Manufacturers are under pressure to reduce production costs while maintaining component quality and process reliability across a diverse mix of materials and applications. To help simplify drilling operations,
Sandvik Coromant has expanded its CoroDrill Dura 462 family with a new range of deep-hole solid carbide drills, broadening the platform's capabilities from micro and short-hole drilling to applications up to 30×D and enabling more drilling needs to be covered by a single drill family.
Across industries such as general engineering, automotive, aerospace, oil and gas and pump and valve, manufacturers are looking for ways to do more with fewer tools. Reducing tooling inventories, simplifying tool selection and increasing machine utilisation have become key priorities as companies seek to improve efficiency while controlling costs. At the same time, reliability remains critical, particularly when drilling deep holes where tool stability, precision and chip control can directly affect productivity and profitability.
The new CoroDrill Dura 462 deep-hole drill has been developed specifically to address these challenges. Designed for reliable multi-material drilling, it combines robust geometry, grade X2BM with Zertivo 2.0 PVD coating and a micro-grained carbide substrate to deliver high performance across a broad range of applications. The new assortment includes drill lengths from 12×D to 30×D and complements the existing CoroDrill Dura 462 portfolio, providing manufacturers with a consistent drilling solution from micro holes to deep holes.
A key focus during development was process reliability. Deep-hole drilling presents several challenges, including positional accuracy, stress and thrust force, and chip evacuation. To overcome these issues, the drill features an optimised deep-hole geometry with refined flute design, offset double margins, double gashes, blended root radii and a 135° point angle. Together, these features help improve stability, reduce cutting forces, enhance hole quality and support longer tool life.
James Thorpe, global product manager at Sandvik Coromant, said: "What we hear clearly from customers is that process security remains one of their top priorities. At the same time, many manufacturers aren’t looking for an optimised tool for a single application. They want one solution that delivers reliable results across a wide range of materials and conditions. The new CoroDrill Dura 462 deep-hole drill is designed to meet those expectations."
In addition to improving process security, CoroDrill Dura 462 delivers proven productivity gains. In customer field trials where the deep-hole drill was tested against competitor tools, it achieved an average tool life increase of 45% while boosting productivity by 25%. These gains help manufacturers reduce cost per hole while maintaining consistent drilling performance across multiple materials.
The new deep-hole drill also helps simplify inventory planning. For applications above 15×D, manufacturers are advised to use a corresponding CoroDrill Dura 462 short-hole drill with a depth of 3 or 5×D to create the pilot hole, eliminating the need for dedicated pilot drills. By aligning deep-hole and short-hole drill diameters within the same product family, Sandvik Coromant enables a more streamlined drilling strategy while reducing tooling complexity.
Sustainability and cost of ownership were also key considerations during development. The drill has been designed with reconditioning in mind, allowing multiple reconditioning cycles while maintaining original performance and cutting diameter. Together with the extended tool life delivered by the geometry, coating and substrate, this helps manufacturers reduce tooling consumption, lower costs and make more efficient use of resources.
Cory Carpenter, global product and digital application specialist at Sandvik Coromant, said: “Every design decision behind CoroDrill Dura 462 is rooted in practical machining realities. With this latest expansion, manufacturers can now tackle everything from micro holes and short holes to deep-hole applications using one trusted drilling family. That means fewer tooling decisions, reduced complexity and greater confidence in every drilling operation."