ITC Deep Hole Drilling Line Extends Productivity

28 December 2020

The cutting tool experts at Widia have now extended their TDMX indexable insert drilling line to further boost stability, reliability and performance when undertaking challenging drilling operations. Available in the UK from Industrial Tooling Corporation (ITC), the extension to the TDMX Top Drill Modular X line now sees new tool bodies and insert geometries offered by the UK’s industry-leading cutting tool manufacturer.

The Widia TDMX has long been the industry benchmark indexable insert drilling line, but now the portfolio has been extended, adding 1.5XD and 12XD drill bodies to the existing 3XD, 5XD and 8XD. The new 1.5XD addition will further enhance the productivity, rigidity and stability when drilling shallow holes whereas the 12XD range will enable manufacturers to enjoy the benefits of their favourite drilling line when conducting deep hole drilling.

The TDMX drill body incorporates polished flutes, through coolant channels and margin lands on the entire body length to ensure straightness and increased hole quality. In addition, the seat design provides exceptional stability to improve performance and secure the insert when undertaking extremely demanding applications. This design includes a double seating angle to maximise stability, a front clamping screw for easy to change indexing of the inserts and a gash that is included in the carbide tipped geometry to protect the steel tool body from the swarf.

These attributes that have made the TDMX the industry-leading indexable drill are now offered in the 1.5XD designation that is available in diameters from 16 to 31mm in 1mm increments with a cutting depth from 26 to 48mm. Likewise, the 12XD range for deep hole machining is available in diameters from 16 to 31mm in 1mm increments. However, the uncompromising level of stability of the 12XD TDMX drills enables users to drill extremely precise and concentric holes with unparalleled productivity to depths from 204mm to 384mm, depending on the diameter drill selected.

As well as adding two new drill lengths, Widia has also developed a new indexable insert geometry for the TDMX Series. Complementing the existing PK(M) inserts for steel and cast-iron drilling, Widia has launched the FPE(M) geometry for drilling flat bottomed blind holes, stacked plate drilling and also as a piloting insert for deep hole drilling. This geometry makes the new FPE(M) inserts ideal for use with the new 12XD drill bodies. The new inserts are available with diameters from 16 to 40mm in 0.5mm increments with additional diameters available for all common pre-threading hole requirements.