Posted by john dakin on 03/01/2017 12:26:17:
So what sort of speed should I be running at to drill 2mm holes into 3mm thick brass
As fast as you can get the machine, but I have had a small mill designed for small work and that usually used 10,000rpm.
The formula I have calculated for a conservative estimate on brass at 90 metres per minute, for a 2mm drill was around 14,500rpm.
I would say this only really shows how fast you can get the drill into the workpiece, you could go very slow but you'd need less pressure on the drill. Too much pressure and you're going to be forcing a very fragile bit into the face of the work with little cutting action taking place, that's why it breaks. You could grind a steeper lead angle onto the drill, which is what sheet metal workers used to do in the past to relieve pressure on the cutting tip. The angle on most drills is around 112-115 degrees, which is only a general purpose angle, a steeper angle of say 80 degrees might be more suitable for softer materials.
PS.everyone beat me to it 😛
Michael W
Edited By Michael-w on 03/01/2017 12:57:20