Introduction: Thermal Drilling Technology for Sheet Metal Drilling & Tapping
What is Thermal Drilling: Making Holes without Removing Material
- Drilling holes removes metal from the work piece
- If the metal is retained, the hole becomes stronger
- It can allow formation of a collar which can be tapped or used as a through hole for welded, soldered or brazen connections
Thermal Drilling Process:
Formdrill® tools are made from Tungsten Carbide. Their conical body has specially developed lobed geometry. Thermal drilling process is a method of making a hole and simultaneously producing a bush from the parent metal to give additional support as a bearing surface or for a thread.
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| Make a hole and form a bush in one operation. | Frictional heat is generated by speed and pressure to form the material. | Fast cycles(2-4 sec for M8-M10 holes) |
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| The completed bush gives additonal support as a bearing for a thread. | Threads are produced by roll forming. No material is removed. | Strong connection with no parts to break free improves joint connection. |
Advantages of Thermal Drilling Process:
| Versatile | Useful for malleable material – mild steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminum, etc. Useful for Tubes, Pipes, Angles, Channels, Flats of wall thickness 1-10 mm (M.S.) |
| Fast | Increase Production with Faster Cycle Time: M8-M10 holes within 2-4 seconds |
| Strong | Improvement in quality by creating stronger joints having pull out strength greater than DIN Standard for Welded Nut |
| Secure | No inserts to break free Cleaner Working Environment due to Chip-less Process |
| Cost | Eliminates usage of welded nuts, threaded inserts thereby reducing cost |
| Easy to Use | Easy to Use Can be used with any good quality Pillar Drill, CNC Drilling, Precision Milling, CNC Machining Center, with good spindle bearings, adequate spindle speed and power. |
You will need:
Accuracy:
- Ovality of hole: 0.1mm