Widia’s new Top Cut 4 indexable drilling platform — available from Tamworth-based Industrial Tooling Corporation Ltd (ITC — www.itc-ltd.co.uk) — is targeted at users that machine a broad assortment of products and material types; it allows manufacturers to reduce their tooling inventory by providing a single drill for a variety of drilling applications and workpiece materials.

ITC says Top Cut 4 “has a breadth of application capabilities” that include through and cross-holes, inclined-entry and exit holes, along with half-cylindrical, concave and ‘chain drilling’ operations.

These tools can also be applied using high speeds and feeds to achieve high metal-removal rates; they also offer “extended tool life” for lower cost per cutting edge for the user.

Widia product manager Vivian Pavlov said: “Process stability was the driver behind the development of Top Cut 4. It gives users the ability to quickly select and successfully apply a tool, even in unfamiliar or unstable conditions.

“Ideally, users need one drill that can be applied to a variety of drilling operations and workpiece materials; this is what Top Cut 4 offers.”

The periphery and centre inserts used by Top Cut 4 drills each feature proprietary cutting profiles for optimised centring capability and workpiece penetration.

Both inserts are clearly differentiated to eliminate operator confusion, and the inserts are available to accommodate the requirements of high-speed applications, tough materials and high metal-removal machining.

Moreover, specific geometries with reinforced cutting edges and a steep chip-breaker are available for steel, cast iron and short-chipping materials.

Additionally, ITC can offer inserts with an optimised chip groove for stainless steel, long-chipping steels and machining applications where low power consumption is required.

Top Cut 4 drills are available for hole depths of 2xD, 3xD, 4xD and 5xD in both metric and imperial dimensions, with diameters from 12 to 68mm.

Eight insert sizes cover the complete diameter range, and the cutter bodies incorporate flutes with a high helix angle for efficient chip evacuation.

Furthermore, large coolant holes ensure efficient coolant delivery and swarf evacuation.