How to drill Titanium?

[PoiToi]

Does anyone have any tips for drilling Ti??

I'm drilling (or, not..) a .096" Hole .70" deep in CP2 Ti, and getting 4 parts out of a solid carbide drill.

I've made sure everything is on center, tried putting some Dark gooey tapping compound in the oil (at the suggestion of the old Brownie guys) and just about torn all my hair out trying to get this to drill, and tap. Oh yeah, a 4-48 tap goes .55" deep in the hole.

Here is my latest chunk of code that doesn't work... I got 3 parts from the tap and 4 parts from the drill with this one.

M03S1=2200
T2100(#.120 DRILL)
M140
G0X0Z-.02T21
G83Z.350F.001Q.040
G0Z-.05T0

T2200(#41 TAP DRILL)
M03S1=2300
G0X0Z-.05T22
G00Z.3
G83Z.740F.0008Q.040
G00Z-.08

M97
/M03S1=200
/T2323(#4-48 TAP)
/G00X0Z-.1
/Z0.0
/G84Z.6400D1S200F.02083,R1
/G00Z-.1T0
/G80


Any suggestions?? I'm using expensiveass Emuge taps specifically for Ti, but they don't seem to be doing a whole lot of good...


Thanks in advance!!

[DCogswell]

Feeds n speeds seem too slow but, I haven't had to drill Ti at that ratio in a few years.

Contact this guy at Guhring: DAVBRO@guhring.com

They helped me on a 10x dia. application on 316L and had great results.

[danrudolph]

You probably will have limited success with your G83 cycle.

In Ti, I either write the code out and get it to do just what I want and when, or I use my own drilling macro.

I just noticed you have a counterbore there, your G83 is never coming back past Z0. No coolant is getting to the drill tip.

[PoiToi]

Ahh, I never thought of that. do the feeds & speeds look reasonable??

thanks!!

[danrudolph]

The speeds and feeds I use are straight from MA Ford: 80 SFM, .0007-.0012 range for feed. I use the 205 series drill and it cuts like butter. My peck for that size would be .030 or less. Cautious, but a few more pecks beats changing the drills.

Just used those specs to drill 2.200 deep with a .173 drill, but it was on the sub and I just had to get it done in less than 10 minutes...

I work with 6Al-4V, not sure about your grade?

[mkhairi]

I used to do tapping for blind holes even with titanium.Ever thought of forming taps....

[DSIF]

You need to use a high helix drill with 135 deg. tip. Otherwise,the chip will not eject properly. You don't need carbide. A coated Titex HSS will do just fine. Do not peck too much or feed too slow or it is going to work harden on you. Then it is "game over"! You throw it in the scrap bin.
A tap meant for TI will have the back edge of each flute ground off at an angle (so the tap doesn't grab and break). Hope this helps,
Dan