Rugby-based tooling specialist Mapal (www.mapal.com) has developed a new drill that has been designed to overcome the difficulties associated with drilling thermoplastics.

The company’s Mono-Plastic-Drill is configured for use with PEEK, POM and PA 6, as well as with materials that feature low thermal conductivity and low melting temperature — characteristics that make machining difficult.

Moreover, these drills are suitable for use by manufacturers in a wide variety of industry sectors. Mono-Plastic-Drills feature an ‘extremely sharp blade’ and special point thinning, allowing bore tolerances up to IT7 to
be achieved.

Furthermore, to optimally dissipate heat via the chips, these drills are made of uncoated solid carbide and feature a large polished chip flute; and thanks to the use of a specially formulated substrate, they offer high levels of rigidity and wear-resistance.

Mono-Plastic-Drills have been designed to provide excellent drilling performance, even under dry machining conditions, as the geometry and chip flute prevent ‘smearing’ of the drilled material; and in addition to drilling plastics, thay can be used on aluminium.

The drills are available in the diameter range 0.97-13.03mm and in lengths up to five-times diameter.