ISSN 1068798X, Russian Engineering Research, 2013, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 170–171. © Allerton Press, Inc., 2013.

Original Russian Text © S.V. Kirsanov, A.S. Babaev, 2012, published in STIN, 2012, No. 8, pp. 26–27.

SmallDiameter HardAlloy Bits for Gun Production

S. V. Kirsanov and A. S. Babaev
Tomsk Polytechnic University, Tomsk
DOI: 10.3103/S1068798X13030088

Numerous German firms (such as Botek, Gühring,
and tbt Tiefbohrtechnik) are beginning to produce
hardalloy bits (diameter 0.5–12.0 mm) with high
rigidity and strength, for gun production [1].
Structurally, such bits consist of a hardalloy shaft 1
with a tip (working section); the shaft is soldered to
steel tailpiece 2 (Fig. 1a). The shaft is produced from
round hardalloy rods with a crescentshaped aperture
(Fig. 1b). The rods are manufactured by die pressing
from singlecarbide hard alloys containing 6–10%
carbide binder; the grain size of the tungsten carbide is
0.5–1.3 μm. Such alloys are characterized by high
elastic modulus and flexural strength: E = (5.3–6.4) ×
105 MPa; σfl = 3000–3400 MPa (or more). That facil
itates high tool rigidity and strength.
In bit manufacture, the hardalloy rod is ground to
a cylinder by means of diamond wheels. Therefore,
the rod diameter dro = d + Δgr + Td, where d is the rated
bit diameter (d = 1–12 mm); Δgr is the margin in
grinding (Δgr = 0.2 mm); Td is the tolerance on the
margin (Td = 0.2–0.3 mm).
Besides the rod diameter, we must also know the
whose diameter is less than 2 mm and larger than 15–
20 μm for larger bits.
An important parameter in bit design is the area of
the Vshaped exit channel produced by grinding with
diamond wheels for the removal of chip from the cut
ting zone (Fig. 1c): Fex ch = 0.2828d2.
The area Fex ch affects not only the bit’s strength and
rigidity but also the speed vf of the lubricant and cool
ant fluid and hence the chip removal from the cutting
zone.
To ensure reliable chip removal in a Vshaped
channel, vf = 10–15 m/s was recommended in [3].
However, calculations show that this range is only
applicable to bits whose diameter is less than 10 mm.
For smaller bits, the recommended speed is consider
ably higher: for example, vf = 60 m/s for bits whose
diameter is 1.2 mm (Fig. 2).
(a)
B C
1 2
A
d

dimensions of the crescentshaped supply channel in

the bit. That channel transmits lubricant and coolant
fluid to the cutting zone (Fig. 1c). The channel thick B C
ness b is unknown here. Analysis of the design of hard A B–B C–C
alloy bits for gun production manufactured by
Gühring and hardalloy tips manufactured by Hart
4
metall (Czech Republic) indicate that b = –0.0002 d 1 –
3 2 (b) (c) 120°
0.0052 d 1 – 0.0379 d 1 + 0.2525d1 – 0.1030, where d1 is
the shaft diameter in the bit: d1 = (0.92–0.96)d.
Calculations of the channel area from the formula 0.05d
Fsup ch = 0.458d1b + 0.785b2, show that it is very small. b Fex ch
Consequently, the pressure of the lubricant and cool
ant fluid supplied to the cutting zone is large: 15– Fsup ch
20 MPa for a bit whose diameter is less than 1.5 mm
[2]. That increases the heating of the lubricant and
coolant fluid, as well as the noise and vibration.
d1
d ro

Therefore, to reduce the pressure of the fluid, 15° 15°

Botek recommends the use of oil whose viscosity is
ν40°C = 8–10 mm2/s for bits whose diameter is no more
than 1.5 mm and ν40°C = 10–15 mm2/s for bits whose
diameter is more than 1.5 mm. To avoid clogging of
the supply channels by slurry, Botek recommends the
removal of particles larger than 5–15 μm from bits
Fig. 1. Hardalloy bit for gun production (a) and cross sec
tion of the blank (b) and the shaft produced from it (c):
(1) shaft; (2) tailpiece; d, rated bit diameter (d = 8–12 mm);
dro, rod diameter; d1, shaft diameter; b, Fsup ch, thickness
and area of supply channel; Fex ch, area of exit channel.

170
 SMALLDIAMETER HARDALLOY BITS FOR GUN PRODUCTION
In drilling by hardalloy bits for gun production,
the cutting speed is high and the supply per rotation is
small: a few microns or even fractions of a micron for
bits whose diameter is less than 1 mm [2]. In that case,
the thickness of the cut layers is so small that, in prac
tice, the rounding radius of the cutting edges must be
4–8 μm in bits whose diameter is less than 1.5 mm and
8–12 μm in larger bits [2]. To obtain a rounding radius
of 4–8 μm by grinding, the grain size of the tungsten
carbide must be 0.5–0.8 μm, as against 0.8–1.3 μm for
a rounding radius of 8–12 μm. Correspondingly, the
grain size of the diamond wheels must be 100/80 in
rough grinding, 63/50 in fine grinding, and 28/20 in
finishing.
The hardalloy bits for gun production are ground
by the plane method [2]. To avoid surface damage and
crumbling, the wheel must rotate toward the cutting
edge.
Given the lack of technical specifications regarding
smalldiameter hardalloy bits for gun production,
specialists at Tomsk Polytechnic University have pro
duced draft specifications [2]. The draft includes
requirements (on the basic dimensions, characteris
tics, labeling, and packing of the bits); acceptance
rules; methods for monitoring, testing, transportation
and storage; and manufacturing guarantees for the
bits. Technical specifications constitute a legal docu
RUSSIAN ENGINEERING RESEARCH Vol. 33 No. 3
171
vf, m/s
60
40
20
0 2 4 6 8 10 12
d, mm
Fig. 2. Influence of the diameter d of the hardalloy bit on
the speed vf of the fluid in a Vexit channel.
ment that provides the basis for contracts to supply
such bits and for the associated advertising.
REFERENCES
1. Kirsanov, S.V., Grechishnikov, V.A., Grigor’ev, S.N.,
and Skhirtladze, A.G., Obrabotka glubokikh otverstii v
mashinostroenii: Spravochnik (Machining Deep Holes
in Manufacturing: A Handbook), Moscow: Mashinos
troenie, 2010.
2. Kirsanov, S.V., Drilling of Deep Holes by Means of
OnePiece HardAlloy Bits for Gun Production, Spra
vochn., Inzh. Zh., 2011, appendix 3.
3. Konrad, K.J. et al., Taschenbuch der Werkzeugma
schinen, Leipzig: Carl Hanser, 2002.
2013