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When it comes to sourcing of a product many companies protect their interest by going for two suppliers instead of depending on one. While doing so care must be exercised to ensure that performance does not change for items like tools.

This is particularly important for 'resharpening type costly full carbide drills' with internal coolant holes. There are many players in this field. Each one makes the product as per his own standard practice. We observed that resharpening must strictly be done as per original geometry. The case presented here shows that new tools performed as per expectations whereas the performance was different after resharpening because the cutting geometry was different for these two makes.

We were using a standard programme on our CNC tool resharpening machine for grinding both the types. When we switched over to two different programmes to match the original geometry we cold restore the predetermined tool life.

Photo shows one variety with 4 facets tool point for one and Cam relieved cutting point for the other! Interchange of geometry therefore must be avoided.

DSC00011: 4 facets, higher helix on flutes
DSC00012: Cam relief, slower helix
DSC00013: Cam relieved drill point
DSC00014: 4 Facets drill point
DSC00015: 4 Facets drill point





By Surendra Datar
Tata Motors Limited
Pune