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Six of the aluminum OpenBuilds v-slot linear rails need tapped for their M5 bolts:  The four vertical legs, and what I’d describe as ‘the two top Y-axis beams’.  The legs only need tapped on one end, while the two other beams need tapped on both sides.

I borrowed my buddies M5x.8mm tap and got to work:  I’ve got to say, this has been the least enjoyable part of the whole operation to date:  16 holes  to tap (2-holes per end * 8 ends) fell into a rhythm:  Squeeze anti-seize paste into a hole, twist tap 21 times, untwist 21 times, meticulously remove shavings and paste from tap, clean paste from hole, screw in M5 bolt to test, repeat.

Gotchas:

• Everything was cruising along fine until I got going too fast, twisted off-axis, and snapped the tap off in one of the holes.  Which stopped activities for the evening.  Luckily this was one of the legs that only needed tapped on one end:  I used my angle-grinder to shave off the remainder of the tap sticking from the hole, relived to know I could tap the other side.  Next day got a new tap from Home Depot and finished the job.  Lesson learned:  Go slooooooow….

TAP!

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