Through-tool coolant was applied to the drilling of an aluminium/SiC MMC. T
itanium nitride coated, solid carbide drills were used to investigate the e
ffect of the coolant application method on the performance of the drilling
operation. Holes were produced dry, with conventional coolant and with thro
ugh-the tool coolant. The results provided strong evidence that the convent
ional application of coolant was having no beneficial effect on the cutting
operation compared to dry drilling. However, through-tool cooling gave a s
ignificant improvement in performance in terms of tool wear, cutting forces
, surface finish and the height of the burrs produced. [S0094-4289(00)02104
-6].