65 Tang Drive adapters are larger than the Bilz size 4 adapters and the 2 are not compatible. There are several manufacturers of Nikken-Type Tang Drive Quick-Change Tap Adapters and chucks, including: Nikken, SPI and Tecnara. Independent of who actually made or marketed the item: In the product descriptions on this site I refer to any Quick-Change tap adapter or chuck, that is compatible with genuine Nikken Tang Drive System components and not fully compatible with genuine Bilz Tang Drive System components, as "Nikken-Type". Adapter Specifications Check Price and Availability of Nikken Chucks Check Price and Availability of Nikken Adapters
Scully-Jones Tang Drive System The Scully-Jones Tang Drive System is totally incompatible with the Bilz Tang Drive system. The positive drive tang is on the chuck and the tang slot is on the adapter (the reverse of Bilz type adapters). I don't know if anyone else makes adapters and chucks that are compatible with these or not. In the product descriptions on this site I refer to these Quick-Change Tap Adapters and chucks as "SJ-Type" Adapter Specifications Check Price and Availability of SJ-Type Chucks Check Price and Availability of SJ-Type Adapters
SPV Type-T Quick Change System The SPV Type-T Quick Change system is not compatible with any other system of which I am aware. The Drive chucks have tangs that drive the slots in the bottom skirt of the adapter while retractable balls grab the groove in the middle of the adapter shank barrel to keep it from falling out of the chuck. Adapters are available in 4 size ranges (8, 12, 24, 42) and 3 styles (T, TC and TK). Chucks are available in several styles (CGS, CGS-C, GS-E, ST and STF). I don't know if anyone else makes adapters and chucks that are compatible with these or not. In the product descriptions on this site I refer to these Quick-Change Tap adapters and chucks as "SPV Type-T" Adapter Specifications Check Price and Availability of SPV Type-T Chucks Check Price and Availability of SPV Type-T Adapters
Parlec Numertap Ball-Drive System The Parlec Ball-Drive Quick Change system is not compatible with any of the other system of which I am aware. There is 2 flavors of Parlec Ball-Drive chucks and adapters: Positive Drive (770 series) and Torque Control (80 and 700 series). The series 80 and 700 Torque Control chucks have 2 sets of balls. The outer set interfaces with the adapter retention groove to hold the adapter in the chuck. The inner set of balls are spring loaded (spring tension controls torque limit) and interface with the adapter drive scallops (scallop size on the adapter pre-calibrates torque setting). The series 770 Positive Drive chucks use a single set (outer set) of balls to both retain the adapter and drive the adapter. These balls interface with dimples on the 770 series adapter. Series 770 adapters are compatible with series 700 chucks but the torque control feature of the 700 chucks will be disabled. Adapter Specifications Check Price and Availability of Parlec Ball-Drive Chucks Check Price and Availability of Parlec Ball-Drive Adapters
KATO Tang Drive System The KATO Tang Drive System looks and operates the same as the Bilz Tang Drive system, but is not compatible with Bilz or any other system of which I'm aware (barrel sizes are wrong). Note: at the current time I do not know the barrel dia. of all KATO adapter sizes so its possible some may actually be compatible with other system chucks. It is available in 6 different tap size ranges: (TC206, TC412, TC1022, TC2035, TC 3050 and TC58100). The standard length and long (-L) models have Torque Control clutch. The short (-N) models are direct drive (without Torque Control clutch). The -MO models have oil hole for coolant flow. Adapter Specifications Check Price and Availability of KATO QC Chucks Check Price and Availability of KATO QC Adapters

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