Cutting on the curve

Sumitomo Electric Hardmetal’s range of Flat MultiDrill MDF series high rigidity, coated carbide drills for spotfacing and counterboring features on horizontal, curved or inclined surfaces of a component has now been extended.

MDF now includes overall length tools up to 10:1 length-to-diameter ratio, a long shank, external coolant supply (L2D Type) and through coolant feed (H3D / H5D Type) variants.

The MDF series of high rigidity, coated carbide tools benefit prime applications such as when cross drilling, expanding hole sizes and deep spotfacing. With its 180° point angle, true flat bottoming can be achieved, for instance in order to create a seating. Pre-tapped holes can also be produced in thinner plate or sheet material. Now with the up to 10:1 overall length ratio, tools can be used to access component features that are deeper within housings for example.

Significant in the high rigidity tool series is Sumitomo’s ‘RS’ thinning development which creates a greater wall thickness at the tip of the drill. Swarf evacuation is very effective due to wider pockets that accommodate chips with high orders of flute finishing and a specific shape applied to the rake face. A special high strength cutting edge helps resist impact damage when features involve interrupted cuts while also maximising the overall stability of the tool. Due to the design of the tool, minimal burr formation is a further benefit.

The extended line up of MDF drills can be used on general steels, stainless, alloy and hardened steels up to 50 HRC. Also, grey and ductile cast irons and aluminium can be drilled. Standard tools can be used with pilot holes and are available between 3mm and 20mm giving 2:1 depth to diameter ratio and with oil feed holes in 3:1 and 5:1 ratio between 3mm and 16mm diameter.

Recent MDF applications resulted in a 400% increase in tool life when producing counterbores within a 34CrMo4 steel gear frame. The MDF tool was run at 65m/minute with 0.1mm/revolution feed rate. Meanwhile, on a C35 automotive component featuring a starting surface of 60°, MDF significantly reduced cutting edge damage and chipping compared to existing competitor tool methods. The MDF was run at 80m/minute and 0.45mm/revolution.

The latest additions to the MDF series further expand the higher performance Sumitomo drill solution portfolio where both the SumiDrill SDP and SDM Type Power-Series enable higher productivity drilling for holes between 3mm and 16mm diameter to depths of 7xD. In addition, the Super MultiDrill XHGS and XHGA types are for deep hole drilling applications up to 30:1 ratio and can be applied across the spectrum of materials from aluminium to steel.

Sumitomo Electric Hardmetal’s Flat MultiDrill MDF series enables direct machining on inclined, uneven and curved surfaces as well as thin plate and sheet material.

Sumitomo www.sumitomotool.com