Have you ever struggled to achieve the perfect drilling results in your metalworking projects? This article breaks down the essential cutting parameters for different materials, providing key insights into selecting the right speeds, feeds, and angles for high-speed steel and carbide drill bits. By mastering these parameters, you’ll enhance efficiency, reduce tool wear, and ensure precision in your drilling operations. Dive in to learn how to optimize your drilling process for various materials and take your machining skills to the next level.
| Workpiece material | Hardness | Cutting speed V/(m/min) | Drill bit diameter d/mm | Drill bit helix angle /(°) | Drill point angle /(°) | |||||||
| Brinell HBS | Rockwell HRB | <3 | 3~6 | 6~13 | 13~19 | 19~25 | ||||||
| Feed rate f/(mm/r) | ||||||||||||
| Aluminum and aluminum alloy | 45~105 | ~62 | 105 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.25 | 0.40 | 0.48 | 32~42 | 90~118 | ||
| Aluminum and aluminum alloy | High machinability | ~124 | 10~70 | 60 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.25 | 0.40 | 0.48 | 15~40 | 118 | |
| Low machinability | ~124 | 10~70 | 20 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.25 | 0.40 | 0.48 | 0~25 | 118 | ||
| Magnesium and magnesium alloy | 50~90 | ~52 | 45~120 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.25 | 0.40 | 0.48 | 25~35 | 118 | ||
| Zinc alloy | 80~100 | 41~62 | 75 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.25 | 0.40 | 0.48 | 32~42 | 118 | ||
| Carbon steel | ~0.25C | 125~175 | 71~88 | 24 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 25~35 | 118 | |
| ~0.50C | 175~225 | 88~98 | 20 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 25~35 | 118 | ||
| ~0.90C | 175~225 | 88~96 | 17 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 25~35 | 118 | ||
| Alloy steel | 0.12~0.25C | 175~225 | 88~98 | 21 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.20 | 0.40 | 0.48 | 25~35 | 118 | |
| 0.30~0.65C | 175~225 | 88~98 | 15~18 | 0.05 | 0.09 | 0.15 | 0.21 | 0.26 | 25~35 | 118 | ||
| Tool steel | 196 | 94 | 18 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 25~35 | 118 | ||
| Gray cast iron | Soft | 120~150 | ~80 | 43~46 | 0.08 | 0.15 | 0.25 | 0.40 | 0.48 | 30~30 | 90~118 | |
| Medium-hard | 160~220 | 80~97 | 24~34 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 14~25 | 90~118 | ||
| Malleable cast iron | 112~126 | ~71 | 27~37 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 20~30 | 90~118 | ||
| Ductile cast iron | 190~225 | ~98 | 18 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 14~25 | 90~118 | ||
| Plastic | — | — | 30 | 0.08 | 0.13 | 0.20 | 0.26 | 0.32 | 15~25 | 118 | ||
| Hard rubber | — | — | 30~90 | 0.05 | 0.09 | 0.15 | 0.21 | 0.26 | 10~20 | 90~118 | ||
| Workpiece material | Tensile strength resistance σb/MP a | Hardness HBS | Feed rate f/(mm/r) | Cutting speed V/(m/min) | Cutting fluid | ||
| d/mm | |||||||
| 5~10 | 11~30 | 5~10 | 11~30 | ||||
| Tool steel | 1000 1800~1900 2300 | 300 500 575 | 0.08~0.12 0.04~0.15 <0.02 | 0.12~0.2 0.05~0.08 <0.03 | 35~40 8~11 <6 | 40~45 11~14 7~10 | Non-water soluble cutting oil |
| Nickel-chromium steel | 1000 1400 | 300 420 | 0.08~0.12 0.04~0.05 | 0.12~0.2 0.05~0.08 | 35~40 15~20 | 40~45 20~25 | |
| Cast steel | 500~600 | —— | 0.08~0.12 | 0.12~0.2 | 35~38 | 38~40 | |
| Stainless steel | —— | —— | 0.08~0.12 | 0.12~0.2 | 25~27 | 27~35 | |
| Heat-resistant steel | —— | —— | 0.01~0.05 | 0.05~0.1 | 3~6 | 5~8 | |
| Gray cast iron | —— | 200 | 0.2~0.3 | 0.3~0.5 | 40~45 | 45~60 | Dry cutting or emulsion |
| Alloy cast iron | —— | 230~350 | 0.03~0.07 | 0.05~0.1 | 20~40 | 25~45 | Non-water soluble cutting oil or emulsion |
| —— | 350~400 | 0.03~0.05 | 0.04~0.08 | 8~20 | 10~25 | ||
| Malleable cast iron | —— | —— | 0.15~0.2 | 0.2~0.4 | 35~38 | 38~40 | Dry cutting or emulsion |
| Brass | —— | —— | 0.07~0.15 | 0.1~0.2 | 70~100 | 90~100 | |
| Cast bronze | —— | —— | 0.07~0.1 | 0.09~0.2 | 50~70 | 55~75 | |
| Aluminum | —— | —— | 0.15~0.3 | 0.3~0.8 | 250~270 | 270~300 | Dry cutting or gasoline |
| Hard rubber | —— | —— | 0.2~0.4 | 30~60 | |||
| Thermosetting resin | —— | —— | 0.04~0.1 | 60~90 | |||
| Plastic | —— | —— | 0.05~0.25 | 30~60 | |||
| Glass | —— | —— | Hand feed | 4.5~4.7 | |||
| Fiberglass composite material | —— | —— | 0.063~0.127 | 198 | |||
As the founder of MachineMFG, I have dedicated over a decade of my career to the metalworking industry. My extensive experience has allowed me to become an expert in the fields of sheet metal fabrication, machining, mechanical engineering, and machine tools for metals. I am constantly thinking, reading, and writing about these subjects, constantly striving to stay at the forefront of my field. Let my knowledge and expertise be an asset to your business.
EN 
AR 
DE 
ES 
FR 
ID 
IT 
JA 
NL 
PT 
PT_BR 
RU 
KO 
TR