How to drill hardened metal at home


Equipment types

Drilling begins with preparing tools for work. You can make holes using a screwdriver, drill or a special drilling machine.

To make a hole, you need to select the appropriate equipment. For metal workpieces, you need to choose specialized equipment that is suitable specifically for this material. This is due to the fact that equipment for wood, concrete or ceramic tiles have different sharpening and shape. Tooling for metal products is marked with the letters HSS.

The working part of the tool is coated with titanium nitride coating, which increases their strength and wear resistance. For hard steels, a different tooling is used, which is designated P18. The strength of the tool increases when cobalt is added to its composition. An example of marking is P6M5K5.

To drill alloy steel, drills with a tip made of carbide are used. With their help, you can drill any metal workpieces, however, due to the high price, this is not cost-effective.

When the hole is made, you can select a drill for the thread. Its diameter will depend on the previously used equipment. To make holes of different diameters in thin metal sheets, you can use cone drills.

Is it possible to drill with a drill in concrete?

Situations often arise when it is difficult to find a tool for drilling metal products at a construction site, but there is equipment for working with concrete. You cannot make holes of large diameter or in thick metal sheets with concrete drills. Otherwise, you may break the equipment or damage the surface being processed.

How to drill with a step drill?

On sale you can find stepped structures for creating holes in metal of various diameters. Several drills of different diameters are fixed on one axis. They are designed to create holes of various sizes in thin sheet metal. When working, do not rush or put too much pressure on the drill handle.

Is it possible to drill with a Pobedit drill?

Any master of finishing work will tell you that drilling metal with Pobedit equipment is unacceptable. Pobedite drills are designed for hard and, at the same time, brittle materials. These include natural stone, brick, concrete. When it hits metal, the drill will hit the surface and damage it, but there will be no hole.


Pobedit drills

How to drill large diameter holes?

Drilling large holes in metal requires the use of appropriate equipment. You can do the work in several ways:

  1. Crown for metal surfaces. It is a circle of the required diameter with sharpened edges. There is a drill in the center that pierces the metal. Next, at low engine speeds, the bit makes a hole of the selected diameter. During work, it is necessary to use forced cooling of the sharp edges of the crown and the surface being treated.
  2. Multi-stage operation. This implies the use of several metal drills of different diameters. Work begins with equipment of the smallest diameter and increases as drilling progresses.
  3. Cone-shaped equipment (stepped). Designed for working with thin sheet metal.

Builders recommend using crowns. However, when working with them, it is necessary not to increase the speed and ensure that all the teeth running around the circumference are intact.

How to avoid dulling a tool?

The tool becomes dull because it overheats during use. To maintain sharpness, drilling should be done at low speed. There is no need to press the power button all the way down. When drilling thick workpieces, you need to use coolants or pastes.

If there is no cooling lubricant, machine oil can be used instead. Coolant keeps the tool from overheating and reduces friction.

How to properly drill metal thicker than 10 mm with an electric drill?

Apart from being quite deep, we don't know much else about the question.

Most importantly, what metal? For example, if it is aluminum, then you can “pick it with your finger”; if it is cast iron, then the problem is big.

Next, you need to know about the diameter of the hole, it is clear that for each drill there are restrictions on the diameter of the drill, you can’t do anything here, you need to correlate the desire to drill and the diameter that your drill can handle.

What kind of drill, you also need to know.

More than 10 mm, how much is that?

Well, in general, deep holes are drilled like this:

First we prepare the coolant; when drilling metal, ordinary machine oil is also suitable,

Set the drill to low speed.

We work with several drills, from smaller to larger diameters.

Place any piece of wood under the metal.

Next, marking and core, it is necessary to core, thereby we give direction to the drill, it will not “gouge”.

Let’s start drilling, remember, the drill gets very hot, it’s better to take it out of the hole one more time than to forget to do it.

We hold the drill strictly vertically, this is if the metal lies horizontally on the floor, if we drill metal on a vertical surface, then accordingly we hold the drill strictly in one position in relation to the hole.

It is very important not to twist the drill.

Next, the chips will have to be removed by stopping the drilling (the hole is quite deep); you can remove it simply by turning the product over.

If it is not possible to “twist” the metal, then remove it with a magnet, dip the drill in oil, and do not press too hard on the drill.

The working part of the drill must be greater than the drilling depth.

This is the main thing, of course there are special holders for drills, but I usually don’t use them; if you buy normal branded and expensive drills, then a depth of a centimeter is not a barrier.

It is high-quality drills paired with cooling and low speeds that are the basis for success when drilling holes a centimeter deep or more in metal.

Of course, there are specifics to drilling different metals.

Hi all! In order to drill through metal 10 millimeters thick or more, you first need skill and experience. It is advisable to use a high-power electric drill with a speed controller. A high-power drill does not bite so often, but be careful, if it does bite, injuries are possible. I recommend drilling at lower speeds, this way you will not damage the drill and reduce the chance of getting injured when biting.

If a hole is required with a small diameter (up to 6 mm), then you can safely drill with one drill, but if the hole is larger in diameter, then you need to use several drills of different diameters in increments. First drill with the smallest one, then with a drill 2-3 mm larger in diameter, and so on until you get the hole diameter you need.

Remember to cool the drill as it heats up, this will extend the life of the drill and speed up the drilling process. You can even cool the drill with ordinary water.

And in the end, I want to say, follow safety precautions, and it is best, if possible, of course, to use a drilling machine for drilling thick metal, this way you will definitely not get injured and the hole will be made faster and with better quality.

Source

Is it possible to use a pobedite drill bit?

Pobedit is a hard alloy based on tungsten carbide and cobalt. Its hardness is comparable to diamond.

Pobedite brazing on drills is used for crushing durable materials: stone, brick or concrete. Considering the fact that drilling holes in metal is based on the cutting principle, it is better to use classic tools made of tool steel.

Using a pobedit drill for processing metal products will lead to rapid wear of the soldering tip.

Power and speed when working with metal

An important factor is the choice of tool, namely a hammer drill, drill or screwdriver, which will be used to make holes in the metal. If you use a drill with a power of up to 700W, you will not be able to make a large hole right away. A hand drill with a power of up to 700W is best used for drilling holes with a diameter of up to 10-13mm.

It is important to choose the correct speed of the drill or screwdriver. After all, at high speeds, your drill will simply burn out. This way you will ruin it.

You need to drill metal at low or medium speeds, not exceeding 500-1000 revolutions.

The larger the diameter of the drill you are working with, the lower the speed you need to choose.

Which drill to choose for drilling metal

When choosing drills for drilling metals, the main and running ones are drills made of high-speed tool steel; they can be found in the store by the HSS .

When working with cast iron, stainless steel and other metals that are difficult to machine, you should use carbide drills. Their disadvantage is their very high price, which makes the work expensive.

If you choose drills with one of the best cutting properties, it will be a tool with the addition of cobalt, marked P6M5K5. This is the best value for money.

There may be an urgent need to make a hole in metal, and only a concrete drill is at hand. On such a drill, the tip is made of pobedite, which makes it possible to drill concrete and brick with a hammer. You cannot use such a drill to drill a hole in metal. You may lick off the tip of the drill bit, especially if you try to use a large diameter drill bit or drill through thick metal. To sum it up, you won’t be able to drill through metal with a Pobedit drill.

Types of holes in metal and methods of drilling them

Types of holes:

  • deaf;
  • end-to-end;
  • half (incomplete);
  • deep;
  • large diameter;
  • for internal thread.

Threaded holes require diameters to be determined with the tolerances established in GOST 16093–2004. For common hardware, the calculation is given in Table 5.

Table 5. The ratio of metric and inch threads, as well as the selection of hole size for drilling

Metric threadInch threadPipe thread
Thread diameterThread pitch, mmThreaded hole diameterThread diameterThread pitch, mmThreaded hole diameterThread diameterThreaded hole diameter
min.Max.min.Max.
M10,250,750,83/161,0583,63,71/88,8
M1.40,31,11,151/41,2705,05,11/411,7
M1.70,351,31,45/161,4116,46,53/815,2
M20,41,51,63/81,5887,77,91/218,6
M2.60,42,12,27/161,8149,19,253/424,3
M30,52,42,51/22,11710,2510,5130,5
M3.50,62,82,99/162,11711,7512,0
M40,73,23,45/82,30913,2513,511/439,2
M50,84,14,23/42,54016,2516,513/841,6
M61,04,85,07/82,82219,0019,2511/245,1
M81,256,56,713,17521,7522,0
M101,58,28,411/83,62924,524,75
M121,759,910,011/43,62927,527,75
M142,011,511,7513/84,23330,530,5
M162,013,513,75
M182,515,015,2511/24,33333,033,5
M202,517,017,2515/86,08035,035,5
M222,619,019,2513/45,08033,539,0
M243,020,520,7517/85,64441,041,5

Through holes

Through holes penetrate the workpiece completely, forming a passage through it. A special feature of the process is to protect the surface of the workbench or tabletop from the drill going beyond the workpiece, which can damage the drill itself, as well as provide the workpiece with a “burr” - a burr. To avoid this, use the following methods:

  • use a workbench with a hole;
  • put a wooden gasket or a “sandwich” under the part - wood + metal + wood;
  • place a metal block with a hole for free passage of the drill under the part;
  • reduce the feed rate at the last stage.

The latter method is required when drilling holes “in situ” so as not to damage nearby surfaces or parts.

Holes in thin sheet metal are cut with feather drills, since a twist drill will damage the edges of the workpiece.

Blind holes

Such holes are made to a certain depth and do not penetrate through the workpiece. There are two ways to measure depth:

  • limiting the length of the drill with a sleeve stop;
  • limiting the length of the drill with a chuck with an adjustable stop;
  • using a ruler attached to the machine;
  • a combination of methods.

Some machines are equipped with an automatic feeding system to a given depth, after which the mechanism stops. During the drilling process, you may need to stop work several times to remove chips.

Holes of complex shape

Holes located on the edge of the workpiece (half holes) can be made by connecting the edges and clamping two workpieces or a workpiece and a spacer with a vice and drilling a full hole. The spacer must be made of the same material as the workpiece being processed, otherwise the drill will “go” in the direction of least resistance.

A through hole in a corner (profiled metal) is made by fixing the workpiece in a vice and using a wooden spacer.

It is more difficult to drill a cylindrical workpiece tangentially. The process is divided into two operations: preparing a platform perpendicular to the hole (milling, countersinking) and the actual drilling. Drilling holes in surfaces located at an angle also begins with preparing the site, after which a wooden spacer is inserted between the planes, forming a triangle, and a hole is drilled through the corner.

Hollow parts are drilled, filling the cavity with wood plug.

Shouldered holes are produced using two techniques:

  1. Reaming. The hole is drilled to the full depth with a drill of the smallest diameter, after which it is drilled to a given depth with drills of diameters from smaller to larger. The advantage of the method is a well-centered hole.
  2. Reducing the diameter. A hole of maximum diameter is drilled to a given depth, then the drills are changed with a successive decrease in diameter and deepening of the hole. With this method it is easier to control the depth of each step.


1. Drilling a hole. 2. Diameter reduction

Large diameter holes, ring drilling

Producing large-diameter holes in massive workpieces up to 5–6 mm thick is labor-intensive and costly. Relatively small diameters - up to 30 mm (maximum 40 mm) can be obtained using conical, or better yet, stepped conical drills. For larger diameter holes (up to 100 mm), you will need hollow bimetallic bits or bits with carbide teeth with a center drill. Moreover, craftsmen traditionally recommend Bosch in this case, especially on hard metal, such as steel.

Such annular drilling is less energy-intensive, but can be more costly financially. In addition to drills, the power of the drill and the ability to work at the lowest speeds are important. Moreover, the thicker the metal, the more you will want to make a hole on the machine, and with a large number of holes in a sheet more than 12 mm thick, it is better to immediately look for such an opportunity.

In a thin-sheet workpiece, a large-diameter hole is obtained using narrow-toothed crowns or a milling cutter mounted on a grinder, but the edges in the latter case leave much to be desired.

Deep holes, coolant

Sometimes it is necessary to make a deep hole. In theory, this is a hole whose length is five times its diameter. In practice, deep drilling is called drilling that requires forced periodic removal of chips and the use of coolants (cutting fluids).

In drilling, coolant is needed primarily to reduce the temperature of the drill and workpiece, which heat up from friction. Therefore, when making holes in copper, which has high thermal conductivity and is itself capable of removing heat, coolant may not be used. Cast iron can be drilled relatively easily and without lubrication (except high-strength).

In production, industrial oils, synthetic emulsions, emulsols and some hydrocarbons are used as coolants. In home workshops you can use:

  • technical petroleum jelly, castor oil - for soft steels;
  • laundry soap - for aluminum alloys of type D16T;
  • a mixture of kerosene and castor oil - for duralumin;
  • soapy water - for aluminum;
  • turpentine diluted with alcohol - for silumin.

Universal refrigerated liquid can be prepared independently. To do this, you need to dissolve 200 g of soap in a bucket of water, add 5 tablespoons of machine oil, or used, and boil the solution until a homogeneous soap emulsion is obtained. Some craftsmen use lard to reduce friction.

Processed materialCutting fluid
Steel:
carbonEmulsion. Sulfurized oil
structuralSulfurized oil with kerosene
instrumentalMixed oils
alloyedMixed oils
Malleable cast iron3-5% emulsion
Iron castingNo cooling. 3-5% emulsion. Kerosene
BronzeNo cooling. Mixed oils
ZincEmulsion
BrassNo cooling. 3-5% emulsion
CopperEmulsion. Mixed oils
NickelEmulsion
Aluminum and its alloysNo cooling. Emulsion. Blended oils. Kerosene
Stainless, heat-resistant alloysA mixture of 50% sulfur oil, 30% kerosene, 20% oleic acid (or 80% sulforesol and 20% oleic acid)
Fiberglass, vinyl plastic, plexiglass and so on3-5% emulsion
Textolite, getinaksBlowing with compressed air

Deep holes can be made by continuous or circular drilling, and in the latter case, the central rod formed by the rotation of the crown is broken out not entirely, but in parts, weakening it with additional holes of small diameter.

Solid drilling is performed in a well-fixed workpiece with a twist drill, into the channels of which coolant is supplied. Periodically, without stopping the rotation of the drill, you need to remove it and clear the cavity of chips. Working with a twist drill is carried out in stages: first, take a short hole and drill a hole, which is then deepened with a drill of the appropriate size. For significant hole depths, it is advisable to use guide bushings.

When regularly drilling deep holes, we can recommend purchasing a special machine with automatic coolant supply to the drill and precise alignment.

Drilling on both sides is not recommended - at home it is almost impossible to perform the operation efficiently.

Drilling modes

It is very important to correctly secure and guide the drill, as well as select the cutting mode.

When making holes in metal by drilling, important factors are the number of revolutions of the drill and the feed force applied to the drill, directed along its axis, ensuring the depth of the drill with one revolution (mm/rev). When working with different metals and drills, different cutting modes are recommended, and the harder the metal being processed and the larger the diameter of the drill, the lower the recommended cutting speed. An indicator of the correct mode is beautiful, long chips.

Use the tables to choose the right mode and avoid dulling the drill prematurely.

Table 1. Recommended cutting speeds for holes L/D ≤ ​​3, given for medium-hard high-speed steel

Feed S, mm/revDrill diameter D, mm
2,54681012146202532
Cutting speed v, m/min
When drilling steel
0,06172226303342
0,10172023262832384044
0,151820222427303335
0,201517182023252730
0,3014161719212325
0,401416181921
0,60141511
When drilling cast iron
0,0618222527293032333435
0,10182022232426272830
0,15151718192022232526
0,201516171819202122
0,301314151617181919
0,40141415161617
0,6013141515
0,8013
When drilling aluminum alloys
0,0675
0,1053708192100
0,1539536269758190
0,2043505662677482
0,3042485256626875
0,4040454853596469
0,60373944485256
0,8038424654
1,0042

Table 2. Correction factors

Name and brand of processed materialHardness NVCorrection factor
High speed drillsCarbide drills
Carbon steel, high-quality structural
10, 15, 201561,21,2
30, 35, 40143-2071,31,2
170-2291,21,3
207-2690,81,0

Table 3. Revolutions and feed for different drill diameters and drilling carbon steel

Drill diameter, mmSpeed, rpmFeed, mm/rev
up to 52000-13000,10-0,20
5-101300-7000,15-0,30
11-15700-4000,20-0,40
16-20400-3000,25-0,45
20-30300-2000,40-0,60

Table 4. Recommendations for drilling austenitic steel (the most difficult to machine)

Drill diameter, mmSpeed, rpmFeed, mm/rev
1,5915000,025
3,188000,065
6,354000,125
12,701500,280
20,641800,255
25,401500,280

Devices to facilitate the process

Cutting fluid is used in many types of metal cutting. Most often it is used for deep drilling to reduce friction forces and stabilize the temperature of the working tool. A high-quality liquid does not cause surface corrosion, is safe for humans, does not have an unpleasant odor and removes heat well.

The following is used as a lubricant for drilling metal at home:

  • Technical Vaseline – for soft materials.
  • Soap solution - for aluminum.
  • Turpentine with alcohol - for silumin.
  • A mixture of oils - for tool and alloy steels.

Some craftsmen prefer to use a universal composition, which includes laundry soap (200 g) and motor oil (20 g). The components are mixed and boiled until a homogeneous emulsion is obtained.

The use of industrially produced cutting fluids makes it possible to increase the speed of drilling various types of metal. For example, when processing stainless steel, productivity increases by 30%. For cast iron this parameter increases to 40%.

Drilling thick workpieces

Not many novice craftsmen know how to drill a hole in thick metal. Deep drilling is more difficult than usual. In production, it is carried out using lathes. In them, the workpiece is fixed in a movable spindle, which rotates it.

If it is not possible to use industrial equipment, you can drill a deep hole using a drill. To do this, you need to purchase special guides for power tools. Additionally, it is necessary to use machine oil for cooling. During operation, you need to stop periodically to clean out the chips and allow it to cool.

Stages of drilling large diameter holes in metal

This work is more difficult than deep drilling. To drill large-diameter holes in metal, a crown is used when working with workpieces of small thickness.

Or they choose a regular drill, but then they act in several stages:

  • A crown for metal differs little from those used for processing concrete or drywall. The only difference is in its material and the principle of sharpening the teeth. A guide drill is located in the center of the tool, which produces a smooth and clear hole. Drilling is carried out at low speeds with forced cooling. The diameter of the hole can be any and depends only on the torque of a particular drill.
  • Drilling in several stages is used for large metal thicknesses and involves the use of a series of drills with a diameter that differs by 25%. First of all, they take the thinnest, after which they move on to larger sizes. During work, it is important to ensure that the position of the center of rotation of the drill chuck remains unchanged, so it is better to resort to the help of a guide.
  • Machining with cone drills is most convenient in the case of thin steel plates. It is worth clarifying that we are talking about a set of sequentially located drills of different diameters on a common axis. Here a method similar to that described above is used: the drill is sunk into the hole until the required diameter is obtained.

Also, in the process of drilling large-diameter holes in metal, you need to take into account the general principles of processing such material:

  1. The center of the hole is punched with a center punch, and the tip of the drill is installed into the resulting hole. However, if a jig or guides are used, this step can be skipped.
  2. You can get a hole of a certain diameter by choosing a drill 0.1–0.3 mm smaller than the desired size. The diameter will increase slightly due to the inevitable slight vibration in the chuck.
  3. To reduce friction and cool the tool, use a lubricant - it can be water or machine oil.
  4. When the drill starts to become dull, stop working and sharpen the edges. Otherwise, you risk damaging the tool and the product itself.
  5. If work is carried out with hollow workpieces, such as pipes, boxes, it is recommended to place a wooden spacer inside.
  6. Drilling blind holes is carried out using a stop ruler with markings. If the drill does not have a stop, an indicator ring is made of light-colored tape on the drill.

Drilling according to markings, templates and jigs

You can drill holes according to the markings made or without it - using a template or jig.

The marking is done with a center punch. With a hammer blow, a place is marked for the tip of the drill. You can also mark the place with a felt-tip pen, but the hole is also needed so that the point does not move from the intended point. The work is carried out in two stages: preliminary drilling, hole control, final drilling. If the drill has “moved away” from the intended center, notches (grooves) are made with a narrow chisel, directing the tip to the specified location.

To determine the center of a cylindrical workpiece, use a square piece of sheet metal, bent at 90° so that the height of one arm is approximately one radius. Applying a corner from different sides of the workpiece, draw a pencil along the edge. As a result, you have an area around the center. You can find the center using the theorem - by the intersection of perpendiculars from two chords.

A template is needed when making a series of similar parts with several holes. It is convenient to use for a pack of thin-sheet workpieces connected with a clamp. This way you can get several drilled workpieces at the same time. Instead of a template, a drawing or diagram is sometimes used, for example, in the manufacture of parts for radio equipment.

The jig is used when precision in maintaining the distances between holes and strict perpendicularity of the channel is very important. When drilling deep holes or when working with thin-walled tubes, in addition to the jig, guides can be used to fix the position of the drill relative to the metal surface.

Technologies for drilling holes in metal used in industry

In industry, more complex types of metal drilling are used. They use massive two-handed drills and special machines for drilling metal (portable and stationary).

Let's talk about the features of various technologies for drilling metal in production.

Metal deep drilling technology

Deep drilling is the drilling of a hole in metal whose length is 25 or more times the diameter. This operation requires forced periodic removal of chips and the use of cutting fluids (coolants). They are needed to cool the tool and workpiece to prevent breakage and deformation.

The process of deep metal drilling involves the use of different coolants. They are selected depending on the materials of the workpieces. Let's list the most effective cutting fluids.

Workpiece material coolant
Stainless and heat-resistant alloys A mixture consisting of oleic acid (20%) and sulforesol (80%). The latter can be replaced with kerosene (30%) and sulfurized oil (50%)
Aluminum and alloys based on it Kerosene, emulsion, mixed oils. Allows deep drilling without cooling
Nickel Emulsion
Copper Mixed oils, emulsion. Deep drilling without cooling is allowed.
Brass Emulsion (3–5%). Deep drilling without cooling is allowed.
Zinc Emulsion
Bronze Blended oils. Deep drilling without cooling is allowed.
Iron casting Kerosene, emulsion (3–5%). Deep drilling without cooling is allowed.
Malleable iron Emulsion (3–5%)
Alloy steel Mixed oils
Tool steel Mixed oils
Structural steel A mixture of sulfurized oil and kerosene
Carbon steel Sulfurized oil, emulsion

Photo No. 4: deep drilling using cutting fluid

For deep drilling, spiral and core drills for metal are most often used. Coolant is added manually or using automatic supply systems equipped with specialized machines.

The technology of deep metal drilling does not involve haste. Periodically, the process is stopped, the drill is removed and the chips are forcibly removed. When using spiral tools, deep drilling is carried out in stages, gradually expanding the hole to the desired diameter.

Technology for drilling thick sheets of metal

To drill thick sheets of metal, either cone drills (for holes with a diameter of up to 30 mm) or core drills (for holes of large diameters) are usually used. They are equipped with drilling machines or powerful drills. The main requirement is that the equipment must support operating mode at the lowest speeds.

Photo No. 5: core drills for metal

The technology of drilling thick sheets of metal with core drills is highly efficient. Energy consumption is minimal. Holes after drilling with crowns are smooth and precise.

Technology for drilling thin sheets of metal

Tapered drills are usually used for drilling thin sheets of metal. With this technology, the diameter increases gradually. The sheets are not deformed.

Photo No. 6: drilling thin sheets of metal with standard cone drills

If step-type conical drills are available, these are the ones to use. Marked steps make it easy to drill a large number of holes of a certain or different diameters in one sheet of metal.

Photo No. 7: drilling a thin sheet of metal with a conical step drill

Features of drilling through holes in metal workpieces

The main feature of drilling through holes in metal workpieces is the need to protect the surface of a workbench, tabletop or machine from the drill going far beyond the boundaries of the workpiece. To avoid damage to tools, furniture and equipment, craftsmen use the following methods.

  1. Use workbenches with holes.
  2. Place a wooden block or metal part with an existing hole under the workpiece for free passage of the drill.
  3. Reduce cutting speed when drilling is completed.

Photo #8: Using a wooden backing when drilling metal

Features of drilling blind holes in metal workpieces

Blind holes are drilled to a certain depth. There are the following methods to install it.

  1. Use of rulers available on machines.
  2. Installation of sleeve stops on drills.
  3. Limiting the length of drills using chucks with adjustable stops.

Photo No. 9: drill with bushing stop installed

Modern machines are equipped with automated feeding systems. If it is available, the technology for drilling blind holes in metal is greatly simplified. You just need to set the cutting parameters.

Note! When making long blind holes in thick workpieces, it is necessary to interrupt the metal drilling process several times to force the removal of chips.

Technologies for drilling complex holes in metal workpieces

Half holes at the edges of the workpieces are drilled like this.

  1. Clamp two workpieces or a workpiece with a lining in a vice, pressed tightly against each other.
  2. Center the drill in the desired location at the junction of the parts.
  3. Drill a full hole.

Drilling cylindrical workpieces along tangents is a more complex process. It takes place in two stages.

  1. An area perpendicular to the hole is prepared using milling or countersinking.
  2. A hole is drilled.

The technology for drilling holes in metal at an angle looks like this.

  1. The site is being prepared.
  2. The lining is securely fastened between the planes at the desired angle.
  3. The hole is drilled.

Wood pads are placed in hollow workpieces before drilling. Holes with ledges are made using the technologies of drilling and reducing the diameter of the holes described at the beginning of the article.

Drill types

For drilling, use only metal drills (not wood, for example). They have their own sharpening and are made from certain types of steel. The most common ones are marked P6M5 - this is high-speed steel, which foreign manufacturers label as HSS.

To provide additional strength, the above drill bits are coated with titanium nitride. That's why they are yellow.

There are also stronger P18, which are used respectively for hard steels.

Also, to increase strength, cobalt can be added, and then the marking P6M5K5 is obtained.

Well, the most durable ones are drills with carbide tips. They are used for drilling alloy steels. It will also take ordinary steel, but buying it just for this will be somewhat savvy, since the price for them is quite high, and although it is hard, it still dulls. But it will be difficult to sharpen it later, since this requires a diamond blade, which is also not very cheap, and you can’t buy it everywhere.

Drilling rolled steel

Drilling holes in metal is one of the types of mechanical processing to produce through and blind holes of the required diameter. The essence of the process is to secure the workpiece, marking and processing with manual or automated tools.

Drilling equipment

The type of equipment is chosen depending on the tasks assigned. Drilling machines can be radial drilling, vertical drilling, coordinate drilling. With their help they perform:

  • through and blind holes with cylindrical walls;
  • multifaceted, oval and other holes;
  • internal thread;
  • finishing;
  • drilling an existing hole.

Tools, fixtures, drills

The main tools for drilling are hand and electric drills, and, if possible, drill presses. The working part of these mechanisms - the drill - can have different shapes.

The production of drills of various designs is standardized by numerous GOSTs. Drills up to Ø 2 mm are not marked, up to Ø 3 mm - the section and steel grade are indicated on the shank; larger diameters may contain additional information. To obtain a hole of a certain diameter, you need to take a drill a few tenths of a millimeter smaller. The better the drill is sharpened, the smaller the difference between these diameters.

What will you need?

  1. Forstner drill
  2. Cutter with bearing for quarter cutting
  3. Bearing cutter for edge milling

Well, and just a little more: a drilling machine, a hand router and, ideally, a table for installing a hand router

To improve the basic characteristics of the metal, it is often hardened. This technology involves increasing the hardness of the product due to strong heating of the metal and its rapid cooling. In some cases, after heat treatment it is necessary to perform drilling. By increasing this characteristic, drilling hardened metal becomes more difficult. Let's take a closer look at all the features of drilling hardened steel.

Working with some types of metal

  • When drilling into thick aluminum pieces, chips often clog the drill channels, making it more difficult to rotate. Therefore, when working with such material, remove the drill from the recess more often and remove the chips. Well, don’t forget to pour plenty of oil on it.
  • If you need to drill black cast iron, then you do not need to add any lubricating and cooling substances, since it drills very well even dry
  • Unlike black cast iron, white cast iron has increased strength, which means strong drills and lubricants are required to process it.

These are the basic rules for drilling metal with a drill. I hope I was able to bridge this gap in your knowledge. Good luck with your homework and see you soon!

How to drill in the right place?

If you think about this question a little, the answer should come to your mind even without a hint. Well, at least it seems so to me. But if you don’t want to think, then read.

For this case you will need a core. This is a tool made of durable steel, having a cylindrical shape and a point at the end.

We place the tip at the desired drilling location and hit the roll on the other side with a hammer several times.

Now that you have finished drilling, place a drill on the surface of the roughness and start drilling - the tip will not run away anywhere.

How to drill with a drill?

Drilling metal with a drill requires following some recommendations:

  1. To make a hole you will need an electric drill, a core punch, a hammer, machine oil and safety glasses.
  2. Initially make markings.
  3. Wear safety glasses.
  4. When the pressure on the drill is low, you need to select the low speed position and start working.
  5. Don’t forget to water the area being treated with coolant.

If you follow the technology and use high-quality tools, you can make holes of different diameters and depths. To drill straight holes or accurately select the depth, you can use a device called a “depth stop.” It is attached to an electric drill and adjusted to the desired depth.


Drilling metal with a drill

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