What RPM for a M2.5x0.45 tap?

RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D with D = 0.10 in. With a general-purpose HSS tap that is about 2,720 RPM in 6061 aluminum (70 SFM) and 780 RPM in mild steel (20 SFM). Premium coated taps on a rigid CNC can run faster; see the second table.

What is the feed rate for a M2.5x0.45 tap?

Feed per revolution equals the pitch: 0.45 mm. Feed (mm/min) = RPM × 0.45, so at 2,720 RPM the feed is 1,224 mm/min.

How fast can I run a M2.5x0.45 form (roll) tap?

OSG lists 65–115 SFM for form taps in aluminum alloys, which is 2,520–4,460 RPM for M2.5x0.45. Form taps need a larger hole: about 2.3 mm (2.30 mm).

What speed for a M2.5x0.45 tap in stainless steel?

General-purpose HSS taps: 10–20 SFM, or 390–780 RPM at 176–351 mm/min. Keep the tap cutting and use 60–65% thread to cut torque.

M2.5x0.45 tap speeds and feeds

A M2.5x0.45 tap feeds one pitch per turn: 0.45 mm per rev. With a general-purpose HSS tap, start near 2,720 RPM and 1,224 mm/min in 6061 aluminum, or 780 RPM and 351 mm/min in mild steel.

ISO metric coarse thread · major Ø 2.50 mm · tap drill 2.05 mm (2.05 mm) for a cut tap, 2.3 mm for a form tap.

M2.5x0.45 tapping speeds by material

Cut tap = general-purpose HSS tap. Form tap = OSG form (roll) taps. RPM rounded to 10; feed in mm/min = RPM × pitch. Start at the low end.

M2.5x0.45 cut and form tap speeds
Material	Cut SFM	Cut RPM	Cut mm/min	Form SFM	Form RPM	Form mm/min
Aluminum 6061 / 7075	70–90	2,720–3,490	1,224–1,570	65–115	2,520–4,460	1,134–2,007
Free-machining / mild steel (12L14, 1018)	20–40	780–1,550	351–697	50–115	1,940–4,460	873–2,007
4140 alloy steel (annealed to <35 HRC)	20–30	780–1,160	351–522	50–85	1,940–3,300	873–1,485
304 / 316 stainless	10–20	390–780	176–351	15–40	580–1,550	261–697
Tool steel (A2, D2, O1, H13, P20)	15–25	580–970	261–437	8–25	310–970	140–437
Gray / ductile cast iron	15–30	580–1,160	261–522	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Brass / bronze	60–100	2,330–3,880	1,049–1,746	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed
Titanium (6Al-4V, CP)	5–15	190–580	85–261	8–15	310–580	140–261
Plastics and composites (acetal, nylon, G-10)	50–70	1,940–2,720	873–1,224	Not listed	Not listed	Not listed

Not listed = no form-tap value in the cited tables (OSG lists no form tap for cast iron; brass and plastics are not in its form-tap table).

Premium coated cut taps on a rigid CNC

OSG's starting speeds for its premium HSS-E cut taps (A-Tap family and the titanium/stainless taps it names) are higher than the general-purpose row. Use them only with that class of tap and rigid tapping.

M2.5x0.45 premium cut tap speeds (OSG)
Material	OSG row	SFM	RPM	mm/min
Aluminum 6061 / 7075	Aluminum alloys	70–120	2,720–4,660	1,224–2,097
Free-machining / mild steel (12L14, 1018)	Carbon steels <35 HRC	80–120	3,100–4,660	1,395–2,097
4140 alloy steel (annealed to <35 HRC)	Alloy steels <35 HRC	35–65	1,360–2,520	612–1,134
304 / 316 stainless	Stainless 300 & 400 series <35 HRC	15–75	580–2,910	261–1,310
Tool steel (A2, D2, O1, H13, P20)	Alloy, tool & die steels 30–40 HRC	15–30	580–1,160	261–522
Gray / ductile cast iron	Cast iron	50–120	1,940–4,660	873–2,097
Titanium (6Al-4V, CP)	Titanium alloys <35 HRC	15–20	580–780	261–351

Worked example: M2.5x0.45 in 6061 aluminum

Surface speed: 70 SFM (low end of 70–90 for a general-purpose HSS tap).
RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D = 3.82 × 70 ÷ 0.10 ≈ 2,720 RPM (D = 2.5 mm = 0.10 in; or RPM = 1000 × 21.3 m/min ÷ (π × 2.5)).
Feed per rev = pitch = 0.45 mm.
Feed = RPM × pitch = 2,720 × 0.45 = 1,224 mm/min (48.2 IPM).

G84 tapping code for M2.5x0.45

Rigid tapping, aluminum numbers from the example, metric (G21), depth 1.5 × D. Check your control's manual before running.

Fanuc rigid tap (M29)

(M2.5x0.45 TAP - RIGID)
G21 G17 G40 G80 G90
T5 M06
G54 G00 X0. Y0.
G43 H05 Z25. M08
M29 S2720           (RIGID TAP MODE; M-CODE SET BY PARAMETER)
G98 G84 Z-4. R3. F1224.
G80 M09
G91 G28 Z0.
M30

Haas rigid tap

G21 G00 G90 G54 X0. Y0.
G43 H05 Z3. M08
G84 Z-4. R3. F1224. S2720   (NO M03 NEEDED)
(PECK: ADD Q = PECK DEPTH; J2 = RETRACT 2X, SEE SETTING 130)
G80 G00 Z25. M09

Floating / tension-compression holder

Without rigid tapping, run G84 with the spindle on (M03 S2720) and the same F1224 feed, but hold the tap in a tension-compression holder: it absorbs the overrun when the spindle stops and reverses. Leave the holder room to float at the bottom, so program the depth a little short and follow the holder maker's setting.

Peck tapping (Q) clears chips in deep or blind holes in stainless and 4140; skip it in aluminum unless chips pack.
Left-hand M2.5x0.45-LH taps use G74 instead of G84.
If the control caps rigid-tap RPM, lower S and recompute F: F = S × 0.45.

Notes for this size

M2.5x0.45 is a small tap: breakage, not speed, is the limit. Use 60–65% thread, a spiral-point tap in through holes, and a holder with torque protection if you tap by hand-fed spindle.

4140 alloy steel (annealed to <35 HRC): Prehardened 4140 (28–32 HRC) is at the top of this band: use the low end and 50–65% thread.
304 / 316 stainless: Work-hardens: never let the tap dwell or rub, and use a tap made for stainless. 60–65% thread cuts torque sharply.
Tool steel (A2, D2, O1, H13, P20): Values are for annealed or prehardened stock. Tap before heat treat whenever you can; hardened tool steel needs a thread mill or a carbide tap.

Hole and tools for M2.5x0.45

Tap drill, cut tap 75%: 2.05 mm (2.05 mm) · 2.05 mm drill size and speeds
Form tap drill (65%): 2.3 mm (2.30 mm) · 2.3 mm drill size and speeds
50% thread drill for hard or gummy stock: 2.2 mm (2.20 mm)

Tap calculator, prefilled for M2.5x0.45 M2.5x0.45 tap drill size Tap drill chart

Common questions

What RPM for a M2.5x0.45 tap?: RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D with D = 0.10 in. With a general-purpose HSS tap that is about 2,720 RPM in 6061 aluminum (70 SFM) and 780 RPM in mild steel (20 SFM). Premium coated taps on a rigid CNC can run faster; see the second table.
What is the feed rate for a M2.5x0.45 tap?: Feed per revolution equals the pitch: 0.45 mm. Feed (mm/min) = RPM × 0.45, so at 2,720 RPM the feed is 1,224 mm/min.
How fast can I run a M2.5x0.45 form (roll) tap?: OSG lists 65–115 SFM for form taps in aluminum alloys, which is 2,520–4,460 RPM for M2.5x0.45. Form taps need a larger hole: about 2.3 mm (2.30 mm).
What speed for a M2.5x0.45 tap in stainless steel?: General-purpose HSS taps: 10–20 SFM, or 390–780 RPM at 176–351 mm/min. Keep the tap cutting and use 60–65% thread to cut torque.

Nearby sizes

Sources

Productivity Inc. tool catalog, Tech Info - Taps: General Purpose & Other Tap Speeds (pp. 405-416)
OSG USA, A Brand & Premium Tooling Recommendation Guide Vol. 4 (Threading and Drilling), EDP 800313CA-V4, 2026
Haas Automation, G84 Tapping Canned Cycle (Group 09), mill G-code reference
Thread dimensions and tap drills: Machinery's Handbook, 31st ed.; ASME B1.1 Unified Inch Screw Threads.

SFM ranges are copied from the tables above; RPM and feed are computed for M2.5x0.45 (D = 2.5 mm). Speeds are starting values: your tap maker's data, coolant and machine come first.

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