General Overview

A tapped hole is a drilled hole that has internal threads cut into it so a screw or bolt can be directly threaded into the material without using a nut. 

 

 How It Works 

 

 A hole is drilled to a specific size (called a tap drill size) 

 A tool called a tap is used to cut threads inside the hole 

 A screw or bolt can then be threaded directly into the material 

 

 

 Why FRC Teams Use Tapped Holes 

 Tapped holes are useful because they: 

 

 Eliminate the need for a nut on the back side 

 Save space in tight assemblies 

 Reduce part count 

 Allow clean, compact mounting points 

 

 

 Common Applications 

 

 Mounting sensors 

 Attaching small brackets 

 Light structural connections 

 Situations where access to the back side is impossible 

 

 

 Limitations 

 

 Threads can strip if over-tightened 

 Not as strong as bolt-and-nut connections in high-load areas 

 Requires correct drill size and careful tapping 

 

 

 Best Practice 

 

 Always use the correct tap drill size 

 Start tapping slowly and keep it straight 

 Use cutting fluid when possible 

 Avoid over-tightening screws in aluminum 

 

 

 Key Idea 

 A tapped hole allows a screw to thread directly into a material, making it useful for compact and lightweight FRC designs, but it must be used carefully to avoid stripping threads.