Workpiece material, cutting tools, and drilling processes influence chip formation and evacuation. Chip jamming can negatively affect tool life, hole quality, and machining efficiency. Discover three tips for controlling chips when drilling metal.
There’s not one single drill bit that can effectively cut every metal. As is the case for every industrial project, you must use the right tool.
While twist bits are the most common ones people use, consider whether you should use a straight bit. An essential difference between straight-flute and twist-flute drill bits is how the grooves in the bits evacuate the swarf. You may want to use straight flute bits to produce short chips.
The next tip for controlling metal chips when drilling metal is to adjust your feed rate and speed as you drill. The right speed and feed depend on several factors, including your drilling equipment and workpiece material composition. Keep in mind that your equipment manufacturer provides optimal speed and feed parameters. Assume you aren’t drilling under perfect conditions, and start with a lower speed and feed rate.
Feeding too quickly will result in excessive chips in the drill lips and cause fractures in the bit. When you drill a deep hole, reduce feed and speed by up to 50 percent. This adjustment will help prevent excessive heat buildup that damages the workpiece and tool. Periodically withdraw the drill from the hole to reduce the volume of chips collecting in the bottom.
Cutting oil cools and lubricates the machine and helps create consistent chips. Oil also flushes chips away from the cutting area. No-run formulas perform consistently and provide optimal lubrication.
As a bonus, soluble cutting oils can leave a protective coating on chips that minimizes the risk of smoking. Smoking chips can form when stored chips awaiting recycling overheat from oxidation. Cutting oils can coat the chips with a protective layer that decreases oxidation.
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