Metal cutters for a household drill: technical description

Roller cutters or burrs have been used by humans for decades, and perhaps the history of this tool goes back hundreds of years. There are no sources on this matter. This invention of the human mind is a special attachment made of various metals, with the help of which cleaning, grinding, surfaces, and crushing of materials are carried out.

Where can you use a cutter?

The cutter is used in many industries - construction, jewelry, mining, automotive, medical and other industries. There is no limit to the variety of these attachments.

A similar tool can be used to process metal and stone, plastic and wood. And if somewhere for more thorough cleaning you can use files or other similar tools, then, for example, to bore the cylinder head in any car, only cutters are used. Therefore, every car enthusiast should have a set of such tools in his garage.

When making plastic windows, you also cannot do without a burr in order to make the welded joint of the plastic profile as clean as possible. Roller cutters are used in the production of glass products - bottles, jars and other things.

The mining industry uses cutters with large diameters and high-strength teeth that enable powerful machines to crush stone with ease. For household work, small-diameter cutters are used, which are installed on an electric drill or other similar tool.

Perhaps many have seen how an engraver works, applying memorable inscriptions to various objects and souvenirs, the material of which is glass and stone, gold and silver, metal, wood and other materials. But few people have wondered why the master so skillfully makes such memorable inscriptions.

And this is still the same roller cutter, but smaller in size and of different shapes. The dental office also uses cutters, thanks to which the doctor has the opportunity to provide high-quality treatment and prosthetics to teeth.

In everyday life, any man who is intimately familiar with plumbing will say that without a cutter, which is an attachment to a drill, it is impossible to make a chamfer, install or remove a door lock, and perform a lot of other necessary operations.

Using a cutter, you can make a clean hole in glass and ceramic tiles, brick and stone, plywood and chipboard, and clean welding seams in places that are difficult for a file to reach. When installing window hinges and handles, you will also need a cutter. To work with different materials, devices are used that differ in their shape and material of manufacture.

What is a roller cutter and where is it used?

A roller cutter (burr, roller bit) is a tool whose history goes back more than a dozen, and perhaps more than one hundred years; there is no exact data on this matter. The design of this tool includes two main elements: a shank, with which the cutter is fixed in the chuck of the equipment used, and a working head, which performs the main work of grinding various materials. During processing, the cutter is given rotation, the speed of which can reach up to 60,000 rpm.

Modern manufacturers produce cutters made of different materials with working heads of various sizes and shapes. This diversity allows you to select a tool to solve specific technological problems. When making such a choice, they are guided primarily by the characteristics of the material from which the product being processed is made, as well as the geometric parameters of the latter.

Metal burrs with extended shank

Cutters for metal and other materials are actively used in many areas, including mechanical engineering, construction, automotive, mining, medicine, jewelry, etc. Using such a tool, you can effectively process products made of various metals, wood, stone, glass, etc. plastic.

You cannot do without cutters when producing plastic windows (with the help of such a tool the joints are cleaned). In the mining industry, it is practiced to use large-diameter stone cutters, the working part of which has carbide teeth installed. In jewelry and in the manufacture of decorative elements, small cutters are used to not only process small parts, but also apply inscriptions and patterns to the surface of products.

Engraving work with a mini cutter on ceramics

Dentistry is another area where cutters are used very actively. It is this kind of tool that is the working part of the well-known drill; it is also used in the manufacture of dentures. In everyday life, cutters installed in the chuck of a conventional electric drill are also used quite often. Using them, home craftsmen solve many problems related to home renovation and maintaining it in proper condition.

Using cutters, correctly selecting their shape and material of manufacture in accordance with the tasks to be solved, you can make a smooth and neat hole in glass, ceramic tiles, stone, brick and wooden products, clean welds efficiently, process hard-to-reach places, something no other tool can handle.

What types of burrs are there?

A burr, a roller bit or just a roller cutter are made of different designs and from different metals.

By design they are:

• single-cone;
• double-cone;
• three-cone.

The shape of the head of this device can also be very diverse - in the form of a cone, cylinder, spherical, oval or semi-oval. The use of one or another cutter depends on the material of the workpiece and the task being performed.

Depending on the material, cutters made from:

• carbon steel;
• with diamond coating;
• abrasive spraying;
• carbide.

Balls made of carbon steel are most often used when working with a hand drill, electric drill or screwdriver. With the help of such burrs, you can get new clean and smooth holes of various configurations or increase the diameter of existing ones. These tools are the most affordable and, as a rule, are most often used in everyday life.

Diamond-coated cutters are a more professional tool, used for the finest grinding and boring. These cutters are best used when working with materials that are not particularly durable - glass, ceramics. At the same time, a diamond-coated burr is also used when processing high-strength materials, where a carbon steel cutter cannot cope.

A burr with an abrasive attachment is not much different from the previous tool in terms of its area of ​​application. The size and shape of this cutter can be very different. Used in conjunction with an electric drill, screwdriver or hand drill. Can be used with engraving equipment.

Carbide cutters are used mainly in production where processing of hard materials is required - cast iron, heat-resistant steel, titanium alloy, stainless steel and other metals. Carbide cutters are excellent for processing welded seams. These attachments are used when working with powerful tools where the number of revolutions exceeds several thousand.

Types of rollers

There is a wide range of burrs on the market that differ in size or configuration. This variety allows you to choose the right device depending on the purpose of use and the structure of the material being processed.

Cylindrical cutters come with a smooth, serrated or spherical end. They are used to enlarge holes at a specific angle. They are also convenient for sharpening tools, such as screwdrivers.

Shapes of working heads of cutters

The spherical nozzle allows you to grind the weld from the inside at an angle of 90 degrees or less. With its help, you can also clean out small metal defects on parts or remove paint smudges, especially with limited access to the surface.

The oval shape of a metal cutter is something between cylindrical and spherical. It is designed for cleaning the end of the workpiece and internal cavities of a certain shape.

The parabolic head of a burr can be rounded or pointed. The rounded head is useful when forming grooves or cleaning recesses. It is used when it is necessary to clean, for example, an oil line. The sharp parabola removes burrs from the edges of gears, as well as internal welds in tight spaces.

A drill cutter in the shape of a flame tongue is the most versatile, as it combines the advantages of a parabola and a barrel-shaped oval. It is effective when processing the most difficult surfaces.

A countersink is a special burr for metal, used in processing a cylindrical or conical hole. It is indispensable for forming internal threads or removing an even chamfer from the edge of a tapered hole.

How to choose cutters

The choice of such a tool depends on the intended work, what material will have to be worked with, and what specific operations are expected to be performed. Modern tools, as a rule, are all powered by electricity, where high speeds are maintained.

Therefore, when choosing a cutter, you should take into account the characteristics of an electric drill or screwdriver, their power and rotation speed. Surface treatment often depends on the chosen type of cutting of the cutter teeth, which can be:

• thin;
• universal;
• ultra-thin;
• for working on aluminum.

Carbide cutters should be used when processing non-ferrous metals. If you plan to process soft metal, you need a tool with a head with a reinforced sharpening. For harder materials, a diamond-ground cutter is used.

Using such a tool makes it possible to obtain a perfectly flat and smooth surface. In addition, much less time will be spent on such work, and the cutter head itself will serve for a long time.

There are burrs in which the head can be double sharpened, which has a positive effect on the efficiency of the processing of any metal surface.

But in order to always have the right cutter on hand, experts recommend purchasing sets that contain several types of burrs with different head shapes, differing both in material and in the method of sharpening them.

Criterias of choice

In order to use cutters as effectively as possible, you need to consider several key points:

• the nature of the work to be done;
• properties of the material from which the workpiece is made;
• dimensions of the element to be processed.

It is also necessary to take into account the characteristics of the electric tool in which the burr will be placed. Here you should highlight power and speed.

Another important parameter of a metal processing tool is the type of cutting and the configuration of the cutting teeth. Based on these characteristics, the following types of devices are distinguished:

• with the finest cuts;
• with universal cutting option;
• with ultra-thin cutting;
• for processing aluminum alloys.

The highest level of performance is demonstrated by a tool whose head is double sharpened. Experts advise immediately buying a set of metal cutters. Having such a set of devices at your disposal, you will cope with all the necessary tasks.

How to properly use cutters for power tools

In order for working with this device to bring maximum satisfaction, it is necessary to follow some rules that will extend the operating time of both the cutters themselves and will not cause harm to power tools.

1. It is necessary to maintain full contact between the cutter and the surface being processed, but you need to work with the cutter so that its tail part does not touch the surface being processed, since this can lead to the destruction of the junction of the head and the main part of the tool.
2. Do not apply strong physical pressure to the cutter during operation. If excessive pressure is applied, the rotation speed of the electric drill decreases, as a result of which the tool may overheat, which will lead to its rapid deterioration, and the processing process itself will be reduced.
3. You need to choose the right processing speed. At high speeds when operating a power tool with a cutter, the formation of surface unevenness and burrs is eliminated. In addition, the correctly selected operating mode will increase the service life of the electric drill and reduce energy consumption. In addition, at high operating speeds of the drill, the phenomenon of jamming of the cutter in the material being processed is eliminated, and corners and grooves can be processed more carefully.
4. Like any tool that comes into contact with hard surfaces, cutter heads are also subject to wear and abrasion. And first of all, the cutting elements, that is, the teeth, suffer. To extend their service life, it is necessary to use a special lubricant, which is periodically applied to the head of the cutter. The lubricant will prevent overloading of the power tool and will help the cutter glide better over the surface being processed. In addition to lubrication during operation, it is recommended from time to time to immerse the cutter head in a liquid suspension, which can be liquid wax or synthetic machine oil.

If the burr head is severely worn, the tool must be changed. Otherwise, you will need to make strong physical efforts to achieve the desired result. And this is fraught with damage to both the cutter itself and the power tool.

Roller cutter design and its advantages

Roller cutters are a cutting tool consisting of two parts: a shank rod, which is fixed in the drill chuck; working head made of durable material.

Metal cutters are also called burrs. Their advantage is the ability to process hard-to-reach places on workpieces made of different materials. Their difference from a milling cutter is that it is impossible to create certain shapes using a cutter; it belongs to the auxiliary tools of final processing. Features of the roller cutter are:

• the ability to use it in hand tools;
• in the abrasive structure of the working surface;
• higher product processing speed – up to 60 thousand rpm;
• high quality grinding.

Tips for treating various surfaces

Large industries have their own instructions and requirements on how to use burrs, but our task is to tell you, dear readers, how these devices should be used in everyday life.

Stone cutter

When processing stone surfaces, be it natural stone or artificial, which can be ceramic tiles, porcelain stoneware or marble, it is necessary to wet the treated surface with water.

And here it is important to ensure that moisture does not get on the operating power tool in order to eliminate the risk of electric shock. Supply wires, cables and their connections must be well insulated and located away from water.

Wood cutter

When processing surfaces made of wood or similar materials (multi-layer plywood, chipboard, fiberboard), cutters that have large notches or teeth are used.

In addition, it is necessary to choose the correct operating mode for an electric drill or screwdriver, because when working at high speeds, such a side effect as setting the tree on fire is possible.

Each power tool has a dial for adjusting the number of revolutions. If you smell burnt wood, you should quickly reduce the speed.

Roller cutter for ceramics and glass

Working with materials such as glazed ceramic tiles or glass requires special care and attention. First, you need to make the outline of the required hole on the surface using a forma-y cutter, after which the hole is selected with a roller cutter, the head of which is made in the form of a ball.

Types of tools and design features

According to the material used in the design, the types of metal cutters come from:

• carbon steel;
• diamond;
• abrasive;
• carbide.

Carbon steel is used in cutters, which are used in working with an electric drill. With their help, you can process wood and metal products, round corners, drill new holes and bore old ones. Its main advantage over other types of burrs is its low price.

Diamond cutters for metal are more often used in production, but they can also be found in the kit of a craftsman who does repairs. In addition to professional equipment, they are also suitable for electric drills. The working surface of such a cutter is coated with diamond coating. This allows you to grind and bore holes. Used for processing both brittle and hard materials.

In terms of manufacturing technology and scope of application, an abrasive cutter is similar to a diamond cutter. Electrocorundum is often used instead of diamond chips. The short service life is compensated by the low cost.

Carbide cutters are used in production in powerful machines that allow rotation speeds of up to 60,000 rpm. They are used to process high-hardness steels and alloys, cast iron, titanium and much more. The use of carbide burrs allows for the best processing of welded seams.

The stores offer a variety of sets of metal cutters, which differ in head shape:

• cylinder;
• sphere;
• oval;
• parabola;
• tongue of flame;
• countersink.

The cylindrical shape allows you to bore holes (including blind ones), machine ends and internal corners. The end of such a cutter can be spherical or smooth. The first option will not allow you to do some operations, but it will be possible to use it instead of a sphere and save money on it. If the burr is coated with diamond or abrasive coating, then it can be used to sharpen the tool.

The spherical head is used for smoothing product edges, internal corners and welds, sharpening, grinding and much more. The oval shape of the head gives it versatility and gives it the capabilities of both cylindrical and spherical heads. When processing internal surfaces with such a cutter, there will be no deep groove left. Very often used in the automotive industry and auto tuning when processing engines and manifolds.

The parabolic contour can be sharp or rounded. In the first version, this will allow you to easily remove burrs in gear parts. The rounded shape allows you to make small grooves and process internal welds.

The most common type of burr is a flame-shaped attachment. It is universal and suitable for most operations, even on the most difficult surfaces and materials.

G-Cut cutter shape countersink

A countersink is a special cutter that is used to chamfer a hole. This can be done with a drill with a large diameter, but a countersink allows you to make a more even surface and angle of inclination.

Cone manufacturers

Burrs today are produced by many companies and enterprises, both in our country and abroad. It is possible to order burrs according to an individual drawing. Since the scope of such a tool is large, it is not always possible to find the required analogue on sale.

Domestic manufacturers

Among the domestic manufacturers, we can note such enterprises producing cutters as:

• Geomash, which produces burrs with a diameter from 76 to 490 mm.
• "Praktika", producing diamond-coated roller bits.
• Delo Tekhniki is a Russian manufacturer of metalworking tools.
• "Zubr" - produces rollers with abrasive heads.
• Burintech mainly produces powerful cutters for drilling wells of various types (oil, mining, gas).

Foreign manufacturers

Among the most popular foreign products are products for grinding and other plumbing work from companies such as:

• German Karnasch.
• Chinese Sturm, producing diamond-coated cutters. Although the brand itself was developed in Germany.
• Kraftool I/E GmbH, of German origin, whose products are sold under the STAYER brand.
• GROSS, also of German origin. Appeared on the market since 2008.
• Dremel is an American company that produces silicon carbide burrs.
• Norton company, which produces cutters with abrasive and diamond coating.

Watch a video on working with burrs:

Whatever manufacturer you choose, do not forget that you may always need more than one cutter, so it makes sense to purchase sets of these devices so that each individual case has its own burr.