Choosing an appropriate drill bit for your application is essential to get the needed diamond drilling outcomes. The right drill will allow you to save a large part of your time and resources. But you should consider various factors for getting your hands on the right one. For instance, the drill bits should be durable and engineered to ensure error-free operation. You should also consider the job at hand when choosing them. For example, quality core drill bits are available in various diameters, so it’s possible to get the right one according to the task. Different types of drill bits are appropriate for particular applications. Here are some essential factors you should consider when selecting a suitable diamond drill.
Assess the Material
Diamond drill bits are employed for coring granite, concrete, and other hard materials. The materials you want to drill significantly impact the kinds of diamond drills, accessories, and equipment you will need. In case you are boring a rigid material like alumina or sapphire, it’s suggested that you utilise a metal bonded (sintered) diamond drill. But for softer materials like soft stone and composites, you require an electroplated diamond drill.
As a general rule, hard materials need a softer bond for drilling quickly. On the other hand, softer materials need a more rigid bond for lasting for a more significant time.
Assess the Equipment to Use
The equipment you use and its physical state govern the feeds, speeds, and coolants you can utilise with the diamond drill bits. Irrespective of the drill you utilise, you won’t get the required performance if you don’t employ the appropriate drilling equipment. Diamond drills are generally used on a drill press, cordless drill, angle grinder, milling machine, and high-speed air spindle. Proper drilling equipment for the drilling application is imperative to your drill selection.
Know the Chipping Requirements and Tolerances
The grit size of the diamond drill bit exerts a considerable influence in determining the quality of the surface finish, degree of chipping, smoothness, and material deformation you’ll get. In an application where chipping and surface finishing are essential, a sintered diamond drill with a fine diamond grit is ideal.
In case you use diamond drills for drilling holes in a material that needs particular tolerances, you’ll likely require a custom diamond drill. You can find the tolerance specified on ID, OD, and on the drill’s concentricity.
Know the Difference between Sintered and Coated Diamond Drill Bits
Coated diamonds bond to the drill bit through nickel in a sole layer. They are not as durable as sintered but are an inexpensive alternative. In sintered diamond drill bits, the diamond grit gets bonded to the matrix at extremely high temperatures. Thus, it has multiple layers of diamonds. By cleaning with an aluminium oxide stone, they allow the maintenance of the life of the drill bit and reveal newer diamond layers every time.
Coated diamond drill bits indicate that diamonds are coated in a sole layer on the steel shank. After this layer is worn, you will have to replace the drill bit. In contrast, sintered diamond drills last much longer but are pretty expensive than their coated drill bit counterpart.
Choosing the right drill bit is imperative for getting the desired drilling result. Today you can find different kinds of core drill bits for sale online. They include dry diamond drill bits that are very hard, which facilitates them to work uninterruptedly in situations where introducing water isn’t feasible. Invest in quality drill bits after considering the nature of your task at hand.