TechTalk Newsletter SCTools

"Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve." -Napoleon Hill

Drilling holes is a concept that has existed for an extremely long period. Twist drills are very effective in piercing a variety of materials. Apart from the substrate (high-speed steel, carbide, or carbide tipped), the design of the drill can vary according to the material being drilled.

At one time, the industrial standard was a 118° drill point. As materials became more difficult to drill, manufacturers of cutting tools began adjusting the angle of the drill tip to 135° and 140°. As a result, the tool's life was enhanced. Tungsten carbide drills are resistant to harsh temperatures and have a longer tool life than high-speed steel drills, making them suitable for demanding applications.

Drills With Exceptional Performance

High-performance drills are designed to satisfy the needs of high-volume industrial operations. These carbide-tipped drills provide a longer tool life, more incredible speeds, and improved chip control due to the carbide structure. Specific drills include a coolant-through construction that facilitates chip removal more effectively than conventional drills.

A carbide twist drill is often mistreated, for instance, by using a spotting tool with an excessively sharp tip angle in comparison to the drill point angle.

A twist drill makes it simple to drill a hole through almost any material. The drill design may vary depending on the substrate due to the nature of the substance being prepared (high-speed steel, carbide, or carbide-tipped).

Drill tips come in various shapes and sizes, depending on the kind of metal you are drilling. Center drills are classified according to the angle of the center drill.

What Is the Definition of a Carbide Drill Bit?

Cobalt drill bits form a steel alloy containing between 5% and 8% cobalt, allowing them to cut through steel and other hard metals such as cast iron. Titanium drill bits are typically comprised of steel with a titanium coating, making them less durable than cobalt drill bits and prone to coating loss over time.

Then there's carbide, which is a tungsten-carbon combination. Carbide drill bits are often composed of steel and tipped with carbide. Due to their incredible strength, they are often employed in industrial applications. They can cut through concrete, masonry, and tile, among other materials. The kind of drill bit you need is determined by several criteria, including the material being cut and the length of drill bit required. Even if constructed of robust material, longer drill bits might be more brittle and shatter quickly.

Which Drill Bit Is the Most Difficult to Work With?

While this may seem paradoxical, carbide is the most durable and brittle drill bit material available – up to five times harder than steel. When it comes to tools, hardness is just one of the factors impacting a material's overall strength. Hardness describes the surface of the material – in other words, how readily it may be scraped or dulled – while brittleness represents the substance's potential to break. While carbide drill bits are compelling and capable of cutting through even the most challenging materials, they are also quite delicate and may shatter if not handled properly.

That is why they are often used in automated equipment and are not suited for use in hand drills or other manual techniques that might cause them to shatter under tension. They are employed in various industries, including automotive and aerospace, where only the most rigid drill bit tips would suffice. In some instances, the drill bit will be made of a less brittle material, with carbide employed only on the end. Thus, carbide's hardness on the drilling surface and the stability of a less brittle material prevent the bit from breaking.

SCTools delivers the industrial tools and supplies required for the work and the requisite experience and equipment. FM Carbide specializes in the production of carbide tools, such as drill bits. For your next job, SCTools provides a carbide twist drill. SCTools drills are manufactured in the United States of America.

TechTalk SCTools Drilling Applications TechTips QR Code If you have any questions about carbide cutting tools, end mills, drills, etc. be sure to reach out to us @ sctools.co/Home or call us at (877)737-0987. We help you machine better! 

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