What and how to drill deep and large holes in metal parts. How to make a hole in hardened steel without drilling How to drill a large hole in metal

Metal processing is carried out not only in industrial conditions. When performing repair work on a car, manufacturing structures on personal plot or carrying out repairs to the home, it is necessary to drill holes in the metal. At home, a hand drill is most often used.

This versatile tool requires some solid work skills. You can purchase or make your own machine for drilling holes in metal, but this is not a cheap pleasure.

The technology of drilling holes in metal consists in removing a thin layer of material due to simultaneous translational and rotational motion.

The main condition for high-quality and safe (for the tool) processing is holding the chuck axis in a fixed position. With the help of the machine it is easy to maintain straightness, which cannot be said when working with a hand tool.

If you are not sure about the firmness of your hands (this is a normal situation for an ordinary person), mechanical assistants (jigs) are required for drilling at right angles.

Immediately make a reservation that additional conductors are required only when the thickness of the metal exceeds the diameter of the drill.

If you're making a hole in a thin steel plate, straightness doesn't matter.

There are several types of hand drill guides. Power tools are not well suited for metal work, especially when it comes to precision.

1. Drilling guide. Made in the form of a body, easy to hold, inside of which there are guide bushings for drills of various diameters.


The material of the sleeves is harder than the tool, so the holes do not wear out. By installing the jig exactly above the center of the intended hole, you don’t have to worry that the drill will “take away” from the given direction.

This device is especially useful when drilling perpendicular holes in pipes of small diameter, when the tip tends to slip off the cylindrical surface.



2. Drill guide (manual). Support device in which the tool is fixed by the neck


The sole is placed on the workpiece, holding the handle with the second hand. The drill moves strictly vertically, avoiding distortions and drifts of the drill.

The design can have an angle holder for pipes of small diameter, which makes the fixture more versatile.

With a swivel mechanism, you also get a device for drilling holes at an angle.


True, the metal cannot be drilled in this way, lateral loads will quickly break the drill.

3. Drill stand (semi-stationary). In fact, it is an inexpensive alternative to a drilling machine.

Often when working with wood and materials based on it, it becomes necessary to drill an even round hole. You can use a jigsaw or a milling cutter, but such a tool is not always at hand or it is simply inconvenient to do the work with them. A wood dancer can make the task easier.

What is a wood ballerina

Circular adjustable drill "ballerina" - a device that is designed for drilling round holes of large diameter. The tool has simple design. It is a shank with a transverse rod, on which movable carriages with cutters are fixed. The bar has markings, according to which you can set the required spread of the cutters relative to the center of the intended hole. A core drill is fixed in the middle of the shank. It serves as a centering element and a support for drilling.

In addition to designs with two cutting elements arranged symmetrically, there are ballerinas with one cutter or even three. In the latter case, they are located on the basis in the form of a disk with grooves.

Tool functionality

A high-quality ballerina is made of high-strength steel, which makes it possible to use the device in working with soft and hard woods.

This tool has an adjustable drilling diameter. This allows you to make holes of almost any diameter. The drilling range limitation depends on the size of the ballerina. Manufacturers produce fixtures with the following cutter spread limits:

• from 30 to 120 mm;
• from 40 to 200 mm;
• from 40 to 300 mm;
• from 40 to 400 mm.

The maximum drilling diameter is limited by the bar on which the cutters are attached. Minimum - shank thickness.

The ballerina drill can be used in any place where the use of a jigsaw or manual router will be uncomfortable. For example, it can be assembled and installed furniture, in the details of which it is necessary to drill a neat hole, given the limited space. Another example is an uneven (convex or concave) surface. It is unlikely that it will be possible to do everything evenly and accurately with a jigsaw or milling cutter. It will be difficult to control the tilt of the tool relative to the surface. The ballerina can easily cope with such a task.

Features of working with the tool

The principle of working with a circular drill is simple. A hole is drilled with a centering drill, and then cutters are included in the work. They gradually make a narrow groove, gradually cutting through the material in a circle to the full depth.

The materials used in working with the ballerina are varied: wood, fiberboard, chipboard, MDF, drywall, plastic. One thing in common - the thickness of the part should be no more than 15-20 millimeters. This parameter is limited by the length of the incisors. Usually the manufacturer indicates the maximum drilling depth on the packaging. When trying to drill through thicker material, problems with ragged edges can occur.

The use of a tool with a single cutter is characterized by runout. This is due to the lack of balance relative to the longitudinal axis of drilling. Especially the runout will be felt when cutting holes of large diameter. Cut holes with a drill at low or medium speeds. When working on a drilling machine, such problems do not arise.

Also, a laminated or veneered surface can cause inconvenience during operation. After passing through the decorative layer, drilling proceeds without problems.

feature circular drill can be considered the possibility of adjusting the diameter. The distance between the cutters can be set on a scale on the bar, or more precisely with a caliper. This is convenient if you need to make a hole without gaps for a pipe or a round part.

The spacing of the incisors relative to the center is adjusted separately. It is necessary to expose the cutting parts as accurately as possible. This will save you unnecessary effort during operation and extend the life of the tool.

How to choose the right one and what to look for

Choosing a quality circular drill is quite easy. The main thing is to know the main points that you should pay attention to in the first place, but also not to lose sight of the little things.

The design, a very important point: a wood ballerina can be with one incisor or two or more. For frequent use, it is better to purchase an option with two or three cutting elements. It is easier to work with such devices and the quality of the processing performed will be at an acceptable level.

It will not be superfluous to be able to replace individual parts. Inexpensive circular drills may have a one-piece shank with a non-removable center drill and stem.

Metal, strength and ability to withstand workloads depend on its quality. quality tool made of high strength steel or alloys. The shape of the shank and holders of the cutters is machined. The bar is usually stamped and made of the same metal.

Cheaper options often use soft metal or alloys that can be brittle. Under load, parts can deform or break. Such a tool will not last long and it will also be difficult to achieve accuracy from it.

Workmanship, the main feature is the absence of backlash and distortion. All parts must be fitted to each other and securely fastened with fixing screws.

The marking of the bar of a high-quality ballerina is stamped. Sometimes divisions are highlighted with bright paint for better visibility.

Cutters, high-quality cutting elements are made of hardened tool steel. On the holders they are fixed with rivets or by soldering. Solid cutters with holders (made from the same metal) dull quickly and are not durable.

The manufacturer, when choosing any tool and consumables, preference should be given to well-known and long-established brands and brands. The most common are Topfix, Stayer, Irwin, Strum.

Purchasing an adjustable circular drill for household use, or if you need to drill a few holes, is completely justified. This eliminates the need to purchase an expensive tool that may only be needed a few times.

The work of drilling holes in metal, depending on the type of holes and the properties of the metal, can be performed with different tools and using different techniques.

Drilling holes in metal may be needed during repairs engineering systems, household appliances, car, creating structures from sheet and profile steel, designing crafts from aluminum and copper, in the manufacture of circuit boards for radio equipment, and in many other cases. It is important to understand what kind of tool is needed for each type of work so that the holes are the right diameter and in a strictly intended place, and what safety measures will help to avoid injury.

Tools, fixtures, drills

The main tools for drilling are hand and electric drills, and, if possible, drilling machines. The working body of these mechanisms - a drill - can have a different shape.

There are drills:

• spiral (most common);
• screw;
• crowns;
• conical;
• feathers, etc.

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.

Drills differ not only in diameter, but also in length - short, elongated and long are produced. Important information is the ultimate hardness of the metal being processed. The shank of the drills can be cylindrical and conical, which should be borne in mind when selecting a drill chuck or adapter sleeve.

1. Drill with a cylindrical shank. 2. Tapered shank drill. 3. Drill with a sword for carving. 4. Center drill. 5. Drill with two diameters. 6. Center drill. 7. Conical drill. 8. Conical multi-stage drill

For some work and materials, special sharpening is required. The harder the metal being processed, the sharper the edge must be sharpened. For thin sheet metal, a conventional twist drill may not be suitable, you will need a tool with a special sharpening. Detailed recommendations for various types drills and processed metals (thickness, hardness, hole type) are quite extensive, and in this article we will not consider them.

Various types of drill sharpening. 1. For hard steel. 2. For stainless steel. 3. For copper and copper alloys. 4. For aluminum and aluminum alloys. 5. For cast iron. 6. Bakelite

1. Standard sharpening. 2. Free sharpening. 3. Diluted sharpening. 4. Heavy sharpening. 5. Separate sharpening

To fix parts before drilling, a vice, stops, conductors, corners, clamps with bolts and other devices are used. This is not only a safety requirement, it is actually more convenient, and the holes are of better quality.

To chamfer and process the surface of the channel, they use a countersink of a cylindrical or conical shape, and to mark a point for drilling and so that the drill does not “jump off” - a hammer and a center punch.

Advice! The best drills are still considered to be those produced in the USSR - exact adherence to GOST in geometry and metal composition. German Ruko with titanium coating are also good, as well as drills from Bosch - proven quality. Good feedback about Haisser products - powerful, usually with a large diameter. The Zubr drills, especially the Cobalt series, proved to be worthy.

Drilling modes

It is very important to correctly fix 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, providing the penetration of the drill at one revolution (mm / rev). When working with different metals and drills, different cutting conditions are recommended, and the harder the metal being processed and the larger the diameter of the drill, the lower the recommended cutting speed. Indicator correct mode- beautiful, long shavings.

Use the tables to choose the right mode and not dull the drill prematurely.

Table 2. Correction factors

Table 3. Revolutions and feeds for various drill diameters and drilling in carbon steel

Types of holes in metal and methods for drilling them

Types of holes:

• deaf;
• through;
• half (incomplete);
• deep;
• large diameter;
• for internal thread.

Threaded holes require the determination of diameters with 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 the hole size for drilling

through holes

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

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

The latter method is mandatory when drilling holes "in place" so as not to damage closely spaced surfaces or parts.

Holes in thin sheet metal are cut with spatula drills, because the twist drill will damage the edges of the workpiece.

blind holes

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

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

Some machines are equipped with an automatic feed to a given depth, after which the mechanism stops. During the drilling process, it may be necessary to stop the work several times to remove the chips.

Holes of complex shape

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

A through hole in the corner (shaped rolled metal) is performed by fixing the workpiece in a vice and using a wooden gasket.

It is more difficult to drill a cylindrical workpiece tangentially. The process is divided into two operations: preparation of a platform perpendicular to the hole (milling, countersinking) and drilling itself. Drilling holes in angled surfaces also begins with site preparation, 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 a cork made of wood.

Stepped 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 with 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 a hole deepening. With this method, it is easier to control the depth of each step.

1. Drilling a hole. 2. Diameter reduction

Large diameter holes, annular drilling

Obtaining holes of large diameter in massive workpieces, up to 5–6 mm thick, is a laborious and costly business. Relatively small diameters - up to 30 mm (maximum 40 mm) can be obtained using cone, and preferably step-cone drills. For holes with a larger diameter (up to 100 mm), hollow bi-metal hole saws or hole saws with carbide teeth with a center drill will be required. Moreover, the craftsmen traditionally recommend Bosch in this case, especially on hard metal, such as steel.

Such annular drilling less energy-intensive, but may 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 want to make a hole on the machine, and with a large number of holes in a sheet with a thickness of more than 12 mm, it is better to immediately look for such an opportunity.

In a thin-sheet blank, 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 a deep hole is required. In theory, this is a hole whose length is five times the diameter. In practice, deep drilling is called, requiring forced periodic removal of chips and the use of coolants (coolants).

In drilling, coolants are needed primarily to reduce the temperature of the drill and workpiece, which are heated by friction. Therefore, when making holes in copper, which has a high thermal conductivity and is itself capable of removing heat, coolant can be omitted. Cast iron is drilled relatively easily and without lubrication (except for high-strength ones).

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

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

The universal coolant 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, you can use it, and boil the solution until a soapy homogeneous emulsion is obtained. Some masters use lard to reduce friction.

Deep holes can be made by solid and annular 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, through the channels of which coolant is supplied. Periodically, without stopping the rotation of the drill, it is necessary to remove it and clean the cavity from chips. The work with a twist drill is carried out in stages: first, a short hole is taken and a hole is drilled, which is then deepened with a drill of the appropriate size. With a significant depth of the hole, it is advisable to use guide bushings.

With regular drilling of deep holes, it can be recommended to purchase a special machine with automatic coolant supply to the drill and precise centering.

Drilling by marking, template and jig

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

Marking is done with a punch. A hammer blow marks a place for the tip of the drill. A felt-tip pen can also mark a place, but a hole is also needed so that the tip does not move from the intended point. The work is carried out in two stages: preliminary drilling, hole control, final drilling. If the drill "left" from the intended center, notches (grooves) are made with a narrow chisel that guide the tip to a given place.

To determine the center of a cylindrical workpiece, a square piece of tin is used, bent at 90 ° so that the height of one shoulder 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 by the theorem - the intersection of perpendiculars from two chords.

A template is needed when making a series of parts of the same type with several holes. It is convenient to use it for a pack of thin-sheet blanks connected with a clamp. This way you can get several drilled blanks 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 conductor is used when the accuracy of maintaining the distances between the holes and the strict perpendicularity of the channel are very important. When drilling deep holes or when working with thin-walled tubes, in addition to the conductor, guides can be used to fix the position of the drill relative to the metal surface.

When working with a power tool, it is important to remember human safety and prevent premature wear of the tool and possible marriage. In this regard, we have collected some useful tips:

1. Before work, you need to check the fastening of all elements.
2. Clothing when working on a machine or with an electric drill should not be with elements that can fall under the action of rotating parts. Protect your eyes from chips with goggles.
3. The drill, when approaching the surface of the metal, must already rotate, otherwise it will quickly become dull.
4. It is necessary to remove the drill from the hole without turning off the drill, reducing the speed if possible.
5. If the drill does not go deep into the metal, then its hardness is lower than that of the workpiece. Increased hardness in steel can be detected by running a file over the sample - the absence of traces indicates increased hardness. In this case, the drill must be selected from a carbide with additives and work at low speeds with a small feed.
6. If a small diameter drill does not fit well in the chuck, wind a few turns of brass wire around its shank, increasing the gripping diameter.
7. If the surface of the workpiece is polished, put a felt washer on the drill to ensure that it does not scratch even when it comes into contact with the drill chuck. When fastening workpieces made of polished or chrome-plated steel, use spacers made of fabric or leather.
8. When making deep holes, a rectangular piece of foam placed on a drill can serve as a measuring instrument and at the same time, while rotating, blow off small chips.

Metal drilling tools:

• twist drill;
• Kerner;
• A hammer;
• Protective glasses.

To reduce breakdown, drilling is performed in two stages: first with a smaller diameter drill, and then with the main one. The same method of sequential reaming is used when it is necessary to make a hole of a large diameter.

After marking the workpiece, the center of the future hole should be punched. This will prevent the drill from moving away from the set point.

For the convenience of work, the workpiece should be clamped in a bench vise or placed on a stand so that it takes a stable position. The drill is set strictly perpendicular to the surface to be drilled. This is important to avoid damage.

Cutting mode selection

Drilling metal with a drill is somewhat more difficult than wood, brick or concrete. There are also some features.

For convenience, we have combined practical advice on this type of work into step-by-step instructions.

1. You will need the following tools: a drill, a drill, coolant (oil is better, but water is also possible), a center punch, a hammer, goggles.
2. When drilling metal on a horizontal surface, we put under the product wooden block and fix it as best we can. When working in a vertical position, rigid fixation is extremely important, since drilling must be strictly perpendicular.
3. We make markings, after that, using a center punch and a hammer, we outline the center of the future hole.
4. Pour coolant into a small container.
5. We put on protective goggles.
6. We start drilling. Do not exert strong pressure on the drill, because it is better to work at low speeds. If the drill is powerful, then the method of short-term inclusions is suitable, until the tool has had time to gain maximum speed.
7. Do not forget to cool the drill as often as possible .
8. When drilling is not strictly perpendicular, but at an angle, it is likely that the drill will jam. If this happens, put the switch in the reverse position. So you avoid injury and do not break the drill.
9. If everything was done correctly, then even at home, using a low-power drill, you can drill a hole in metal up to 5 mm thick inclusive and up to 10-12 mm in diameter. More complex tasks will be discussed below.

Metal drilling work

Can you drill metal with a concrete drill?

It is possible, but this is in case of emergency for shallow holes with a small diameter. Unprofitable.

It is better to use either standard drills for metal with a steel grade R6M5 or improved - R6M5K5.

The letter K in the marking indicates that this is an alloy with the addition of cobalt. On the market you can find a drill, which is called "Cobalt". We will not vouch for all manufacturers, we only note that the reviews on practical application in the vast majority of cases are positive.

How to drill with a step drill for metal?

Step drills are universal - you can make holes with just one different diameter(from 2 to 40 mm). They are most effective when working with thin metal, when you need to get a neat edge. They are better fixed in the cartridge, they are easier to sharpen, and therefore, with proper operation, they last longer, but they are also more expensive than usual ones. They work with the same principles, but it is easier to drill large diameter holes than with conventional twist drills.

Is it possible to drill metal with a Pobedite drill?

The principle of operation of metal drills is to cut, and crush materials with victorious soldering. Brick, concrete, stone are better suited for this. Therefore, as mentioned above, it is, of course, possible to drill metal with a concrete drill, but it will quickly become unusable and the victorious soldering will collapse.

Turnovers

What is the larger hole diameter? the lower the turnover should be. The more depth? the gradually you need to reduce the pressure on the drill. With a drill diameter of up to 5 mm, the torque should not be higher than 1200-1500 rpm.

How to drill correctly: drilling with a drill from "a" to "z"

Accordingly, 10 mm in diameter - no more than 700 rpm, 15 mm - 400 rpm.

How to drill holes in large diameter metal?

As a rule, most drills for domestic use have a power of 500 to 800W, which allows drilling holes up to 10-12 mm in diameter. In metal up to 2 mm thick, using step drills, holes up to 40 mm can be made. With a thickness of 3 mm, bimetallic crowns are better suited.

Bimetal crown

When drilling deep holes with any tool, you may sometimes need a magnet to extract the chips.

metal drilling process

Particular attention should be paid to safety, be sure to take care of your eyes from chips, and if there is a skew and jamming, immediately turn off the drill and rearrange the torque to reverse.

In a power outage or where the noise of an operating tool may disturb others ( read: when can repairs be made so as not to quarrel with neighbors?) - an ideal solution for drilling metal would be a manual mechanical drill, the so-called brace. Low speed and pressure, no overheating, just what you need. Of course, there are also disadvantages - the cost of time and fatigue. In such a simple "old-fashioned" way, you can drill holes with a diameter of up to 10 mm.

We hope our advice will be useful to you.

More information in this video.

How to drill metal with a drill

How to drill a hole in metal

Metal products, in comparison with parts made of other materials, have increased hardness and strength, therefore, for successful work with them, compliance with technological process and the use of high-quality cutting tools.

Metal drilling tools:

• Electric or hand drill;
• twist drill;
• Kerner;
• A hammer;
• Protective glasses.

Drills for metal are selected based on the diameters of the holes and the properties of the material being processed. As a rule, they are made of high-speed steels, such as R6M5K5, R6M5, R4M2. Carbide drills are used to work with cast iron, carbon and alloy hardened steels, stainless steel, and other difficult-to-cut materials.

The power of the electric drill must be designed to drill a hole of the required diameter. Power tool manufacturers indicate the relevant specifications on the product. For example, for drills with a power of 500 ... 700 W, the maximum drilling diameter for metal is 10 ... 13 mm.

There are blind, incomplete, and through holes. They can be used to connect parts to each other by means of bolts, studs, pins and rivets. If the hole is drilled for the purpose of threading, it is worth paying attention to Special attention choice of drill diameter. Due to its beating in the cartridge, a breakdown of the hole occurs, which must be taken into account. Indicative data are presented in the table.

To reduce breakdown, drilling is performed in two stages: first with a smaller diameter drill, and then with the main one.

How to drill metal with a drill?

The same method of sequential reaming is used when it is necessary to make a hole of a large diameter.

How to drill metal with a drill

The peculiarity of drilling metal with a drill is that it is necessary to manually hold the tool, give it the correct position, and also ensure the required cutting speed.

After marking the workpiece, the center of the future hole should be punched. This will prevent the drill from moving away from the set point. For the convenience of work, the workpiece should be clamped in a bench vise or placed on a stand so that it takes a stable position. The drill is set strictly perpendicular to the surface to be drilled. This is important to avoid damage.

When drilling metal, the drill does not need to exert much pressure. On the contrary, it should decrease as you go. This will prevent breakage of the drill and also reduce burr formation on the trailing edge of the through hole. Chip removal should be monitored. If the cutting tool jams, it is released by reverse rotation.

Cutting mode selection

When using a tool made of high speed steel, you can refer to the speed according to the data in the table. When working with carbide drills, the allowable values ​​are 1.5 ... 2 times higher.

Drilling of metal products must be carried out with cooling. If it is not used, there is a high probability that the tool will lose its cutting properties due to overheating. The cleanliness of the surface of the hole in this case will be quite low. An emulsion is usually used as a coolant for hard steels. At home, machine oil is suitable. Cast iron and non-ferrous metals can be drilled without coolant.

Features of deep hole drilling

Holes are considered deep if their size is greater than five drill diameters. The peculiarity of the work here lies in the difficulties associated with cooling and chip removal. The length of the cutting part of the tool must be greater than the depth of the hole. Otherwise, the body of the part will block the helical grooves, through which chips are removed, and liquid is also supplied for cooling and lubrication.

First, the hole is drilled with a rigid short drill to a shallow depth. This operation is necessary to set the direction and centering of the main tool. After that, a hole of the required length is made. As you progress, you need to remove metal shavings from time to time. For this purpose, use coolant, hooks, magnets, or turn the part over.

How to drill metal correctly - learn how to make holes of various diameters

Screwdrivers, drills and hammers

Metal processing is one of the rather complex operations. Drilling may be required when performing repairs to the premises or your own car, as well as manufacturing various designs on the suburban area. As in the case of any other holes, we need a hand drill, which can be supplemented with various additional devices. Although a drill is a very popular and sought-after tool that is available in almost every home, it is required to have considerable experience in terms of metal processing. In our article we will talk about drilling metal, drills and some features of this laborious process.

Drilling holes in metal is a special technology, which consists in removing a certain layer of material due to the simultaneous rotational and translational movement of the drill. It is necessary to fix the drill in one position so that the drill does not move during operation. This is the main condition for the correct and safe performance of work. In order for the drill axis to be in a fixed position, you can use one of the many devices, which will be discussed below.

When working with metal, drills made of R6M5 steel are used.

We need the following tools for working with metal:

• Drill hand or electric
• twist drill
• A hammer
• Kerner
• Safety glasses and gloves

It will be impossible to achieve success in the planned event without the appropriate drill. The choice of this element is a very important point, because various drills are selected based on the properties of the metal, as well as the diameter of the future hole. Drills are usually made from high speed steel. The most common are products made of steel grade R6M5. In some cases, cobalt additives are used to increase the durability and wear resistance of the drill. In this case, the letter K appears in the product labeling. For very hard metals, drills equipped with a small solder on the tip are used, which provides the necessary level of drilling of the material.

You should be aware that not all drills are able to make exactly the holes that you need. So, the manufacturer usually indicate the relevant information in the instruction manual. For example, drilling a large hole with a drill with a power of 700 W will not work. After all, this equipment is designed to create a hole with a maximum size of 13 mm in diameter.

Drilling metal causes difficulties for many people, even experienced craftsmen. One reason is the physical complexity of the process itself. After all, it is necessary to keep a heavy drill at a right angle in a clearly fixed position for a long time. However, you can always use additional devices designed to facilitate the whole process.

Drilling guides allow you to securely fix the drill bit

In hardware stores, you can purchase the following mechanisms for perpendicular drilling of holes in metal products:

1. 1. Drilling jigs
2. 2. Drill guides
3. 3. Drill stands

Conductors are very popular, it is with their help that specialists make holes in products. The mechanism itself is a kind of box, easy to hold, in which the guide bushings are located. Suitable for drills various diameters. The bushings are made of very hard grades of metal, much harder than the drill itself. Therefore, do not worry that when working with a drill, they will be damaged.

You only need to place the jig over the place of the future hole, previously marked with a center punch, and then turn on the drill. The drill will be firmly fixed with bushings, so it will not go away from the given direction. The jig is especially useful when drilling a cylindrical shape, for example, pipes, since the tip of the drill constantly slides off the round shape of the pipe.

You can also purchase guides for a hand drill - this is a useful support mechanism, where the drill is fixed by the neck to achieve immobility during operation. The sole, held by the free hand, is installed on the workpiece itself. In this state of affairs, the tool moves exclusively vertically, without the slightest deviation or distortion.

To date, universal designs are produced, equipped with an angular holder. Thanks to this, you can drill holes with a drill even at an angle. True, in the case of metal, it is very difficult to drill at an angle using guides, since lateral overloads break the drill almost immediately. Therefore, it is necessary to take care of the purchase of solid metal products.

Another device that simplifies the process of making holes is called a stationary stand. At its core, this equipment is a somewhat simplified drilling machine, however, with less functionality, but also a significantly lower cost. The drill moves along the rod with a lever. Clamps or vise are used to fix the workpiece. In terms of drilling quality, this unit is an order of magnitude higher than its other competitors. However, its price is also higher compared to conductors or guides.

The process of drilling holes in metal products differs significantly depending on the thickness of the workpiece. Deep holes are much more difficult to make compared to conventional ones. For such cases, specialists use lathes, and it is the workpiece that should rotate, and not the drill itself on the machine. An important point is the removal of waste and chips from the part, as well as the cooling of the drill.

When drilling deep holes, timely chip evacuation is important

Naturally, at home, using a lathe is unlikely to succeed. The only way out is to purchase the guides for the drill, which were described above. Drill length has great importance, since the drill can only make holes two-thirds of its length. So you need to purchase a long drill, but strong enough, which will not break under the influence of huge overloads.

In the absence of guides, you can try to drill without this equipment, if you are confident in your abilities. However, it is strictly forbidden to change the drilling angle, since this can completely ruin both the drill and the workpiece.

In no case should one forget about cooling and chip removal. The easiest way is to use soapy water, in which you should first dip the tip of the drill. Some experts recommend coating the drill vegetable oil or lard. This will significantly reduce the friction of the product against the metal and, as a result, will have the most positive effect on the cooling of the drill.

If we talk about the extraction of chips, then this must be done with a regular frequency, periodically extracting waste from drilling. The easiest way is to turn the workpiece over so that the chips, under the action of gravity, free the hole. If the product is very heavy, then improvised devices are used, including hooks or magnets. Otherwise, the chips can clog the grooves on the drill, which will further lead to blocking of rotation, as well as breakage of the drill.

Drilling a large hole in metal is even more difficult than drilling a deep hole. There are several approaches here: either make a large-diameter hole in the metal with a cone drill in several approaches, or use a special crown. The cost of taper drills is very high, while the efficiency is lower than that of a hole saw.

That is why experts say that it is more correct to drill metal with the help of a crown. A drill is located in the central part, while at the edges there is a cutting surface with sharply sharpened teeth. Thanks to the drill, the crown is fixed in one position and does not move during operation. Drilling is carried out at low speeds of the drill, and everything must be done very carefully and carefully so as not to damage the crown.

How to drill metal with a drill

Hello! About how to drill metal with a drill, if you wish, you can write a very large article. But I see two main problems here:

• inability to precisely drill in the place where a hole is required
• quick blunting of drills

Usually inexperienced users face such problems. Experienced men know what to do in such cases. Well, considering myself experienced, I will take the liberty of telling you how to deal with these problems. Well, I will also give a few tips that will also come in handy.

How to drill in the right place

If you think a little about this question, then the answer should visit your head even without a hint. Well, it seems so to me at least. But if you don't feel like thinking, then read on.

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

We put the tip to the desired drilling site and hit the roll on the other side with a hammer several times.

Now, when you are centered, put a drill on the surface of the roughness and start drilling - the tip will not run away anywhere.

How not to dull drills

Drill bits for metal become blunt if they get too hot during operation, due to which they lose their strength. Heating is due to friction. Moreover, the faster it spins, the more it heats up.

Hence the obvious rule - you need to drill at a low speed drill. They should be no more than 1000 per minute. But who will measure this at work? Therefore, just do not press the start button to the full. The correct speed can be estimated as follows: the eye should see the rotation of the drill. That is, the grooves on it should not merge into one for vision.

When working with thick workpieces, additional cooling is indispensable. It is provided by special lubricants or pastes that are added to the drilling site, or the drill is dipped into them. In addition, they not only cool, but also lubricate the tip, thereby reducing friction.

At home, there is no need to have special lubricants and pastes. You can get by with regular engine oil.

So, use a core, drill at low speeds, and add grease or oil, and then this thing will seem like a cakewalk to you.

Well, a few more tips on this topic.

Drill types

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

To give additional strength to the above drills, a titanium nitride coating is applied. Because of what they are yellow.

There are also stronger P18s used for hard steels respectively.

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

Well, the most durable are drills with a carbide tip. They are used for drilling alloy steels. It will also take ordinary steel, but it will be somewhat prudent to buy it only for this, since the price for them is quite high, while it is solid, but still blunt. But it will be difficult to sharpen it later, since this requires diamond disc, which is also not very cheap, and you can’t buy it everywhere.

Drilling thick workpieces

If the workpiece has a thickness of more than 5 mm, and you need a hole of more than 8 mm, then it is better to first make a hole with a thin drill, and only then work with a thick one.

Working with some types of metal

• When drilling thick aluminum workpieces, chips often clog the bores of the drill, making it harder to turn. Therefore, when working with such material, take the drill out of the recess more often and remove the chips. Oh, and don't forget to drizzle with plenty of oil.
• If you need to drill black cast iron, then for this you do not need to add any lubricating and cooling agents, since it is drilled very well even in the dry
• Unlike black cast iron, white cast iron has increased strength, which means that strong drills and lubrication will be required for its processing.

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

How to drill metal with a drill?

Metal products have increased strength, so drilling a hole in metal requires the use of a cutting tool of excellent quality and compliance with the technological process.

When compared with parts made from other materials, metal products have increased strength and hardness, therefore effective work with them requires the use of cutting tools of excellent quality and compliance with the technological process.

Drilling in metal with a drill: highlights

To drill metal, you must have a manual or electric drill, a twist drill, a hammer, a center punch and goggles. Drills for metal are selected, focusing on the diameter of the holes, as well as the properties of the material being processed. They are usually made of high-speed steels, and carbide drills are used to work with alloyed and carbon steels, stainless steel, cast iron and other hard-to-cut materials.

Those who are not experienced in drilling holes in metal often wonder; how to drill a hole in metal with a drill? To drill holes of the required diameter, the electric drill must be powerful enough. Manufacturers of the tool on the product indicate the relevant characteristics. For example, in order for the hole diameter to be 10-13 millimeters, the power of the tool should be 500-700 watts.

There are through, deaf and incomplete holes.

They can be used to connect parts to each other by means of studs, bolts, rivets and pins. When drilling holes for threading, pay attention to the diameter of the drill. Since it beats in the cartridge, the hole is broken down, and this must be taken into account. The table contains approximate data.

To reduce the breakdown, drilling of metal is carried out in two stages: first of all, with a drill with a smaller diameter, and then with the main one. The same method is used when it is necessary to drill a large diameter hole.

Drilling metal with a drill: how to do it?

A feature of drilling holes in metal with a drill is that you need to manually hold the tool, giving it the correct position and providing the necessary speed.

When the workpiece is marked out, it is necessary to tilt the center of the drilled hole. As a result, the drill will not move relative to the set point. To make it more convenient to work, the workpiece must be clamped in a vice or placed on a stand so that its position is stable. The drill is set perpendicular to the surface, otherwise it may break. If you drill metal with a drill, then you do not need to exert a lot of pressure on the tool. On the contrary, as you move forward, the pressure should decrease. This will reduce the chance of breakage of the drill and reduce the amount of burr on the edge of the through hole. If the cutting tool is stuck, then it is released, giving it a reverse rotation.

When using a drill made of high speed steel, refer to the RPM using the data in the table. When using carbide drills, the values ​​should be about 1.6-2 times higher.

It is necessary to drill holes in metal products with cooling, otherwise the tool may lose its cutting properties due to overheating. The coolant when working with hard steels is usually an emulsion, but at home it is quite possible to use engine oil. As for non-ferrous metals and cast iron, when drilling them, you can do without coolant.

How to drill metal with a drill if you need deep holes? Holes can be considered deep if they are larger than five drill diameters. The main difficulties with such drilling are associated with cooling, as well as chip removal. As for the length of the cutting part of the drill, it must exceed the depth of the hole, otherwise the part will block the helical grooves designed to remove chips and supply fluid for lubrication and cooling. First, the hole is drilled to a shallow depth using a rigid short drill. This is necessary to set the direction and centering of the main tool. Then a hole of the desired length is made. When advancing, it is necessary to periodically remove metal chips using cooling liquid, magnets, hooks, or turn the part over.

Today, a person can make a blank of any shape and size from metal.

Metal drilling

This is a material that is widely used in various industries, it is indispensable in the production of mechanisms and various parts.

Today, craftsmen have dozens of tools at their disposal that allow them to cut, drill, change workpieces. Therefore, if you want to drill a hole in metal, you can do it with ease.

How to drill a large hole in metal

Making large holes is a painstaking task. For such work, it is necessary to use special crowns of the desired diameter or cone drills. Crowns designed for working with metal are similar to those for concrete or drywall.

They can have a special diamond coating for a clearer, more accurate and faster cut. For work, special cone drills are often used (they may have hexagonal or cylindrical shanks). The cutting edge can remove burrs and chips, which allows you to immediately get a smooth hole.

How to quickly drill through thick metal

If you need to drill a deep hole, it is best to give preference not to electric drills, but to lathes. Such a device provides accurate and accurate processing of materials of any thickness and strength. During operation, it is important to ensure high-quality cooling of the cutting element and forced removal of chips.

How to drill hardened metal

Hardened steel is a durable material that can withstand fairly heavy loads. That is why it is difficult to work with him. But if you need to drill hardened steel at home, you can use one of these methods:

work with a welding machine - using such a tool, you can make a hole in the product, but after that it will have to be processed cutting tools or files. Also, using welding machine, you can lower the steel in the impact zone, and then use a drill and make a hole of the required size;

drilling with special drills for hardened steel - the method has one significant drawback. Such drills are very expensive, they are made of high carbon steel and have a diamond coating. When working, it is very important to prevent overheating of the drill and strong pressure - otherwise there is a high risk of spoiling the workpiece.

If you need to make a hole in hardened steel, but you don’t have a special device, you can use other methods:

etching of steel with acid (boric, nitric, chlorine) - for work it is necessary to make a limiting rim and pour acid inside;

if the material is not very hard and thin, you can make a hole using a special punch.

How to drill stainless steel

The main difference between "stainless steel" is its increased viscosity. This is both an advantage and a disadvantage. Indeed, when processing stainless metal, the drill heats up almost immediately, which means that it is necessary to think over its cooling during operation. Usually, a special mixture is immediately used, which includes engine oil, sulfur.

Both an electric drill and a drilling machine can be used to process stainless steel. In both the first and second cases, it is necessary to set the device to the minimum speed. A few tips for those who want to work with stainless steel:

when working with a thick sheet of material, you must first drill a small hole thin instrument and then use a drill with the required section;

if you are working with sheets of 1-2 mm, use standard drills, provided that their cutting edge is sharpened 120 degrees;

if the thickness is less than 1 mm, processing should be carried out with step drills.

If you decide to drill metal with your own hands at home, use these simple tips.

Drilling through holes in metal blanks is carried out with various tools using special techniques. Many specialists in the performance of engineering work have to drill holes in metal structures quite often. These items have high elasticity, which forces the use of special cutting devices when drilling.

Types of drills and devices for drilling in metal

Necessary devices for drilling metal products - electrical and hand drills as well as drilling machines. The working part of such devices is a drill of various shapes:

• spiral;
• screw;
• crown-shaped;
• conical;
• flat;
• cannon;
• rifle;
• centering;
• stepped.

Each drill has an individual marking, where the diameter of the section and the type of alloy from which it is made are indicated on the tip. To drill a hole of the required diameter, a drill bit a few tenths of a millimeter narrower is required.

Drills are also classified by length:

• short;
• elongated;
• long.

Some materials may require a specially ground diamond-tipped drill bit. Twist drills may not be able to cope with products made of thin sheet alloys. In some cases, for drilling deep holes, the product has to be fixed in a vice, stops, conductors, corners with fasteners. This is done for safety and high quality holes.

Hole drilling modes in metal products

For drilling through holes in metal products, preliminary preparation for the process is extremely important. In the tool, it is necessary to correctly fix and direct the drill. It is necessary to adjust the frequency of rotation and other parameters. For products that are too strong, a low drill speed is recommended. An indicator of correct drilling should be a uniform long chip.

Hole types and drilling methods

In some work in production, the following types of holes in metal blanks are often needed:

1. Through. Punches metal blanks completely. It is important to protect the surface of the machine from accidental exit of the drill outside the workpiece in order to avoid damage to the drill and the occurrence of burrs on the blank. Workbenches with holes are ideal for these types of work, where it is possible to put a wooden gasket under the workpiece. Holes in thin blanks are drilled with flat drills, because the twist drill can noticeably destroy the edges of the product.
2. Deaf. They are carried out to the required depth, without penetrating the product through. In this case, an important point is measuring the depth, which is convenient to do by limiting the length of the drill with a sleeve stop or a drill chuck with a fixing stop. Professional machines are equipped automatic systems feed to a given depth size, which allows you to fix the depth of the drill.
3. Deep. This type of hole includes those drills whose length is five times the diameter. When drilling deep holes, it is necessary to periodically eliminate the resulting chips with the use of additional lubricants. It is often necessary to forcefully provide cooling measures for the drill and the workpiece itself, which rapidly rise to too high a temperature as a result of friction. This applies to workpieces made of high-strength alloys. For deep holes, twist drills are used.
4. wide diameter. Drilling holes of large diameter in products of large proportions is a very responsible and time-consuming process. For such holes, cone, crown-shaped or stepped drills are used. Specialists carry out reaming at low tool speeds, trying to ensure the safety of the edges of the workpiece.
5. Complex shape. Sometimes it is necessary to drill through or blind holes in workpieces. different density for internal thread. The technology has to be divided into two steps: preliminary site preparation and drilling itself.
6. Half. Half blanks are drilled, filling the cavities with wood. Stepped holes can be obtained by one of two techniques: reaming (passing a drill of a smaller diameter to the entire depth of the workpiece, followed by reaming with drills of a larger diameter) and reducing the diameter (drilling a hole of a larger diameter to the required depth, followed by replacing a drill of a smaller diameter). As a result, the hole is clearly centered.

Safety when drilling holes in metal workpieces

Start drilling holes in metal blanks with great care, avoiding the rapid destruction of the drill. Compliance with simple rules when drilling will ensure safety and guarantee the release of a quality product at the end of work:

1. On the eve of drilling, it is necessary to carefully check the fixation of all fastening devices on the machine.
2. You can start work in special clothes to prevent any elements from getting under the moving parts of the machine. Protect your eyes from metal shavings with special goggles.
3. When the drill tip enters the metal workpiece, it should already rotate at low speed to avoid dulling.
4. The drill should exit the drilled hole gradually, reducing the speed, but not stopping completely.
5. When the drill tip does not go deep into the workpiece, you will have to check the strength of the metal. When running over the surface with a file, it is possible to determine the degree of strength. If there is no roughness left on the grade, a diamond-tipped drill or a harder material should be selected and drilled at low RPM.
6. Drills of small diameter, which are difficult to fix in the chuck, are recommended to be wrapped around the tail with brass wire to increase the diameter of the girth.
7. If the work is carried out with a polished workpiece, you can put a felt washer on the base of the drill to avoid damage when it comes into contact with the drill chuck.
8. To fix metal blanks made of polished or chrome-plated steel, fabric or leather gaskets are used.
9. When drilling deep holes, a small piece of compressed foam placed on the drill will blow off small metal chips. Also, the foam will make it possible to deepen the drill to the required mark in the production of blind holes.

The power of electric drills must be taken into account when drilling holes in metal workpieces of various hardness. Manufacturers of electric tools mark devices, indicating the technical characteristics on their body. For drills of different power, drills of the corresponding diameter are assumed.

You can entrust any, including drilling, to the specialists of Proflasermet. We will determine the required hole diameter ourselves and select the appropriate tool, of which we have a large selection. As a result, you will receive perfect solution in short time.

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