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Garbid Drill Bit

is a solid carbide drill designed for high-speed and high-precision drilling operations in hard-to-machine materials such as tool steel, stainless steel, and superalloys. Known for its exceptional hardness and wear resistance, the Garbid Drill Bit is ideal for applications requiring dimensional accuracy, surface finish, and long tool life, especially in CNC and automated machining environments.

1. Material Composition

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Garbid Drill Bits are manufactured from advanced materials engineered for extreme hardness, thermal stability, and precision in high-speed drilling operations. The primary materials used are:

Solid Tungsten Carbide – The core material known for its extreme hardness, compressive strength, and wear resistance. It maintains cutting edge sharpness even under high temperatures and loads.
Cobalt Binder (Co) – A metallic binder phase mixed with tungsten carbide particles to enhance toughness and resistance to chipping during impact or vibration.
TiAlN or AlTiN Coating – Titanium Aluminum Nitride coatings are applied to increase surface hardness, reduce friction, and improve thermal resistance, especially in dry or high-speed machining.
Diamond-Like Coatings (Optional) – In ultra-hard applications, DLC or PCD coatings may be used to improve tool life when machining abrasive composites or hardened steels.

Characteristics of Materials:

Solid Tungsten Carbide

Used for: Core body of the drill bit.

Properties: Offers high hardness (~90 HRA), low thermal expansion, and excellent dimensional stability during high-speed operations.

Cobalt Binder

Used for: Toughening phase within the carbide matrix.

Properties: Enhances impact resistance, reduces brittleness, and helps absorb cutting vibrations under dynamic loading.

TiAlN / AlTiN Coating

Used for: Surface coating to extend tool life.

Properties: Provides thermal protection up to 900°C, excellent oxidation resistance, and reduced chip adhesion during high-speed drilling.

Diamond-Like Coating (DLC)

Used for: Specialty applications involving abrasive or hardened materials.

Properties: Offers extremely low friction, high wear resistance, and extended tool life in dry or abrasive drilling conditions.

2. Manufacturing Process

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The manufacturing of Garbid Drill Bits involves a highly controlled process to ensure dimensional accuracy, cutting performance, and durability in hard materials. The following are the major steps involved:

1. Powder Preparation

Tungsten carbide and cobalt powders are blended in precise ratios. This powder mixture is ball-milled to achieve uniform distribution and optimal particle size for compaction.

2. Pressing and Preform Shaping

The mixed powder is pressed into cylindrical blanks using cold isostatic pressing (CIP) or uniaxial pressing to form solid preforms of the drill shape.

3. Sintering

The compacted blanks are sintered in a high-temperature furnace (1,400–1,500°C) in a vacuum or hydrogen atmosphere. This process bonds the tungsten carbide and cobalt into a dense, solid structure.

4. CNC Grinding and Flute Forming

After sintering, the blanks are ground using multi-axis CNC grinding machines to form the drill point, flutes, and shank. High-precision diamond wheels ensure sharp cutting edges and tight tolerances.

5. Surface Coating

The ground drills are coated with TiAlN, AlTiN, or DLC using PVD (Physical Vapor Deposition) techniques. This enhances wear resistance, reduces heat buildup, and improves performance in high-speed applications.

6. Inspection and Balancing

Each drill bit undergoes dimensional inspection, edge sharpness verification, and surface finish checks using optical comparators and laser measuring systems. Some drills are also balanced for high-speed operation.

7. Laser Marking and Packaging

Finally, the drill bits are laser-marked with specifications (diameter, grade, coating), cleaned, oiled, and packed in anti-static or plastic tubes to protect edges during handling and transport.

3. Challenges and Limitations of Garbid Drill Bit

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While Garbid Drill Bits offer exceptional performance for precision drilling in hard materials, they also come with certain limitations and challenges that must be managed for effective use:

1. Brittleness of Solid Carbide

Challenge: Despite their hardness, solid carbide drill bits are brittle and prone to chipping or fracture if subjected to shock or improper handling.

Limitation: Not suitable for handheld tools or poorly aligned machines where vibration and lateral force are high.

2. High Initial Cost

Challenge: Carbide drills are significantly more expensive than HSS or cobalt drills.

Limitation: May not be cost-effective for short production runs or low-precision applications unless high tool life is required.

3. Requires Rigid Machining Setup

Challenge: Carbide drills perform best in stable, vibration-free environments like CNC machining centers.

Limitation: Poor machine rigidity or misalignment may lead to premature tool failure or dimensional inaccuracies.

4. Limited Regrindability

Challenge: Once worn, carbide drills are difficult and expensive to regrind without precision equipment.

Limitation: Regrinding may not be economical for smaller diameter bits, making replacement more practical.

5. Sensitive to Thermal Shock

Challenge: Rapid cooling or inconsistent lubrication during high-speed drilling can cause thermal cracking in the drill bit.

Limitation: Requires proper coolant application and controlled feed rates to avoid premature tool failure.

4. Costing

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5. Properties and Characteristics

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Garbid Drill Bits are engineered for precision drilling in demanding materials. Their key performance characteristics make them a preferred choice in advanced machining environments:

High Hardness and Wear Resistance

Properties: Solid carbide construction offers hardness values above 90 HRA, enabling superior wear resistance and prolonged tool life in abrasive or hard materials.

Precision Cutting Geometry

Properties: Optimized flute design, point angle, and margin geometry ensure reduced cutting forces, accurate hole dimensions, and minimized burr formation.

High-Speed Performance

Properties: Designed to withstand elevated cutting speeds and temperatures, especially in CNC and automated drilling operations, without losing edge integrity.

Thermal Stability with Coatings

Properties: Advanced coatings such as TiAlN or AlTiN enhance oxidation resistance and reduce heat buildup, allowing dry or semi-dry machining in difficult materials.

Dimensional Accuracy

Properties: Tightly controlled grinding and point geometry deliver accurate hole diameters, repeatability, and consistent performance across production batches.

Low Friction and Chip Evacuation

Properties: Polished flutes and sharp cutting edges minimize chip load and friction, enhancing surface finish and reducing tool wear during deep hole drilling.

6. Frequently Asked Questions

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Garbid Drill Bit

One Click Product Costing

Garbid Drill Bit

1. Material Composition

Characteristics of Materials:

Solid Tungsten Carbide

Cobalt Binder

TiAlN / AlTiN Coating

Diamond-Like Coating (DLC)

2. Manufacturing Process

1. Powder Preparation

2. Pressing and Preform Shaping

3. Sintering

4. CNC Grinding and Flute Forming

5. Surface Coating

6. Inspection and Balancing

7. Laser Marking and Packaging

3. Challenges and Limitations of Garbid Drill Bit

1. Brittleness of Solid Carbide

2. High Initial Cost

3. Requires Rigid Machining Setup

4. Limited Regrindability

5. Sensitive to Thermal Shock

4. Costing

1. Raw Material Cost:

2. CNC Grinding and Fluting:

3. Sintering Process:

4. Coating Cost:

5. Inspection and Finishing:

6. Packaging and Marking:

7. Total Cost Estimate:

5. Properties and Characteristics

High Hardness and Wear Resistance

Precision Cutting Geometry

High-Speed Performance

Thermal Stability with Coatings

Dimensional Accuracy

Low Friction and Chip Evacuation

6. Frequently Asked Questions