The metalworking industry strongly relies on technological innovations, perhaps more than people might think. It’s up to qualified industrial manufacturers and suppliers to provide businesses with the necessary drills, clamps, carbide inserts, other tools, and all the new tech devices.
Drill technology has come a long way in regards to metalworking and machinery. We still have trouble drilling into metal surfaces that are rounded, uneven, or rigged, so when a new drill, process, or technology is created, entire industries change.
“If the drill is going directly into a nonflat surface, this point angle could have a tendency to push the drill point to one side,” said Luke Pollock, a product manager at Walter USA. “How far the drill can be pushed off-center depends on the point angle, the severity of the nonflat surface, and the length-to-diameter ratio of the drill.
The angle a drill goes into a surface doesn’t seem like a giant breakthrough within the industry, but just the process enabling that power and precision is remarkable. Carbide inserts attached to a steel drill allow for indexable drills to keep an accurate approach when drilling rounded surfaces.
Cemented carbide inserts use a strong metal that can handle extremely tough materials, exposure to high temperatures, and fast-moving machines. The cemented carbide is used to create carbon steel and stainless steel quite often. The carbide can also be aligned with titanium, aluminum nitride, or diamond-like carbon coatings. With these coating reinforcing the carbide, whatever strong tool is being utilized will lubricate better. The coatings can also assist with the longevity of both the tool being used and the insert. When temperature is reduced during the drilling and cutting process, wear and tear decreases as well.
“Indexable drills would be the most suitable for drilling on irregular surfaces,” said David Vetrecin, a homemaking product manager. “They are basically an unbalanced drill that has one insert for center cutting and an outboard insert for full size. It is more forgiving on an irregular surface than any drill design.”
This technology and these products have been around for decades, but new developments, process ideas, and systems are being created all the time that are changing the way machines are handled and the way businesses operate.