Kennametal
From its unique point design to its proprietary, multiphase coating, the HPX drill’s innovative design helps manufacturers master holemaking operations in steel
  1. Cutting Tools

Next-Generation Solid-Carbide Drill

July 23, 2020
HPX drill provides up to twice the tool life and three times the productivity compared to competing products, even in dry or minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) applications.

KENNAMETAL has expanded its solid-carbide drilling portfolio with the introduction of the HPX drill for high-performance, high-volume drilling in steel. Designed to quickly and efficiently punch holes up to 8xD in any ISO-P steel material, the HPX drill provides up to twice the tool life and three times the productivity compared to competing products, even in dry or minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) applications.

Steels are used for a wide variety of automotive, commercial, and industrial applications, often in production volumes where maximum tool life and throughput is critical. Yet steel creates a high degree of mechanical loading during drilling, resulting in forces that lead to rapid tool wear and chipping of the tool’s more vulnerable corners. Kennametal eliminated this failure point by applying a small corner chamfer and straightening the HPX drill’s cutting edges.
Kennametal
“The HPX drill can run very high cutting parameters,” according to product manager Frank Martin. “It lasts longer, generates lower forces, and makes better quality holes. What more can you ask for in a drill?”
“The HPX drill can run very high cutting parameters,” according to product manager Frank Martin. “It lasts longer, generates lower forces, and makes better quality holes. What more can you ask for in a drill?”

Together with the rounded margin lands running down the length of the flutes, this serves to stabilize the drill while reducing friction.

Built-up edge is another common problem when drilling alloy steels. The HPX drill’s straight cutting edge helps eliminate some of this, but the real clincher is the drill’s optimized edge preparation.

This gentle hone further reduces the friction that leads to built-up edge, as do the tool’s highly polished flutes. Couple that with a carbide grade designed specifically for steel—KCP15B—and a proprietary, multilayer AlTiN coating, the HPX drill sets a new standard for tool life in high-volume ISO-P drilling.
Kennametal
The HPX drill produces consistently higher tool life in steel than competitive tools, according to the developer, even when feeds and speeds are significantly increased.
The HPX drill produces consistently higher tool life in steel than competitive tools, according to the developer, even when feeds and speeds are significantly increased.

Lower forces, better reliability — Special gashing on the HPX drill improves the chip formation and curls a smaller chip. The material-specific, HPX point geometry creates significantly lower cutting forces, which works great for machines with lower spindle capabilities, unstable cutting conditions, or unstable workpiece clamping. A continuous cross section makes the HPX drill more resistant against tool breakage, and the ultrahigh polished chip flutes ensure superior chip evacuation.

For manufacturers seeking to switch from high-pressure cooling to dry cutting or MQL systems, or aiming for more efficient chip evacuation along with low-friction cutting, the HPX drill delivers on both counts. The drill comes equipped with a leakproof MQL interface that meets DIN 6535 and 69090-03 standards—no more special orders or in-house modifications.

Learn more at www.kennametal.com