Stainless Steel Chip Drill - Chip Formation and Control
Stainless steel chip drills provide reliable drilling and performance at a reasonable cost. But the effectiveness of these drills is dependent on knowing the optimal chip formation and control parameters. This article will review the optimal chip formation and control parameters for stainless steel chip drills.
Chip formation is the process of cutting material from the workpiece by a cutting edge in the drill bit. The chip formation process is affected by the drill geometry, point angle, helix angle, and cutting action in addition to the stainless steel material properties. The drill geometry and cutting action together determine how the cutting edge interacts with the workpiece material to form chips. There are four different chip formation processes with stainless steel chip drills: plowing, rubbing, shearing, and splitting. Each of these processes creates chips with a different size and shape. The size, shape, and nature of the chips generated will affect the performance of the drill and the longevity of the drill bit.
The point angle of the stainless steel chip drill is perhaps the most important parameter for determining chip formation. The point angle is the angle between the drill bit’s cutting edge and the surface of the workpiece. A larger point angle creates a cutting edge with a wider contact area and longer effective cutting length. This creates a larger chip and reduces the chance of rubbing and shearing. A smaller point angle creates a cutting edge with a sharper edge and a narrower contact area. This reduces the size and length of the chip, but increases the possibility of rubbing. The optimal point angle for drilling stainless steel will depend on the application.
The helix angle of the stainless steel chip drill is also an important parameter for determining chip formation. The helix angle is the angle between the drill’s flutes and the surface of the workpiece. A larger helix angle creates a larger contact area and longer effective cutting length. This helps reduce rubbing and shearing, and produces a larger chip. A smaller helix angle creates a smaller contact area and shorter effective cutting length. This increases the chance of rubbing and shearing, and reduces the size of the chip. The optimal helix angle for drilling stainless steel will depend on the application.
The cutting action of stainless steel chip drills also affects chip formation. The cutting action is the force applied to the workpiece to remove material. A higher cutting force produces larger chips with a longer effective cutting length and a lower force produces smaller chips with a shorter effective cutting length. The optimal cutting action for drilling stainless steel will depend on the application.
Finally, the stainless steel material properties can also affect chip formation. The composition of the stainless steel will affect the hardness and toughness of the material. Harder materials require higher cutting forces and produce larger chips with a longer effective cutting length. Tougher materials require lower cutting forces and produce smaller chips with a shorter effective cutting length.
In summary, the chip formation and control parameters for stainless steel chip drills include the drill geometry, point angle, helix angle, cutting action, and material properties. Choosing the optimal parameters for a particular application can provide improved performance, greater accuracy, and greater drill bit life.
Being aware of the chip formation parameters also helps identify potential problems before they occur, such as drilling errors or excessive wear. Stainless steel chip drills provide a reliable and cost-effective drilling solution when used with the right chip formation and control parameters.
