Drilling

Drilling, milling, EDMing, laser cutting, trepanning, punching; there are almost as many ways to make holes as there are holes to be made. Drilling, the most common holemaking method, itself includes many tool material and configuration options.

Carbide drill with unique design reportedly minimizes walking while extending tool life.

Increasingly sophisticated drills enable shops to tackle nickel-based superalloys with ease.

Reliably drilling high-quality holes in ductile cast iron requires understanding the material's structure, avoiding problems such as core shifting, keeping machining temperatures down and other considerations.

Tool material and other requirements for effective drilling of composites.

How do replaceable-crown drills stack up against the alternatives?

When the application is appropriate, straight-flute drills outperform twist drills.

Understanding how a drill point's geometric features work together helps users optimize their drilling operations.

Low-carbon steel's desirable characteristics also make drilling it a challenge.

While rigid, accurate CNC machine tools and modern drill designs minimize the need for drill bushings, the well-proven concept remains a valuable tool for select applications.