
From sharp edges to tiny tapers – this is metrology that measures up!
When it comes to modern manufacturing, if you can’t measure it, you can’t trust it. That’s…
Star Cutter Co. has announced the availability of a specialized line of internal coolant drills from Louis Bélet, designed to handle the tough challenges of machining stainless steel. This new range of drills is ideal for a variety of industries where stainless steel is a core material, such as watchmaking, medical, aerospace, and automotive applications.
Machining stainless steel, particularly grades like martensitic and austenitic, can be a slow and error-prone process. Stainless steel’s inherent toughness often leads to extended cycle times, tool wear, and the need for frequent pecking. To overcome these challenges, Star Cutter’s new drill line offers solutions that significantly improve machining performance, speed, and accuracy.
One of the standout drills in this new lineup is the REF 0.376-10, capable of drilling to depths of up to 10×D—a significant improvement over previous models. This drill operates at speeds three to four times faster than its predecessors, enhancing productivity and efficiency in stainless steel machining. Its design also eliminates the need for pecking, ensuring smoother and more productive operations, even in deep-hole applications. This means operators can achieve precise, deep holes in stainless steel without compromising on speed or quality.
Additionally, the REF 0.336H drill offers versatility by being able to create a pilot hole with or without a chamfer, also eliminating the need for a separate centering or deburring tool. This further simplifies the process, reducing the number of tools and operations needed for a finished part.
The new drill line is equipped with a compression chamber that minimizes coolant pressure loss, improving both efficiency and accuracy during operation. This design ensures that the drills maintain a high level of concentricity—less than 0.003 mm—at the drill tip, which is critical for achieving precise, high-quality holes. Moreover, the drills are designed with an increased surface area of the lube holes and specific hole shapes, which allow for improved coolant distribution. This results in three times the throughput compared to earlier versions, making the drills more efficient and capable of handling larger volumes.
To meet the needs of complex stainless steels and demanding materials like superalloys (e.g., CoCr and Phynox), Louis Bélet has developed a micro-grain carbide specifically suited for these applications. The advanced TISI (titanium-silicon) coating reduces friction, prevents heat buildup, and eliminates burr formation, all of which contribute to longer tool life and consistent performance.
The drills’ specialized cutting-edge preparation also optimizes coating adhesion, enhancing the tool’s durability and enabling it to withstand the tough cutting conditions often encountered in stainless steel machining.
In North America, Star SU serves as the exclusive representative for Louis Bélet SA’s precision cutting tools. This partnership ensures that manufacturers in North America can access these high-performance tools, helping them enhance their manufacturing capabilities when working with stainless steel and other tough materials.
The new lineup of internal coolant drills from Star Cutter Co. and Louis Bélet offers a groundbreaking solution for industries that rely on stainless steel and other difficult-to-machine alloys. These drills not only speed up production but also improve tool life, cutting efficiency, and quality, making them an essential addition to the toolkit of manufacturers working in high-precision fields such as aerospace, medical devices, and automotive components.
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