Fasteners and Fixings: Why Do My Drill Bits Keep Breaking?

Nothing can be more frustrating during a home improvement project than a dill bit breaking. After all, there are only so many of these fasteners and fixings in each drill set, and constant trips to hardware store to purchase new ones can strain your wallet and your productivity. If you are having trouble with breaking drill bits, here is some information to help you determine the causes and figure out some solutions.

Drill Bit Design

One of the most common reasons for failure of one of these fasteners and fixings is a failure in the design.

Poor Strength- The drill breaks because a large amount of deflection at the end of the bit. To avoid this, change the web taper and thickness. Little Chip Pocket-An extreme twist can cause the middle of the flute to break. In order to prevent this from occurring, make the chip pocket larger and change the web taper and thickness. Unnecessary Long Flute and Body-If the flute and body of the bits are too long, the accuracy of the bit will be incorrect. Make sure the bit is an appropriate length before you attempt to use the drill bit.

Problems with the Manufacturing

Issuing involving how the drill bit was made may cause problems with your bits.

Geometries of the Drill are Unbalanced- This can cause problems with the accuracy of the drilling, can cause gaps, and chipping. Worn Diameters-If the diameter is worn, the cutting resistance will increase and the drill bits will often experience breakage.

Conditions of Drilling

As you are using one of these fasteners and fixings, you should consider what kind of drill bit you have selected for each material. If you use the wrong bit for your project, you may experience chipping and breaking. Here are just a few more conditions which can affect how secure your bit is.

High and Low Chipload- If you have a high or load chipload, progressive use can result in inaccurate holes, increased thrust, and breakage. Make sure the chipload of your bit is correct before you use it. Spindle Speed- A high spindle speed can increase the bit's resistance to cutting. Low spindle speed can increase friction between the bit and material. This friction causes heat and can lead to broken bits. Applying the right speed can ensure prevention of this type of breakage. Backup Boards- If the material you are working with has a backup board, you will most likely have to deal with swarf particles generated by the backup board. These swarf particles stick to the drill bit and can cause it to break. Make sure to only drill as far into the material as recommended to avoid this.

Broken drill bits can be frustrating, but if you understand why the breakage is occurring, you may be able to find a prevent damage to these fasteners and fixings. Make sure your bits bits are always clean and be sure to use the appropriate ones with your materials to lessen the chances of breakage.