Drilling Before vs After Heat Treatment: Tradeoffs

The Core Tradeoff in Process Planning The choice between drilling before or after heat treatment depends on the tolerance requirements and the material. Both approaches have tradeoffs. I have made this decision hundreds of times over my career, and I have developed a framework for deciding which sequence works best for a given part. The wrong choice can add 30% to the production cost or cause a 5% scrap rate from distortion. ...

June 12, 2026 · Engineer at the Deep Hole