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In manufacturing drilling accuracy is crucial to ensure product quality and irregular holes can make a product from first class to third class. For ensuring precise design and shape in product manufacture durable drill bits that are wear-resistant are vital. This is because in machining all sorts of materials are drilled from soft metals like aluminum and polymers like ABS and Teflon which are quite malleable to cast iron which is brittle as well as glass and composites that are even more brittle. The alloys of steel can be the hardest to cut through, and due to such a diversity of materials, getting a reliable drill bit made of a tough material can take drilling accuracy to the next level. In this blog, we will make a detailed comparison between two drill bits, Cobalt drill bits and carbide drill bits, to see which delivers the better performance. Understanding Carbide Drill Bits The composition of a carbide drill bit is a material made from a mixture of tungsten and carbon. The chemical composition of carbon and tungsten gives rise to a material that is particularly durable and delivers excellent performance in automated cutting tools that work at a fast rate. These carbide drills maintain the correct precision level in high-speed drilling and maintain a reliable drilling performance in cutting a variety of materials like fiber-glass reinforced plastics and heavy metals. Carbide drill bits have an exceptional hardness but are also brittle. But carbide drill bits are not a suitable fit for hand drilling tools and are better for high production drilling. Understanding Cobalt Drill Bits Cobalt drill bits are manufactured from steel that contains about 5 to 8% cobalt, so they are an alloy of steel. The addition of cobalt to steel results in the alloy being more wear-resistant and thermally resistant. These qualities are crucial for making the drill bit extra durable. These drill bits deliver the best cutting performance on stainless steel drilling and other ferrous metals. Carbide Drill Bit Benefits ✅ These drill bits do not wear out easily and have a long service life. They can drill about 1500 to 2000 holes before getting blunt. ✅ They have a higher hardness compared to cobalt and are also much more thermally resistant. The result is that they do not get damaged or chipped easily. ✅ Carbide drill bits perform well in high speed drilling tasks and shorten the cycle time drastically. This is great for operational productivity and higher industrial output. ✅ No need for peck drilling is reqired since carbide drill bits hardness eliminates this additional drilling procedure which means less hassle. ✅ The toughness of carbide make the drill bit capable of cutting drill bits in coolant based procedures. This means that less heat treatment is needed for the drilled part and this causes lesser wear on the carbide drill tool. Cobalt Drill Bit Benefits ✅ This drill bit can be sharpened again easily even after frequent use unlike the carbide drill bit. ✅ It cost less than carbide so it suits manufacturers with a limited budget. Howeve it is not as precise as carbide drill bit. ✅ Ensure a speedy cycle time since it has self-centering points. ✅ They are suited perfectly for deep drilling performance as they can drill five times their shaft size. ✅ Cobalt drill bits are very versatile as they can cut a wide range of materials, from metals to non-metals. Carbide Drill Bits Drawbacks ✅ In comparison to cobalt, carbide drill bits are much more expensive and so carbide drilling equipment is more suitable for established manufacturing firms that have the budget to spare. ✅ Once carbide drill bits lose their sharpness it takes some effort to sharpen them again. This means more downtime which may affect productivity. The hard nature of carbide means that sharpening them again is a lengthy process. ✅ Replacement cost is higher once the drill bit becomes blunt. Nevertheless the durability of the carbide drill bit is higher than cobalt so they may not need frequent replacement. Cobalt Drill Bit Drawbacks ✅ The service life of cobalt drill bit is shorter than carbide drill bits and become blunt after drilling 100 to 200 holes. ✅ These drill bits cannot match the pace of carbide drill bits and are not suited for high-speed manufacturing environments. ✅ They chip easily during drilling through a hard material. Which is Better? A comparable case can be presented for various items, ranging from premium kitchen gadgets to CNC machinery, and if your workshop possesses one of the latter, don’t undermine its capabilities by opting for inexpensive drills and other cutting implements. Carbide not only offers cutting speeds that are four to eight times greater than those of cobalt, but also significantly higher feedrates. Additionally, carbide drills offer a functionality not found in their cobalt counterparts—coolant through-the-tool—eliminating the necessity to peck. When combined with high-pressure coolant (HPC), solid carbide outperforms conventional drills significantly. That doesn't mean cobalt is outdated, though. For prototype tasks and low-quantity projects, the elevated expense of carbide likely isn’t justified. Nor is it suitable for restoration tasks or unstable machining situations, where bending can result in catastrophe. Cobalt is additionally better suited for softer materials such as mild steel or aluminum, yet once more, carbide's superior hole quality and straightness definitely warrant its application in high-volume scenarios. Conclusion The solution depends on the number of jobs, equipment setup and stability, as well as the budget on hand. Let’s begin with costs. Like all products that provide enhanced performance, carbide-cutting tools are considerably more expensive. The additional cost varies based on the manufacturer and tool design, but you can estimate at least double the price for significantly enhanced tool longevity and possibly 10-20 times the material removal per drill. Ultimately, selecting the appropriate tool involves calculating, inquiring, and embracing new technologies.
