Carbide Drill Bits for Hard Steel: Speed and Feed Guide

Hard steel is a material with extremely high strength and strong toughness. During processing, it often encounters problems such as rapid tool wear, low drilling efficiency, and difficulty in ensuring surface quality. For many operators, how to drill holes in hard steel has always been a difficult problem. If the tool is not properly selected, the drill bit may be scrapped soon and the workpiece will also be damaged. In order to improve efficiency and quality, more and more people have begun to pay attention to carbide drill bits for hard steel.

This article will gradually expand from the advantages of tungsten carbide drill bits, selection methods, to the most critical speed and feed parameters during the drilling process, providing you with a practical reference.

Advantages of Tungsten Carbide Drill Bits

Compared with traditional high-speed steel drill bits (HSS), tungsten carbide drill bits show obvious advantages when processing hard steel:

1. High hardness and wear resistance: The hardness of tungsten carbide is close to that of diamond, allowing it to be continuously cut on hard materials without easy wear.
2. Longer service life: Under the same conditions, the service life of tungsten carbide drill bits is usually several times that of HSS drill bits, reducing the trouble of frequent tool replacement.
3. Suitable for high-speed cutting: Under reasonable conditions, it can withstand higher rotational speeds and achieve faster processing efficiency.
4. The quality of the holes is more stable: The accuracy of the hole diameter and the surface finish are easier to guarantee, reducing the need for subsequent processing.

Therefore, in the processing of hard steel, tungsten carbide drill bits are almost irreplaceable.

How to Choose the Right Tungsten Carbide Drill Bit?

Not all tungsten carbide drill bits are capable of processing hard steel. Different application requirements call for different choices.

• According to the hardness grade matching: For steel with higher hardness, drill bits with stronger wear resistance and high-temperature resistance should be selected.
• Drill bit type selection: Straight shank drills are suitable for routine processing, while coated drill bits (such as TiAlN, TiCN) are more suitable for long-term cutting.
• Dimensions and tolerances: Select the appropriate diameter and tolerance range based on the requirements of the hole to avoid hole deviation caused by mismatched drill bits.
• Application scenarios: Batch production is more suitable for drill bits with high durability and automatic chip removal designs, while small-batch or maintenance processing places more emphasis on flexibility.

A reasonable choice is the first step to successful drilling.

What Is Carbide Drill Through Speed And Feed?

In actual processing, many users have found that even if they switch to tungsten carbide drill bits, the drilling effect is still not satisfactory. The problem often does not lie in the drill bit itself, but in the setting of speed and feed rate.

What is Carbide drill through speed?

Cutting speed refers to the speed at which the cutting edge of the drill bit slides on the surface of the workpiece. For hard steel, the processing speed should not be too high; otherwise, the drill bit may crack due to overheating. However, if the speed is too low, it will reduce efficiency and even cause the surface of the hole to become rough. Under normal circumstances, the cutting speed needs to be comprehensively considered based on the hardness of the steel and the diameter of the drill bit.

What is Carbide drill through feed?

The feed rate is the depth to which the drill bit advances per revolution. A reasonable feed rate can ensure smooth chip breakage and timely discharge. If the feed rate is too large, the cutting resistance will intensify and the drill bit is very likely to be damaged. If it is too small, the cutting efficiency will be insufficient and it may also cause the cutting edge to repeatedly rub against each other, generating heat.

Balance and Adjustment

Speed and feed are not isolated and they interact with each other. A common practice is to first determine the reference rotational speed corresponding to the drill bit diameter, and then gradually try to adjust the feed rate until a balance point is found that can maintain efficiency without damaging the drill bit. In mass production, appropriately adding cooling and chip removal control can better help maintain a stable cutting state.

Precautions during the Drilling Process

Apart from speed and feed rate, the details in the drilling process should not be overlooked either:

1. Coolant: A continuous and sufficient supply of coolant can effectively lower the cutting temperature and reduce hot cracks.
2. Chip removal control: Chip blockage not only affects efficiency but may also jam the drill bit or even damage the workpiece.
3. Equipment rigidity: The stability of the machine tool directly determines the drilling accuracy. Loose fixtures can cause the hole position to shift.
4. Common Faults and Solutions: If the drill bit chives, check whether the speed is too fast. If the hole is rough, it might be due to insufficient feed or inadequate cooling.

When drilling deep holes, it is recommended to use step-by-step drilling or center drilling guidance to avoid drill bit deviation. For users who wish to extend the lifespan of their drill bits, it is crucial to regularly check the sharpness of the cutting edge and replace worn drill bits in a timely manner. Under different working conditions, coated drill bits can be considered. They are more stable at high temperatures and are particularly suitable for long-term and large-scale processing of hard steel.

In addition, trying different drilling strategies can also bring about improvements. For instance, starting with a lower speed to guide the drilling and gradually increasing the rotational speed and feed rate can reduce the initial impact on the tool and extend its service life.

Final Words

In the processing of hard steel, carbide drill bits for hard steel have become the preferred tool recognized in the industry due to their high hardness and wear resistance. But the real key lies in the reasonable setting of parameters. Whether it is the carbide drill through speed or through feed, a balance needs to be found between efficiency and tool life.

Only under the correct selection of drill bits, scientific parameter Settings, and good cooling and chip removal conditions can the advantages of tungsten carbide drill bits be truly brought into play, ensuring high-quality processing results in hard steel drilling. For users, this not only means an increase in efficiency, but also represents lower tool consumption and fewer rework issues.

XYMJ has been focusing on the research, development and production of tungsten carbide parts for many years, providing reliable products and solutions for users all over the world.

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