Geometry modifications of single-lip drills to improve cutting fluid flow

Abstract

For single-lip drills with small diameters, the cutting fluid is supplied through a kidney-shaped cooling channel inside the tool. In addition to reducing friction, the cutting fluid is also important for the dissipation of heat at the cutting edge and for the chip removal. However, in previous investigations of single-lip drills, it was observed that the fluid remains on the back side of the cutting edge, and accordingly, the cutting edge is insufficiently cooled. In this paper, a simulation-based investigation of an introduced additional drainage flute and flank surface modifications is carried out using smoothed particle hydrodynamics as well as computational fluid dynamics. It is determined that the additionally introduced drainages lead to a slightly changed flow situation, but a significant flow behind the cutting edge and into the drainage flute cannot be achieved due to reasons explained in this paper. Accordingly, not even a much larger drainage flute with unwanted side-effect of a decrease tool strength is able to archive a significant improvement of the flow around the cutting edge. Therefore, major changes to the cooling channel, like the use of two separate channels, the modification of their positions, or modified flank surfaces, are necessary in order to achieve an improvement in lubrication of the cutting edge and heat dissipation.