Tool Wear Patterns in Gun Drilling: What to Look For
I inspect every gun drill before it goes into production and after every 20-50 holes depending on the material. Recognizing tool wear patterns helps me change tools before they break and identify the root cause of accelerated wear. The wear pattern tells me whether the parameters are right, the material is consistent, and the machine is aligned. Problem Description Tool wear in gun drilling is progressive. The cutting edge starts sharp and gradually rounds, chips, or wears away. The rate of wear depends on cutting speed, feed, material hardness, coolant condition, and machine alignment. When one of these factors is wrong, the wear accelerates and the tool fails prematurely. ...