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What is Core Drilling?

Core drilling employs a hollow punch or drill bit to remove a clean core of material for examination. It’s commonly used in mining, concrete work, and other applications to determine the quality, density, strength, and various other properties of a material. In this post, we’ll look at different types of core drilling, when it should be used, and the bit materials used.

Different Types of Core Drilling

There are two different types of core drilling: soft coring and hard coring.

Soft Coring

Soft coring uses a pair of nested barrels. It’s used for unconsolidated material at depths up to 500 feet, though equipment can go further in the right conditions. The inner barrel pushes out to capture the sample. The outside barrel extends to act as a case, preventing the hole from collapsing. Using this technique protects the core sample from any fluid or air employed when moving the outer barrel to avoid contamination. 

Hard Coring

Typically used for collecting competent rock samples, hard coring also uses nested barrels, though the outside barrel extends first in this method. This allows the material to be washed with air or drilling fluid without damaging, disturbing, or contaminating it. This process is sometimes called diamond coring due to the diamond-coated drill bit required to cut stone and rock. It’s used in most substrates harder than sandstone and can easily reach depths of 5,000 feet.

When Should Core Drilling be Used?

When you have a project requiring clear definition of geological formations, coring offers a great option. While mud rotary drilling and other techniquescan provide some subsurface data, they may miss up to a three-inch layer of important material. For projects that have little room for error and a significant price tag, having that data provides the difference between success and failure. Though drilling with a core bit can add more steps to your overall process, gaining a solid understanding of geological formations will save wasted time, resources, and effort.

Core Drilling Materials

For softer materials, it’s common to see carbide-tipped core bits, making it possible for the drill to maintain its edge without compromising the core. With harder materials, stepping up to a diamond-tipped bit allows the integrity of the sample to be maintained through cleaner cuts. Though nickel-bonded electroplated diamond core drill bits work for tile, softer stone, glass, and composite materials, harder materials require more. 

Metal-bonded diamond core drill bits are the best option for:

• Sapphire
• Very hard alumina
• Materials with high metal content
• Advanced ceramics
• Natural and precious stones

Though it sounds counterintuitive, you need soft bonds for harder materials to allow drilling to take place in a free, fast fashion. By comparison, softer materials that act in an abrasive rather than cutting fashion will need to have hard bonds to ensure long bit life.

Core Drilling From Kadco Ceramics

At Kadco Ceramics, we employ core drills to create deep holes in very hard materials. Please contact us today to see how we can help with your project. 

Overview of CNC Milling

Computer numerical control (CNC) milling is a highly precise subtractive machining process that enables manufacturers to produce high volumes of custom parts quickly and accurately. This process utilizes a combination of programmed computer code and multi-point cutting tools to selectively remove material from a substrate to shape the final part. Since CNC milling machines only need to be programmed once to create large volumes of identical parts, they offer excellent repeatability and are ideal for mass production, particularly in industries requiring high levels of precision. 

How Does a CNC Mill Work and What Is a Milling Machine?

CNC milling machines function by affixing the workpiece to a table and shaping it with a cylindrical cutting tool. Guided by the programmed code, the cutting tool moves along multiple axes and creates holes, slots, and other details to create the desired finished product. Most CNC milling machines can accommodate both horizontal and vertical machining operations. Materials suited for CNC machining include:

• Wood
• Plastics
• Metals
• Glass

Unlike other drilling machines, which offer limited cutting angles, CNC milling machines are able to move along three to five different axes. As such, this process enables a high level of detail and precision even at high production speeds. CNC milling machines also require very little manual operation, significantly reducing the risk of human error.

Different Types of CNC Milling Machines

Depending on the specifications of the workpiece, there are several different types of CNC milling machines a manufacturer may use. These include:

Vertical Mill

This versatile type of milling machine moves along three axes. It is composed of a table and an arm, both of which are attached to a vertical column. The vertically oriented spindle is connected to the arm. There are several types of vertical mills such as turret vertical mills, in which the spindle remains stationary while the table moves along the x- and y-axes, and bed vertical mills, in which the spindle moves along the y-axis and the table moves along the x-axis. Regardless of the type of vertical mill, the arm will typically remain stationary while the table moves along the z-axis.

Horizontal Mill

Although they offer slightly less versatility than vertical mills, horizontal mills are ideal for applications involving long or heavy workpieces. These machines differ from vertical mills in that the spindle is horizontal rather than vertical. Additionally, universal horizontal milling machines can move along four axes, as they offer the advantage of rotating the table around the z-axis.

Knee Mill

Knee mills are unique in the method of table movement. With this type of machine, an adjustable knee is necessary to control the table’s movement along the column.

The Importance of CNC Milling

The ability to rapidly mass-produce precision parts is vital across an expansive array of industries. In the past, many machining methods were less efficient and more prone to error, which posed significant risks when producing components for industries such as aerospace and automotive.

However, the rise of CNC milling has made it possible to reduce these risks while simultaneously increasing efficiency. By utilizing computer programs to design and create components, manufacturers are able to take advantage of the speed and accuracy that digital technology provides. In addition to improving the consistent efficacy of the final components, CNC milling also lowers the cost of prototyping.

Kadco Ceramics: Your CNC Milling Experts

At Kadco Ceramics, we offer both three-axis and five-axis milling capabilities at our state-of-the-art facilities. This gives our expert machinists a great deal of flexibility, and enables us to meet the needs of customers across a range of industries. From ceramics and glass to composite structures, we are able to shape virtually any machinable material our customers require. Our diamond tooling technology offers even higher levels of precision, and our in-house design team can provide any assistance necessary to ensure a successful final product.

Since 1982, we have been dedicated to helping our customers find affordable, high-quality solutions for their production requirements. From material selection and design through to manufacturing, we continually prioritize open communication to ensure we meet our customer’s every need. Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist with your next CNC milling project.