Challenges And Solutions For Punching Technology in Titanium Alloy Machining

Drilling in titanium alloy machining has always been a technical challenge. Due to its special physical properties, drilling of titanium alloy is more difficult compared to other materials. In the drilling process, the selection of drill bits is crucial. Usually we use ordinary high-speed steel and carbide to make drill bits to cope with the high hardness and wear resistance of titanium alloy.
The design of the drill also needs to be carefully considered. The double top angle design of 118° or 90° can effectively cut off chips and make them easy to remove, thus improving drilling efficiency. However, even with the right drill bit and design, the problem of chip removal during drilling cannot be ignored. If chips are not removed in a timely manner, the drill bit is likely to jam, break, or stick, which can hinder the entire drilling process.
During the drilling process, high temperature and pressure environments can cause titanium alloys to bite strongly against the tool, leading to rapid tool wear and potentially making the drilled hole shape out of round, skewed, or uneven around the hole. These problems may be further exacerbated during subsequent thread tapping, even leading to screw tapping breakage in the hole.
In order to solve these technical difficulties, a series of innovative measures have been taken. First, the use of short, sharp drill bits reduces the contact area with the titanium alloy and reduces galling. Secondly, pouring sufficient coolant in the cutting zone can effectively reduce the temperature and minimize tool wear. In addition, we use low-speed forced feed and support the workpiece with sturdy holders to ensure the stability and precision of the drilling process.

It is also important to pay particular attention to avoiding burr formation at the exit. This requires fine adjustment and control of the drill to ensure smooth drilling. For thick workpieces, we use heavy-duty, short-type machine drills; for deep-hole drilling, oil-fed drills or a series of short drills of varying lengths are used in sequence. It is also vital to maintain a low and constant drilling speed throughout the entire drilling process.
Extra care is needed when drilling through holes. When the hole is about to be drilled through, it is a good idea to back off the drill bit to clean up the bit and the hole and to get rid of drill cuttings. A smoother hole wall can be obtained by using a strong feed when the hole is finally broken.
To ensure a smooth drilling process, we also need to use enough coolant to carry away drill chips. If there is not enough coolant or too much drill cuttings, the drill cuttings should be removed periodically to keep the drill in good working condition.
Through continuous practice and innovation, we have gradually mastered a set of effective methods for titanium alloy drilling processing. These methods not only improve the drilling efficiency and quality, but also provide strong support for the wide application of titanium alloy. We believe that with the continuous progress of technology, the drilling problems in titanium alloy processing will be better solved.