- Steel upto 1100N/mm²

- Stainless Steel

- Copper

- Brass (max. 40% Zinc)

- Aluminium with less then 0.5%Si

- Most "exotic" alloys

Required tools:

- FDMC2-TOOLHOLDER

- FD430E8-COLLET

- FD0570S-FORMDRILL

- FT1/4UNC-FORMTAP 1/4-20 UNC

- FDKSO-LUBRICANT FORMDRILL

- FTOIL-LUBRICANT FORMTAP

- REMARK: FOR A FLAT SURFACE USE

  A FD0570SF FLAT STYLE FORMDRILL

Machine parameters:

- Spindle speed: 2800Rpm.

- Motor power: 1.5Hp.

Check out our wizard page for more

information about this and any

other application.

Tool life of a Formdrill is between 8,000 to 10,000 cycles in mild steel.

Tool life of a Formdrill is between 3,000 to 5,000 cycles in stainless steel.

No, Formdrill will work on any drill press with the appropriate spindle speed and motor power.
CNC-machines, milling machines or drill heads are suitable for the process.

Yes, lubrication prevents the metal from welding to the tool. It increases signi-fantly the tool life of both Formdrill and Formtap. Lubricating every 4 to 5 holes is sufficient in steel. In stainless steel we recommend strongly to lubricate every hole. Important: Never use conventional lubricants or cooling fluids for drilling or tapping.

Our advise is no. The problem with a hand drill is lack of stability and axial force. It can only work for small diameters in very thin work pieces.

It depends the thickness and quality of the zinc layer. When very thin (3-5 micron) Formdrill will work.

We advise a test in our lab.

The top collar is the result of material being drawn upward during the initial stage of the process. A Flat-style Formdrill is available which will remove the top collar at the same time the bushing is formed.

No, We need clearance on the back side of the work piece. As we are displacing the parent material we need room for the material to flow.

The bushing (insert) is formed from the parent material. There are no additional components required or no material is added.

Yes but we advise not to. The Formdrill system preserves the parent material to produce the threads. Using a machine tap would remove part of the formed bushing. If a machine tap is used we advise to use a Long or Long/Flat Formdrill.

This depends on the material and carbon content. In steel alloys there is almost never a problem. Stainless steel may harden about 10-15%, this causes no problem for the tapping afterwards.

All heat is generated through friction. There is no additional heat source.

No. You risk the Formdrill to break.

A collet type chuck is advised.
You also can overheat the machine spindle.

Tool length depends on the material thickness you work with. Careful: Tool should be short enough not to penetrate the opposite. Every Formdrill tool has a cylindrical and a conical part. The cylindrical part is responsible for forming the bushing diameter. The hole should be slightly tapered before tapping to ensure well formed thread over the complete length of the Formdrill bushing. If the bushing is too tapered it may cause problems during the tapping operation, in that case you should use a Long Formdrill tool.

The Formdrill tool is made of special sintered carbide.
The material is then grinded to a Formdrill friction drilling tool.

Usually not. However, depending on the material quality and requirements for the threads an adjustment of the diameter may be necessary.

No, Threads are formed in a secondary operation or with self -tapping screws.

No, Formdrill tools can develop temperatures of up to 1475°F and begin to glow dark red.
When the Formdrill tool turns bright red or yellow it is getting too hot.
This reduces tool life, machine parameters should be optimised.

We advise to pre-drill a pilot hole before the Formdrill process. With the predrilled hole the bushing length will be reduced. Smoother edges of the bushing can also be achieved this way.