The Versatility of Drill Mills

[Geoffrey Less]

One of the biggest hurdles when it comes to machining components is time. Between having to run steel tools at slower speeds and the need to change out tools to perform a wide range of functions, machining time can really add up. If you are looking to cut down on tool changes, you need to consider using drill mills when you are machining. These versatile milling cutters can perform a wide range of tasks, making them an ideal way to speed up production.

If you could not guess it from the name, a drill mill is a tool that combines aspects of drill bits and end mills. These tools end in a sharp tip similar to a drill bit, but the flutes along the body of the mill resemble the side milling flutes of an end mill. This combination of characteristics allow drill mills to tackle a wider range of milling operations than either a drill bit or end mill could complete by itself.

One of the biggest advantages of a drill mill over an end mill is the fact that they can be used to actually drill into material. Most end mills are only designed to perform side milling cuts so axial cutting just is not an option. Because of the drill bit like tip, drill mills can perform a few actions that your average square or ball ended mill just cannot complete. This includes tasks like spot drilling and drilling small holes in your workpiece. Normally you would have to perform tool changes if you wanted to complete these tasks after side milling, but not willwith drill mills.

When it comes to side milling, the drill mill can also perform. Obviously the tip of the drill mill means that they can only side mill sections that terminate in a v shaped notch or create V shaped notches in your work piece. These unique cutting tools can also be used to chamfer and bevel edges. The pointed tip on these tools is also perfect for deburring your workpiece when you are ready to take it off the mill.

In order to get the most out of your drill mills and other milling cutters, you need to consider the materials used in their construction. High speed steel alloys have become a popular option because they are affordable and can operate at higher speeds than other steel alloys without losing their temper. Despite this fact, steel tools just cannot beat the performance of solid carbide cutters. Carbide can hold an edge longer and run at faster speeds than steel tools. Treating tools with protective coatings like titanium aluminum nitride will also help extend the life of your tools.

If you are looking for high quality solid carbide drill mills, you need to check out the options from Online Carbide. They machine high quality carbide cutters including drill bits and a wide range of end mills from standard options to specialized cutters like thread mills. If you have any questions about their tools, feel free to contact a member of their team by sending an email to [e-mail].