Through-tool coolant drilling of aluminum/SiC metal matrix composite

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].