TAPMATE
™
XL 424 OPERATING MANUAL
24
PERFORMING THE TAP (cont.)
10. Start feeding the Cutter into the Pipe wall by slowly rotating the Lead Nut Handles;
these should rotate without much force, typically two fingers to an open hand. The Cut‑
ter will travel about 3/16” for each revolution of the Lead Nut. DO NOT OVER‑FEED.
Over‑feeding can result in stalling the motor and / or damage to the Cutter.
The Shaft Nose can be fed into the Pipe wall firmly until the Shell Cutter begins to cut.
Once the Shell Cutter starts to cut, feed slowly and listen to the hydraulics and Cutter
for indications of over‑feeding, such as chatter, skipping or lurching of the Machine.
11. The Travel Chart provides distances necessary to cut for each tap size. The distances
are measured from when the Cutter hits the Pipe (not the Shaft Nose or PVC Pilot).
You will feel and hear the difference of when the Shaft Nose is cutting and when the
Shell Cutter starts cutting.
The operator will feel resistance when feeding the cutting tools. This resistance pro‑
vides the operator feedback as to progress of the cut.
Resistance is greatest when cutting is occurring and virtually absent once the tap is completed.
NOTE: Cutter travel exceeding the calculated distance of cut may result in cut-
ting through the back-side of the Pipe. This is more critical on size-on-size taps.
12. Use the following rules to determine completion of the tap:
•
On All Taps Except Size-on-Size Taps
(see next paragraph for information on size‑
on‑size taps) The Maximum Required Travel distance is ½ the outside diameter of the
pipe, even if you still feel resistance while feeding the cutting tools. At the comple‑
tion of the cut, you will feel the feed resistance and Cutter noise diminish. When this
happens, turn the lever on the Drive Unit to the by‑pass (off) position.
Continue to feed the Cutter into the Pipe, for another one or two complete revolu‑
tions of the Lead Nut. You should feel no increase in resistance. In this case, the tap
is finished. If you continue to feel resistance, move the Cutter back to where you
stopped the Hydraulics. Turn the Hydraulic Drive Unit back on and finish the cut.
• Size-on-Size Taps
The Maximum Required Travel distance is ½ the outside diameter of the Pipe, even if you
still feel resistance while feeding the cutting tools. Do not exceed this travel distance.
13. When it's been established that the tap has been completed, move the Lever on the Hy‑
draulic Drive unit to the Stop position and disconnect the hoses from the Hydraulic Drive
Unit.
14. Retract the Shaft and Cutter out of the Pipe, Sleeve and Valve by unthreading the
Lead Nut back to "zero".
NOTE: There should be two "zeros" now visible on the Lead Tube's Scale.
15. Remove the Brake Tube Locking Handle from the Brake Tube.
16. Continue retracting the Shaft and Cutter by unthreading the Brake Tube back to "zero".
NOTE: There should be three "zeros" now visible on the Thrust Tube's scale.
17. Close the Gate Valve.
