In this issue, MEGA Tech would like to discuss the latest innovations in durable and wear resistant carbide drills. The new groove shape “J Flute” and tip pocket “RX Thinning” have been developed to efficiently evacuate chips and optimize continuous flow control. By enlarging the arc of the cutting edge, friction is reduced and chip adhesion to the groove is decreased.
As competition in the manufacturing industry increases, there is a growing demand for highly efficient and cost-effective tools. Drills used for cutting are one of the tools that produce the most waste. Additionally tool life is shortened through exposure to high temperatures which increases the wear of the cutting edge and the adhesion of chips.
Important breakthrough in drill bit development
The development and introduction of cemented carbide drills has brought about a dramatic change in how metal is processed in the manufacturing industry. It was once considered difficult to use cemented carbide for cutting.
Unlike other cutting tools, drills need to remove chips from holes while operating, which makes it very difficult to develop a carbide drill. It is important that when in use the drill bit does not break. If the chips are not evacuated, the drill bit will break. In order to evacuate the chips the grooves must be wide, however this reduces the cutting area. In other words, it is important to increase the cutting area of the drill and at the same time evacuate chips from narrow grooves in order to increase the strength, but this is a very difficult task.
The larger the chips, the easier it is for them to get stuck in the grooves. Repeated prototype development and evaluation resulted in the chips becoming shorter and thinner making it easier for them to be evacuated. Recently it has been found that by enlarging the arc-shaped part of the cutting edge, chips become shorter and thinner. This is the most important breakthrough in the development of carbide drills.
Carbide drills are a key component in the manufacture of metal forming and machine processing tools. The physical properties of carbide drills such as resistance against abrasion and deformation, excellent heat dissipation, toughness, and diamond-like hardness, greatly reduce the possibility of a drill breaking. It is for these reasons that carbide drills are suitable for cutting hard materials. They are also used for processing less common alloys such as stainless steel, titanium alloys, and heat-resistant alloys.
Selection of Tools for Deep Hole Drilling
To address the challenges of deep hole drilling Sumitomo has developed the Super MultiDrill XHGS Series, a set of high performance solid carbide drills for deep hole drilling. To drill at different depths you can choose from a variety of sizes: 10D, 12D, 15D, 20D, 25D and 30D. These products enable precision machining with no dead zone in deep hole drilling. They also reduce work time, have a longer tool life and cost less.
Its innovative design goes one step further than conventional drill bits. The new groove shape “J flute” and the special thinning shape “RX Thinning”, optimize chip evacuation and continuous chip flow control. It also reduces drilling friction by increasing the cutting edge arc, which decreases the adhesion of metal in the area during deep hole drilling at all feed rates.
Reinforced with Sumitomo’s unique “DEX- Coating” technology, the drill bit has excellent resistance against both wear and heat and it is chip-proof, which enables longer tool life and reduces costs.
Characteristics and Applications
Super MultiDrill XHGS Series is the latest technology specifically designed for deep hole drilling. It allows stable chip control and reinforcement to improve the efficiency of deep hole drilling.
- New groove shape “J flute” has improved chip control stability for drilling deep holes.
- Drill to depths 20 times of drill diameter at high efficiency vf=1000mm/min (o5 S48C equivalent)
- The application of a special thinning shape “RX Thinning” reduces cutting resistance during high efficiency drilling.
Longer Service Life
- The “DEX Coating” helps to provide a longer tool life with a wide variety of materials.
- In comparison with other conventional tools, the distance from the cutting edge (main edge) to the sub-edge is shorter which reduces vibrations ensuring stability as well as tool life.
The products mentioned above are environmentally friendly. They are compatible with the MQL (Minimum Quantity Lubrication) system and dual-fluid mist (simultaneous spray of oil and water).
Article by: Sumipol Corporation Limited & MEGA Tech