Calendar September 8, 2021 07:05

Drill bits are important tools in almost any manufacturing environment. Because drill bits see so much use, they can wear down pretty quickly. This means that busy shops will have to buy new drill bits rather frequently. Instead of having to deal with this, it is easier to buy carbide drills so you will have to replace them less often.

One of the biggest advantages of using carbide drill bits is the fact that they stay sharper for longer and outlast steel tools. While carbide is a relatively common tool material, many machinists are not familiar with its composition. Tool carbide looks almost metallic at a glance, but metal is just one part of its construction. The actual carbide in carbide tools is a powdered ceramic material known chemically as tungsten carbide. This dense ceramic is mixed with a binding metal to form the tool carbide that is ground into tools.

The fact that carbide tools merge qualities of ceramics and metals is what makes them so unique. The tiny grains of tungsten carbide embedded throughout the body of the tool are significantly harder than steel, giving these tools amazing cutting power. Ceramics are also extremely resilient when it comes to heat. Carbide drill bits can operate at temperatures that are even hotter than HSS or high speed steel tools. This is because all metals can only be heated so far before passing their tempering point and softening. Because carbide relies on ceramic for its cutting power, there is no risk of heat causing the tool's edges to soften.

Another great reason to buy carbide drills is accuracy. Especially when used in milling applications, drill bits can have some serious issues with accuracy. This is because they are very long relative to their width. This means that when operating at high rotational speeds, they tend to vibrate as the entire bit flexes due to the force of the rotation. This can lead to the tip of the tool deviating from the central axis of rotation. This means that upon making contact with hard surfaces, the bit can deflect and "walk" off its mark.

There are a few ways to deal with this problem. Using spot drill can help improve your accuracy, but it will also add a tool change to the production process. Carbide drill bits are actually much more rigid than steel tools. This means that they do not vibrate as much and can produce extremely accurate results without the need for spot drilling.

If you want to buy carbide drills for your shop, Online Carbide is a great place to start your search. They manufacture all of their solid carbide cutting tools right here in the US using high quality tool carbide stock and precise CNC grinding tools. Their inventory include standard jobber length drill bits, stub drill bits, as well as spot drills and drill mills. All of their tools are available at manufacturer direct pricing when you visit their online store at www.onlinecarbide.com.

Posted September 8, 2021 07:05

Calendar May 27, 2021 06:26

When it comes to getting the most out of your milling machines, using the right tools is essential. Production is all about speed and using the wrong tools can cost you valuable time and potential damage both your equipment and your workpiece. Speed is part of what makes aluminum such a popular material for production, as it is a soft but sturdy metal. If you are trying to machine aluminum properly then you need to know how to find the best end mills for aluminum.

As we just mentioned, aluminum is a softer metal. With that softness come some physical differences between aluminum and harder materials like steel and iron. One of the things that really sets aluminum apart is its flexibility. When steel is cut by a high speed end mill, the cut portion is rigid enough to bend and snap, forming small chips. With aluminum, the increased flexibility means that the chips can bend longer before finally breaking.

So what does this mean for machinists? Simply put, the big chips from aluminum can be hard to remove from the cutting area and they can build up and clog tools. In order to avoid complications caused by the larger chip size, the best end mills for aluminum are specially designed to maximize the ability of the tool to remove chips from the cutting area.

The first step in achieving this goal is to use end mills with low flute counts. Milling cutters that are designed for cutting steel typically have more flutes to spread out the cutting force across the tool. End mills for aluminum typically have 3 flutes, providing ample room between the cutting edges for chip evacuation.

In addition to having fewer flutes, the angles of these flutes are also different from other tools. A higher helix angle puts more upward force on chips and helps to clear them from the base of the cutter. Using a cutter with a helix angle above 35 degrees is recommended for machining aluminum.

Finally, you need to look at the material of your end mill. Steel tools are commonly used because they are affordable, but they can dull quickly. This is especially true for tools operating at high speeds. That is what makes carbide tools the superior option. Carbide tools are made up of a composite material of powdered ceramic cemented together with a binding metal like cobalt. Carbide maintains an edge for longer and is extremely strong and rigid. Many of the best end mills for aluminum will also feature a gold colored ZrN coating. This material lowers the end mill's coefficient of friction, preventing aluminum chips from sticking and providing superior evacuation compared to uncoated tools.

If you are trying to find the best end mills for aluminum, then Online Carbide is a great manufacturer to check out. They offer a wide range of solid carbide end mills and drill bits at manufacturer direct prices. You can see all of their high quality, American made tools when you visit their website at www.onlinecarbide.com.

Posted May 27, 2021 06:26

Calendar April 6, 2021 06:05

When it comes to operating a milling machine, creating accurate holes can be a serious challenge. The length of drill bits, combined with the high rotational speeds used in milling operations creates a recipe for instability. Especially when drilling into hard surfaces, drill bits can deflect off of the surface of a workpiece and miss their mark. One of the best ways to avoid this is to buy carbide drills.

The biggest issue with steel drill bits is the fact that they are not as rigid as one might think. When these tools rotate at high speeds, they begin to wobble. These oscillations are almost undetectable to the human eye, but they can have a big impact on your workpiece. When a tool is wobbling, it becomes far less likely that the tip will impact the workpiece at a perfect 90 degree angle. Instead, the bit can make contact at a slight angle and deflect off the surface and ruin your workpiece.

There are a number of ways that machinists can try to avoid this effect. Spot drilling can help milling operators mark the location of future holes with a small dimple in order to give the tip of the longer drill bit a place to seat itself. Using spot drills can improve the accuracy of your steel drill bits, but it adds another step and another tool change to your process. Instead of going through all of that trouble, you can greatly improve your results when you buy carbide drill bits for your shop.

Carbide is almost a miracle material in terms of tool construction. While it may look just as metallic as steel, carbide is actually a composite material made up of a binding metal such as cobalt and powdered ceramic tungsten carbide. The metal helps to cement the carbide powder together in order to create a strong The ceramic helps to provide incredible cutting power, being wear resistant and capable of withstanding extreme temperatures.

Compared to steel, tungsten carbide is roughly twice as strong and twice as rigid. The rigidity is what gives these drill bits a huge advantage in terms of accuracy. More rigid tools will undergo less extreme oscillations at high speeds, making them far more likely to actually hit their marks as intended. Most of the time, spot drilling is not required when using solid carbide drill bits. This can help speed up the production process significantly.

If you are looking to buy carbide drills for your milling machine, you can find some great options when you visit www.onlinecarbide.com. Online Carbide is an American tool manufacturer specializing in producing high quality solid carbide end mills and drill bits. Their inventory includes spot drills, stub drills, and jobber length drill bits. If you have any questions about any of the tools they carry, feel free to reach out to a member of their team by sending an email to sales@onlinecarbide.com.

Posted April 6, 2021 06:05