How to Drill Inconel 718
There are a number of factors that determine the performance of deep hole drilling in the production of corrosion resistant alloys, such as Inconel 718. One of the main challenges is tool wear and accelerated deformation. This can reduce the productivity and thereby the cost of manufacturing such high-performance materials.
The conventional BTA drills tend to get worn out rapidly and require frequent regrinding and replacement. This increases the cost of the machining process and lowers the machining efficiency, especially for high-speed machining.
Hence, there is a need to develop alternative process strategies for high-speed machining of Inconel 718 that would address the tool wear and deformation problems. Amongst those is the discontinuous machining approach that contains a periodical interruption of the machining process with targeted wetting and cooling of the cutting tools.
Our company presents good material of BTA inserts to address these challenges. This material has a low thermal conductivity and is highly resistant to high-temperature deformation, which makes it ideal for use in machining of Inconel 718.