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Flow drilling – create threads quickly without producing any chips
Flow drilling is a drilling method that does not produce any chips. It is used to prepare sturdy and resilient threaded joints in thin-walled metallic materials. The process generates heat using friction, which makes the material malleable and means it can be shaped in a targeted way without any chips. This produces a hole that is thicker than the original material, into which a thread can subsequently be added. The result is a thread that can transfer higher forces. The technique is widely used in industrial applications where threads are created in thin-walled metallic materials, including the automotive industry, furniture production and for heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology.
5 reasons why you should create your next threads using flow drilling
- Save time and money
- No waste & less reworking required due to the chip-free machining
- Very sturdy, resilient threaded joint
- Wide range of potential applications as it is suitable for materials of different thicknesses
- Eliminates the need to keep rivet nuts, weld nuts and press nuts in stock
Discover the new HOLEX flow drills – perfect precision and efficiency
The HOLEX flow drills enable core holes to be produced quickly and precisely in thin-walled materials by using frictional heat. These clever tools can be used in different ways on CNC, NC and pillar drilling machines and come in different versions: standard or long, with or without a collar.
HOLEX M-Drill with collar
The HOLEX M-Drill heats the malleable material so that a thread can be cut. After the machining work is complete, the version with a collar leaves behind an edge which provides additional sturdiness.
HOLEX M-Drill without collar
By generating a sufficient amount of friction, the HOLEX M-Drill heats the material, which in turn produces a hole. In the same work step, the flow drill also deburrs the protruding edge created during the process. A thread can then be cut into the hole straight after.
Please note the following when using this method:
Clamping
Because this method generates heat, please note that it should not be used with every chuck. You should ideally use the matching M-Drill holder, which is equipped with a special cooling function.
Material
- Suitable materials: Suitable materials for flow drilling are ones which can be easily formed, are not prone to cracking and are not brittle. Examples include steel, stainless steel, aluminium and brass.
- Material thickness: The method is particularly advantageous for thin-walled materials as the material becomes thicker, which enables a sturdy thread.
- Surface properties: Avoid working on coated materials as the high amount of heat generated may damage the coating.
Area of application
- Machine requirements: Ensure that your machine can provide the power and speed required for flow drilling. CNC machines and pillar drilling machines are suitable. Hand-held drills are not recommended.
- Lubrication: Ensure there is sufficient lubricant at the flow drill as this will significantly reduce the wear on the flow drill
- Safety measures: Always wear appropriate protective equipment and ensure that the working area is well-ventilated so that the fumes produced by the heat can be dissipated.
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