Overview
ISO 5967:1981 - "Taps and thread cutting - Nomenclature of the main types and terminology" is an ISO international standard that defines the vocabulary and basic nomenclature used for taps and thread-cutting tools. It provides terms in ISO’s three official languages (English, French and Russian) and, by request of ISO/TC 29, gives equivalent terms in German and Italian. The standard is intended as a reference for tap users and manufacturers and includes illustrative diagrams and numbered symbols to identify dimensional characteristics. Diagrams are illustrative only - actual tap design may vary by manufacturer.
Key topics
- Nomenclature of main tap types
- Short machine taps and hand taps
- Long-shank machine taps
- Taps for automatic machines
- Shell (hollow) taps
- Tapered taps for pipe/threading
- Styles of threaded portion
- Bottoming tap (short chamfer: 1–3 pitches)
- Plug/second tap (intermediate chamfer: >3–5 pitches)
- Taper/first tap (long chamfer: 7–10 pitches)
- Nut tap (extra-long chamfer: 12–16 pitches)
- Fluteless (thread forming) taps, spiral-point taps, taps with oil grooves, straight-fluted taps, etc.
- Sets and components
- Classification of tap sets and typical component relationships
- Dimensional characteristics and symbols
- Numbered symbols provided opposite terms to identify key dimensions and thread profile features
- Thread profile
- Terminology for describing thread forms used on taps
Practical applications
ISO 5967 is a practical reference for:
- Tool designers and manufacturers standardizing product descriptions and catalogues
- Quality and inspection engineers interpreting drawings and verifying tap geometry
- Purchasing and procurement specifying tap types and chamfer classes in orders
- Machinists and toolroom personnel selecting the correct tap style for producing or repairing threads
- Technical writers and standards librarians preparing multilingual documentation and cross-references
Using ISO 5967 helps avoid ambiguity in tap selection, specification, and communication across international supply chains by providing consistent terminology for taps, chamfers, flutes, and thread profiles.
Related standards
ISO 5967 cross-references and complements other ISO standards on taps and thread-making, for example:
- ISO 529 - Short machine taps and hand taps
- ISO 2283 - Long shank machine taps
- ISO 2284 - Hand taps for pipe threads (parallel and taper)
- ISO 2857 - Ground thread taps (manufacturing tolerances)
- ISO 3002/1 - Geometry of cutting tools (general terms and angles)
Keywords: ISO 5967, taps, thread cutting, tap nomenclature, tap terminology, thread profile, tap chamfer, machine taps, thread forming taps.
