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FlexArm Hydraulic-Tapping-Arms-Manual- V5 (31)
FlexArm Hydraulic-Tapping-Arms-Manual- V5 (31)
FlexArm Inc.
Division of Midwest Specialties, Inc.
705 Commerce Drive
Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895
419-738-8147
800-837-2503 (toll free)
www.flexmachinetools.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Safe Operation: READ THIS FIRST - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3
Warranty - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4
Specifications - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5-6
Electrical Installation - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
Start Up Procedure - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11
Operator Instructions - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15
Counterbalance Adjustment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 20
Maintenance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 48-50
Troubleshooting - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 51-54
The repair or replacement of the FlexArm product if it is found to be defective due to faulty materials,
workmanship or function within the guarantee period of 1 year. The warranty is based off normal
usage, or equivalent to a 40-hour work week. Claims within the first 90 days will be handled under a
direct return and replace policy. Freight can be credited up to $500.00 upon a positive warranty claim.
FlexArm Inc shall not be liable for costs of repair or replacement of a product incurred as a result of:
• A FlexArm product that has had the serial number altered or removed.
• Cylinders with scratches or marks on the shaft.
• Handling of the product which is not in accordance with the product manual.
• Damage as a result of using the unit over its stated capacities.
• FlexArm products not purchased direct or from an authorized dealer.
• Use of parts and accessories other than those produced or recommended by FlexArm.
• Improper maintenance or lack of maintenance per the manual.
• Damage from external sources such as transit, weather, electrical outages, power surges, or bad
air quality (compressor).
• Repairs or alterations carried out by parties other than FlexArm or its authorized distributors.
• Tap Holders and Helicoil components do not carry a warranty.
Warranty Service
Before service can take place, the terms of the limited warranty require that you contact FlexArm with
your model, serial number, and date of purchase. Please keep your purchase receipt in a safe place to
ensure you have this information. The serial number is found on the FlexArm’s side plate.
Service under this warranty will not extend the period of this warranty. If your FlexArm is not
functioning properly, please call FlexArm at 1-800-837-2503. Most issues can be rectified over the
telephone by our trained Customer Service Department.
• The following (ISO Grade 46 compatible) hydraulic oils are recommended for use in the FlexArmTM
Hydraulic Tapping Machines:
Hydraulic Oils
Brand Name Manufacturer
Energol HLP-46 BP
DTE 25 Exxon Mobil
NUTO HP 46 Exxon Mobil
Tellus 46 Shell Oil Corporation
Hyspin AWS 46 Castrol
Rando HD ISO 46 Chevron
WARNING!
Do not operate the machine if the oil level is BELOW the RED DOTTED LINES on the oil level gauge.
Do not add oil while the machine is operating. First, turn off the machine, disconnect the power supply, and
allow the unit to cool down to 80 degrees or less before adding hydraulic oil.
To add oil, unscrew the cap on the oil tank at the back of the power pack. Using a funnel with a flexible spout,
pour the oil slowly into the tank and check the oil level/temperature gauge as it is being added. DO NOT FILL
ABOVE THE BLACK DOTTED LINES AT THE TOP OF THE OIL LEVEVTEMPERATURE GAUGE.
2. Connect the machine to a grounded, 3 phase electric supply. The circuit should be protected with a 20
amp circuit breaker if it is wired for 480v and 30 amps if it is wired for 220v. The unit does not come with a
plug.
CAUTION: When making repairs to this unit, always disconnect the main power supply. Additionally,
hooking up an incorrect power supply could result in damage to the unit and void any existing warranty.
1. Drill and tap four bolt holes on a flat, smooth table or workbench. Use 3/8-16 bolts for the 24, 30, and
45 series units. Use 1/2-13 bolts on the 60 series units. (See Base Mount diagram below)
2. Secure the base mount and apply a light coating of grease to the base mount shaft. Slide the angle
mount onto the shaft of the base mount and secure the angle before inserting the FlexArmTM! (See
Angle Mount Assembly Diagram Below)
4. Insert the rear pin of the unit into the upper bore and bearing of the angle mount. The rear pin may
not slide through both bearing sets- use the flathead cap screw to help pull the unit entirely through
the bottom bearing
5. Remove any straps holding the arms together and adjust the counterbalance of the arm. This will
eliminate the possibility of the arm striking the operator when it is positioned at its lowest point. (See
Counter Balance Adjustment Section on page 21)
2. First, connect the two hydraulic hoses on the arm to the quick-disconnect hose couplings on the power
pack. There should be a male and female fitting.
3. Next, attach the male four-pin connector on the arm to the left female receptacle on the power pack.
There should be a locking clip on the female receptacle, notating the proper one to attach to.
4. The four-pin female connecter on the right is only to be used with arms adapted with digital depth
control (Instructions for digital depth control are found in a separate manual).
5. Lastly, the airline can be connected to the regulator-manometer shown on the far left of the image
below. This is to be used with units that have the semi-tap lubricator option.
2. Turn on the red master lock out switch on the rear of the Power Pack unit.
3. Ensure the emergency stop on front of the unit is pulled out and not engaged.
4. Pull out the front HMI display and wait for it to boot up. It should display as shown below:
Start
000 Stop
Validation Speed
Enter 1 2
6. Next, you need to confirm you are in the proper gear setting on both the arm's gearbox and the
display. The image next image on the following page shows gear 2 selected on the HMI.
500 Stop
Validation Speed
Enter 1 2
7. Once you confirm the gear settings match, press validation and you can begin tapping.
8. When switching gears, once again validate you are in the proper gear setting on both the arm's
gearbox and the display. You will need to re-press the validation button before you begin tapping
again.
Start
100 Stop
Validation Speed
Enter 1 2
IMPROPER SHUTDOWN
● Turning the machine off with the master switch before turning off the machine with the red button.
● Turning the master switch off before the motor in the power pack has spooled down completely.
(approximately 3 seconds)
● Suddenly removing power from the machine, i.e., pulling the plug out of the wall before turning off the
device with the red button.
● Unplugging the unit before the motor in the power pack has spooled down completely. (approximately
3 seconds)
● Pressing the green button while the master switch is off and residual power is still in the inverter
(approximately 45 seconds after shutdown)
● Ensure the air inlet and the arm's air tube are connected to the regulator-manometer, adjusted in our
factory.
● Fill oil tank located in the front lower arm: uncover the filler plug and fill with tapping oil to the maximum
level.
● Press and hold the starting lever until you see atomized oil begin to leave for the lance tip. The first time,
the atomized oil will take time to reach the lance tip, but later will be much quicker.
● Adjust the quantity of oil mixture released by adjusting the oil regulator mounted behind the lance.
● The tap lubricator system can be used before, during, and after tapping pieces.
Caution! Don't use corrosive oil. It can damage the system's plastic valves.
2. Select the correct tap holder for the tap size required.
Insert the tap into the holder by depressing the locking
ring. Seat the tap square into the tap holder. Release the Figure 1
locking ring (see Figure 1).
5. When tapping through holes, remember that the tap will protrude
through the bottom side of the work piece. Ensure there is sufficient
clearance below the workpiece to allow the tap to extend below the
bottom surface of the part and not hit the work surface. Figure 2
6. Use a torque style tap holder when tapping blind or bottom holes.
The built in safety clutch on the torque holders will rachet and stop the tap from turning when the tap
reaches the bottom of the hole.
7. Actuate the motor by depressing the lower button and gently guide the tap into the hole. Exert only
enough downward pressure to start the tap in the hole. Once started, the tap pull itself through the
hole.
Do not push or pull on the motor when the tap is engaged in the hole and completing the tapping
process. This will result in poor thread quality, oversized threads, and broken taps.
8. When the hole is tapped (the torque holder rachets for blind holes or the tap extends past the bottom
of through holes) release the lower button and depress the upper button to reverse the rotation of the
motor and remove the tap from the hole.
9. To change tap holders, release the tap holder by pulling up on the quick-change chuck collar and
pulling the tap holder out of the quick-change chuck.
There are two locking holes on the outside diameter of the torque holder that the tail of the snap ring aligns
to. These two positions allow the holder to be adjusted one half of a full notch of the adjustable thread ring at
a time. The tail of the snap ring must be inserted in the hole at either position and through a notch of the
thread ring in order to lock the adjusted torque setting. Figure 3 below shows the components related to the
adjustment of the torque holder.
Figure 3
Caution: Never adjust the torque setting more than one (1) notch at a time. Adverse tapping conditions and
broken taps may result!
After turning the thread ring a full notch, reinsert the tail of the snap ring in the original hole. If a lesser
adjustment is needed, turn the adjusting thread ring half the distance between the thread ring notches. Insert
the snap ring tail in the alternate hole on the outside diameter of the torque holder. This hole will be aligned
with a notch of the adjusting ring.
Aluminum and 200 BHN 300 BHN 400 BHN Approx. Torque Holder
Brass
Tap Size leaded brass Steel Steel Steel Break Torque Factory Setting
(in/lbs)
(in/lbs) (in/lbs) (in/lbs) (in/lbs) (in/lbs) (in/lbs)
#6 4 2 7 9 10 18 15
#8 4.5 2.25 8 10 11 30 17
#10 8.5 4.25 15 19 21 42 31
1/4 16 8 28 36 40 106 70
5/16 24 12 42 54 60 180 100
3/8 37 18.5 65 83 93 240 150
7/16 54 27 94.5 122 135 500 250
1/2 68 34 119 153 170 700 300
9/16 88 44 154 198 220 850 350
5/8 119 59.5 208 268 298 1,000 400
3/4 170 85 298 383 425 1,500 620
7/8 238 119 416 536 595 2,100 880
1 337 168.5 590 758 842 2,700 1,200
1-1/4 554 277 970 1,246 1,385 2,100
1-1/2 850 425 1,488 1,912 2,125 3,100
3,000+
1-3/4 1,411 706 2,471 3,177 3,530 5,500
2 1,904 952 3,332 4,284 4,760 7,000
1. Items needed:
a. Adjustable wrench and or socket.
b. Metric Allen wrench set
c. Magnetic plug
d. NOTE: The GHM-24 has handles instead of bolts, so no tools
are needed.
6. With both rotations now free, align the magnetic plug to the
vertical work plane (Figure 7). Once the magnetic plug is locked on
to the vertical plane, tighten the bolt to lock the rotation shown in
Figure 6. The motor should still be able to swivel about the vertical
axis.
Figure 6
Figure 7
8. Now that the unit is aligned, the magnetic plug can be removed, and the desired tap can be inserted
into the chuck. The unit is now ready to be used for horizontal tapping.
9. To get back to vertical tapping, remove the tap and reinsert the magnetic plug.
10. Loosen the bolts on the side plates, and the top
bolt should already be loose and realign the
magnetic plug to the vertical surface (Figure 8).
12. Remove the plug and reinsert the right tap and
begin tapping.
Figure 8
To adjust the counterbalance, turn the adjuster screw located between the top plates for the front arms, and
the adjuster screw located between the rear plates for the rear arms in the image below. This will move the
cylinder clevis up or down.
• To decrease the counterbalance force applied by the gas cylinders, turn the adjuster clockwise. This
will move cylinder clevis up.
• To increase the counterbalance force applied by the gas cylinders, turn the adjuster counter-clockwise.
This will move the cylinder clevis down.
• The GH-60 & GHM-60 have no bottom handle; use a wrench to turn the adjusting bolt.
• Note: Extending the arms will make it easier to turn the adjuster handles.
Detail A
Item Part Number Description Qty.
1 G30-0013 BUMPER FOR REAR PIN 1
2 G30-0035 REAR PIN 1
3 G30-0001 SCREW FOR REAR PIN, FLATHEAD 1
4 G30-0055 BEARING FOR ANGLE 1
5 G30-0056 BEARING SPACER FOR ANGLE 1
6 G30-0033 ANGLE MOUNT (NO BEARINGS OR SPACER) 1
7 G30-0055 BEARING FOR ANGLE 1
8 G30-0034 ANGLE MOUNT WASHER WITH COUNTERSINK 1
9 G30-MS005 ANGLE MOUNT SCREW, FLATHEAD 1
Detail B
Item Part Number Description Qty.
1 G30-001 ARM SCREW, FLATHEAD 2
2 G30-0022 TOP PLATE (SPECIFY RIGHT OR LEFT HAND) 2
3 G30-0003 ARM WASHER 2
4 G30-004 ARM BEARING 2
5 G30-005 BEARING SPACER (ARM PIN 1
6 ARM (SEE MASTER LIST) 1
For Detail A
Item No Part No Description QTY Used
1 G45-0520C Bumper for Rear Pin 1
2 G45-0128 Rear Pin 1
3 G45-0127 Screw for Rear Pin, Flathead 1
4 G45-0526 Bearing for Angle 1
5 G45-0527 Bearing for Spacer for Angle 1
6 G45-0514 Angle Mount (No Bearings or Spacer) 1
7 G45-0526 Bearing for Angle 1
8 G45-0515 Angle Mount Washer With Countersink 1
9 G30-MS005 Angle Mount Screw, Flathead 1
For Detail B
Item No Part No Description QTY Used
1 G45-0127 Arm Screw, Flathead 2
2 G45-0502 Top Plate (Specify RH or LH) 2
3 G45-0523 Arm Washer 2
4 G45-0524 Arm Bearing 2
5 PM 0190 Bearing Spacer (Arm Pin) 1
6 Arm (See Master List) 1
For Detail A
Item No Part No Description QTY Used
1 G60-0520E Bumper for Rear Pin 1
2 G60-0691 Rear Pin 1
3 G60-MS003 Screw for Rear Pin, Flathead 1
4 G60-0413 Washer Top of Angle at Rear Pin 1
5 G60-0071 Bearing & Cup 1
6 G60-0072 Bearing & Spacer 1
7 G60-0688 Angle Mount (No Bearings or Spacer) 1
8 G60-0071 Bearing & Cup 1
9 G60-0689 Angle Mount Washer with Countersink 1
10 G30-MS005 Angle Mount Screw, Flathead 1
For Detail B
Item No Part No Description QTY Used
1 G60-MS003 Arm Screw, Flathead 2
2 G60-0682 Top Plate (Specify RH or LH) 2
3 G60-0075 Arm Washer 2
4 G60-0073 Arm Bearing 2
5 G60-0074 Bearing Spacer (Arm Pin) 1
6 Arm (See Master List) 1
1) With the front arm partially extended, turn the handle until the adjuster reaches the bottom-most
position (Having the arm extended somewhat makes it easier to turn the adjuster handle).
2) Remove the top two bolts on the front plate that keep the front arm attached.
a. CAUTION – When the front arm bolts arm removed, tension will still exist even though the
adjuster has been taken to the lowest level. The front arm will naturally spring to the most
upright position.
3) Remove the two Allen head screws holding the rod end of the cylinder to the arm. Slide the cylinder
pin out of the arm, releasing the cylinder.
4) Remove the hex head bolt holding the cylinder end of the cylinder to the upper adjuster.
5) Attach the new cylinder starting with the cylinder end first. Use Loctite 242 or 243 on the threads of
the hex bolt. Tighten the bolt all the way, then back it off 1/4 – 1/2 turn. The hex bolt should not be
tight against the cylinder clevis.
● The unit does not have enough power to drive the tap
o Check the inverter inside of the electrical cabinet for an error code. If there is an error, contact
Factory Service at 800-837-2503 to talk to a service technician.
o Check the condition of the tap being used and try a new tap to verify whether the old one is worn
out.
o Check that both the lubricant and the amount of lubricant are adequate for the material being
worked.
o If using a torque style tap holder, it may be necessary to adjust the holder up a notch (See adjusting
the tap holder settings in the manual pg. 20)
o Check the power pack for proper oil level using the sight gauge on the power pack's front. Verify that
the oil and filter have been changed in accordance with the maintenance section of the manual.
1/26/2021 REV. 007 51
o Check the hole's alignment, the part, the fixture, and the surface on which the unit is mounted on.
These factors can cause the unit to tap a hole that isn't straight or even prevents the unit from
tapping the hole.
o Verify the tap capacity of the unit purchased has not been exceeded.
NOTE: The unit has a Limited Warranty on parts and labor. This warranty is void if changes to the unit or
attempts to repair it or its components are made without the express authorization of FlexArm Inc.
Quick-change tap holders are considered perishable items and are not covered by the limited, one-year
warranty on the FlexArm Tapping Machine.