When it comes to high-performance drilling solutions, manufacturers need more than just off-the-shelf tooling. They require precision-engineered, application-specific tools that optimize performance, reduce cycle times, and extend tool life. Better Edge, a leader in custom cutting tool solutions, excels in delivering tailored drill designs with industry-best lead times.

Custom-Designed Specials – Engineered for Performance
Better Edge specializes in the design and production of custom drills, including:

• Specials: Step drills, high-performance reamers, and custom geometry tools
• Diameter ranges from 3mm (0.1118") to 20mm (0.787")
• Max overall length of 10" 
• Coating options for extended tool life and enhanced performance
• Min Qty 3 pcs
• Max Qty 12pcs

With their expertise in geometry optimization, Better Edge ensures that each tool is designed to maximize material removal rates while maintaining superior surface finish quality. Their ability to engineer application-specific drills enables manufacturers to achieve higher productivity and improved machining efficiency.

Fast Turnaround – 3-4 Weeks for Coated Specials
Unlike many tooling providers that require extended lead times for custom drills, Better Edge delivers fully coated, application-specific drills in just 3-4 weeks. Their streamlined production process, combined with in-house coating capabilities, ensures customers receive their custom tooling solutions faster than industry norms.

Rapid Edge Program – 3-Day Express Service
For those who need tooling even faster, Better Edge offers its Rapid Edge Program, which provides an expedited 3-day turnaround for special drills at a 30% upcharge. This premium service is ideal for urgent production needs, reducing downtime and keeping critical machining operations running smoothly.

Why Choose Better Edge?

• Expertise in custom drill design for a wide range of materials and applications
• 3-4 week standard delivery with full coating options
• 3-day Rapid Edge turnaround for time-sensitive projects
• ISO 9001:2015 certified, ensuring top-tier quality and consistency
• Proven performance enhancements through geometry optimization

For manufacturers looking to gain a competitive edge with high-performance special drills and unbeatable turnaround times, Better Edge is the clear choice. To learn more, visit Better Edge or Rapid Edge Program or just get in contact with us here at F&L Technical Sales and we can help you out! 

written by ​Bernard Martin

Rocky Mountain Twist Drill's introduction of Blue nACo coating is a truly revolutionary surface treatment to enter the market in the drilling segment.

​Blue nACo was developed by PLATIT, an independent, family-owned company headquartered in Selzach, Switzerland.  PLATIT is a manufacturer of high-tech PVD and PECVD hard coating equipment for tools and machine components.

Blue nACo is an AlTiSi-based nanocomposite coating and performs best in the field of milling and drilling C-steels and outstanding performance in superalloys, hard material machining, and high heat applications. The use of nACo provides excellent adhesion and good performance even for more unusual applications such as milling with coated ceramic tools and CBN tools.

This treatment has been shown to improve drilling operations with its exceptional lubricity, unmatched hardness, and impressive heat resistance. An AITiSi-based nanocomposite coating,

The culmination of over 20 years field testing, Blue nACo coating has demonstrated an elevated the performance of Rocky Mountain Twist Drill's products. This coating is a testament to the commitment to pushing boundaries and delivering solutions that meet the evolving demands of the metalcutting sector.

What do you need in a drill coating particularly for superalloys, hard material machining, and high heat applications?  Typically the goal is a super thin coating layer that compliments the drill geometry and grind finish, a high hardness for wear resistance and a high level of lubricity so that the chips can slide up and out of the flutes.

Keep in mind also that there's a tremendous amount of heat generated in the cutting tool process so the coating needs to be able to not only withstand that heat but also be "slippery" e.g. have a low coefficient of friction, aka lubricity, to evacuate the chip quickly. Blue nACo coating has pushed the boundaries of that desired balance in each of those categories.

Lubricity, as measured by the coefficient of friction receives a significant boost with the Blue nACo coating. The incorporation of nanocomposite technology reduces adhesion between cutting edge of the and workpiece. This ensures reduced friction and enhanced wear resistance, resulting in smoother drilling operations. It translates to improved chip evacuation, reduced tool wear, and increased tool life – a trifecta that directly impacts productivity and cost-effectiveness.

As an indicator of the material's ability against deformation, hardness has been studied for more than a century. Adding a coatings provides an extra layer of protection to the drill, ensuring longevity and durability with this additional hard wearing layer.  

​The Nano-hardness of the Blue nACo coating is 39-41 GPa (which roughly converts to Micorhardness ~3977 ~ 4181Hv) which is in the higher hardness range when compared to many other common coatings used on drills. In  Rocky Mountain Twist Drill users can expect consistent performance even in the face of challenging materials, making the Blue (nACo) coating an invaluable asset for demanding drilling applications.

Heat resistance is a critical factor in drilling operations, where elevated temperatures can compromise tool integrity and precision. According to Platit, the maximum service temperature for the coating is 1200°C or about 2192°F. which is substantially higher that the most common coatings used on drills such at TiN, TiCN, TiAlN and AlTiN. 

The Blue nACo coating advanced thermal stability ensures that the drill maintains peak performance even in high-temperature environments, reducing the risk of premature tool failure and minimizing downtime.

Behind the scenes, Platit Coating Chambers has played a pivotal role in bringing the Blue (nACo) coating to fruition at Rocky Mountain Twist Drill. Operating around the clock, their state-of-the-art facilities have been dedicated to applying this surface treatment, to their very deep drilling product offering.

The Blue nACo coating represents a leap forward in drill surface treatment technology. Rocky Mountain Twist Drill's dedication to providing its customers with tools that embody precision, durability, and efficiency is exemplified in this cutting-edge coating. As the metalcutting industry continues to advance, the Blue nACo coating stands poised to make a lasting impact, setting a new bar for performance and reliability in drilling operations.

by Bernard Martin

Unlock the full potential of your composite machining with Decatur Diamond's high-performance cutting tools! From carbon fiber and glass fiber reinforced polymers to metal matrix composites, their extensive range includes versatile routers, honeycomb routers, compression routers, diamond cut routers, and drilling products.

Engineered for precision, durability, and efficiency, their tools minimize delamination and fiber pullout while ensuring clean, precise cuts and extended tool life. Discover why Decatur Diamond is the industry leader in advanced tooling solutions for composite materials.

Diamond Coated End Mills
Decatur Diamond 's Diamond Coated End Mills are designed for high-performance machining of non-ferrous materials. With potentially the best diamond adhesion in the coated tool industry, these tools offer coating thickness and crystal size options to meet various application requirements. Available in square, corner rounding, ball, and profiling geometries, these end mills ensure superior performance and tool life. Sizes start from 0.015” (1mm) and can be customized for special applications.

• ​All standard grade D25 endmills are produced to +0.000/-0.001 on diameter, -0.0001/-0.0003 on the shank, 0.001 runout,+0.060/-0.000 on flute length and +/-0.060 on OAL.
• All standard grade D27 endmills are produced to +0.001/-0.001 on diameter, -0.0000/-0.0003 on the shank, 0.002 runout, +0.060/-0.000 on flute length and +/-0.060 on OAL.
• All Ultra Premium grade D25 endmills are produced to +0.000/-0.0005 on diameter, -0.0001/-0.0003 on the shank, 0.001 runout, +0.060/-0.000 on flute length and +/-0.060 on OAL.
  

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Decatur Diamond’s commitment to innovation and quality makes our tools the preferred choice for machining composite materials. With tailored solutions and a focus on reducing operational costs, our high-performance tools help you achieve superior results in your machining processes.

Durability and Longevity
One of the foremost advantages of carbide-tipped tools is their exceptional durability and longevity. These tools combine the best of both worlds, featuring a tough steel body with a carbide insert at the cutting edge. When compared to solid carbide tools, carbide-tipped tools often outlast them due to their ability to withstand high-impact applications. In contrast, HSS tools are more prone to wear and require frequent regrinding or replacement

Versatility​
​Carbide-tipped tools offer a remarkable level of versatility. The carbide inserts are available in various grades, each tailored to specific machining tasks. This adaptability allows users to choose the ideal carbide grade for their application, optimizing tool life and performance. In contrast, solid carbide tools, while highly capable in specific applications, lack the flexibility to adapt to various materials and machining conditions. HSS tools, though versatile, may not match the cutting speed and precision of carbide-tipped tools in demanding applications.

Cutting Speed and Efficiency
Carbide-tipped tools excel in cutting speed and efficiency, making them a preferred choice for high-production environments. The hardness of carbide allows for faster cutting speeds, which translates to reduced machining time and increased productivity. Solid carbide tools come close but may not always match the speed and efficiency of carbide-tipped tools, especially when it comes to demanding materials like stainless steel or hardened alloys. HSS tools, on the other hand, are often outpaced in terms of cutting speed and efficiency.

Heat Resistance
Heat resistance is a critical factor in machining, especially when working with materials that generate high temperatures during cutting. Carbide-tipped tools have superior heat resistance compared to HSS tools. The carbide can endure high temperatures without losing its cutting edge, ensuring consistent performance even under demanding conditions. Solid carbide tools have good heat resistance but may be prone to chipping or breakage when subjected to extreme heat, which is less of an issue for carbide-tipped tools.

Cost-Effectiveness
While the initial cost of carbide-tipped tools may be higher than HSS tools, their durability and longevity make them a cost-effective choice in the long run. Solid carbide tools, while durable, can be more expensive and may not justify their cost in all applications. HSS tools, although cheaper initially, may need more frequent replacements and regrinding, ultimately incurring higher costs over time.

In the world of cutting tools, carbide-tipped tools stand out as a versatile, high-performance, and cost-effective solution. Their unique combination of a tough steel body with a carbide insert at the cutting edge offers durability, versatility, high cutting speeds, heat resistance, and cost savings. While solid carbide and high-speed steel tools have their merits in specific applications, carbide-tipped tools are the go-to choice for industries and machinists looking to maximize efficiency and quality across a wide range of machining tasks. Whether you're working with metals, plastics, or composites, carbide-tipped tools provide a winning edge in the world of precision cutting and machining.

Carbide cutting tools have revolutionized various industries with their exceptional hardness, heat resistance, and longevity. Understanding the intricate details of the cutting process and the meticulous production of carbide tools sheds light on their unmatched performance in the world of machining. Whether it's the intense forces at the cutting edge or the precise control of cobalt binder content and carbide grain size, carbide tools continue to shape the future of manufacturing and engineering.

Well known throughout the United States and Canada, the Better Edge team has been providing cutting tool reconditioning services for over 25 years to metalworking end users in the Automotive & Transportation, Aerospace & Defense, Heavy Equipment, Tool Manufacturing, Medical and Energy Industries.
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With state-of-the-art CNC 5-Axis grinders, sophisticated inspection equipment and in-house coating capabilities, they service a wide range of drills in a variety of tool styles, including multi-step and chipbreaker type tools. They are also experts in applying close tolerance edge preps and corner geometries on standards and blue print special drilling tools.

Better Edge will restore drill points to original specifications all top brands of solid carbide high performance drills, including Kennametal®, Widia®, Garr®, Mitsubishi®, Sumitomo®, Sandvik®, OSG®, Titex® and Hanita®.
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No matter the degree of wear, Better Edge will restore like-new performance - GUARANTEED.

Get in contact with us and we'll get you started!

NEW ENGLAND - F&L Technical Sales is excited to announce the addition of Rocky Mountain Twist Drill to our product offering. Rocky Mountain Twist Drill, RMT, manufactures standard twist drill  including Jobber Drills, Maintenance Drills, Screw Machine Drills, Aircraft Extension Length Drills, Silver & Deming Drills, RMT also has a full line of taps including Hand Taps, Roll Form Taps, Spiral Point Taps and Pipe Taps.

​RMT, Rocky Mountain Twist Drill, is an industry leader in design, engineering and manufacturing of high performance cutting tools. Founded in 2001, Rocky Mountain Twist headquarters and 300,000 square foot manufacturing facility is located at the base of the Rocky Mountains in Ronan, Montana – a region known for great hunting, fly-fishing, four-season recreation, and now superior performance made in the USA industrial cutting tools.

by, Bernard Martin

As carbide end mills gain higher and higher speeds and metal removal rates there has also been a trend by round tool manufacturers to tighten up the tolerances on both the cutting diameter and the shank diameter to improve concentricity. At the same time, shrink fit holders have become more and more popular because they hold a tighter concentricity as well.  To achieve this both the shank and the bore now have similar surface finishes and this has led to a problem  The tools pull out in the cut.

Shrink fit holders are the most accurate for TIR as the toolholder engages completely around round shank tools with a bore tolerance of -0.0001" to  -0.0003".  As high performance end mills have tightened shank tolerances to the same range of -0.0001" to  -0.0003" they have used finer and finer grain grinding wheels which give the shanks a 'shiny' appearance. 

Shiny means that the superfinished shank has a lower coefficient of friction. So, although the TIR is tighter, the shank is more "slippery".   End mills traditionally had surface finish of about 8 μin on the tool shank. But that's changed.  It's been recommended that tool shanks used in shrink fit holders should not have a finish finer than 16 μin. for optimum holding power, but tell that to the guy who just superfinished the end mill to a super cocncentric tolerance that you don't want it looking that good.

Everyone know that the last thing you want is for the end mill to slip in the middle of a heavy cut or on the finishing pass of a high tolerance part.  These 'hi performance' end mills, often times have higher helix angles which are great for ejecting chips but also create a higher pull out force on that slippery shank. And reducing the helix angle is not the answer.

We  already know that the gripping pressure is a function of the interference between the tool shank  and the shrink fit toolholder bore. Most shrink fit holders have a already bore surface finish of between 12 μin. and 16 μin.  So they are ground to a very high tolerance and have about the same surface finish as the toolholder shank.

End mill manufacturers and machinist have tried a variety of methods over the years to stop the tools from pulling out. This has ranged from grit blasting the shank to rubbing chalk on the shank, but most everyone in the industry has felt that the problem really needs to be addressed by the longer life toolholder rather than the replaceable cutting tool.

The Challenge 
The challenge was to achieve both hard and soft cost savings, as well as time spent on drilling flanges from one side, chamfering the backside and creating a controlled chamfer on the top surface which was a secondary process.

The Solution
We designed an indexable drill with our rear cutting carbide deburring insert along with a fixed pocket chamfer insert to create the precision top chamfer that was required. The spade drill insert also had a special feature that allowed it to chamfer the top side of the bottom hole that was pre-drilled.

The Results
​Four operations were completed in one pass.

The EZ Burr Burr-Free Drill drilled the hole, deburred and chamfered the back all in one step, thus eliminating the secondary step of chamfering the bottom surface on the top hole.

This saved time as well as money, plus the tool life of the Burr-Free Drill achieved a more consistent result and had a longer tool life than the previous method.

Tech Tips: Hannibal Carbide

If you are ordering a special drill, here is the nomenclature you should be familiar with when preparing to write your specifications.