Buy Indexable Drilling Online in Australia
Indexable Drilling Selection — Quick Reference
Indexable drilling tools = REPLACEABLE carbide INSERTS rather than fixed cutting edge — allowing drill body to be REUSED + only insert consumable. CNC + production drilling. Larger diameter than typical twist drill.
| Indexable Drilling Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| Indexable Drill Body | Reusable holder + see changeable drill bits |
| Replaceable Carbide Inserts | Consumable cutting edge — see replaceable drill tips |
| Coolant-Through Drill | Direct coolant + chip evacuation |
| Standard Diameters (12-50mm) | Production drilling range |
| Larger Diameters (50-100mm+) | Heavy fab + structural |
| 118° / 135° Point Angle | Material + finish requirement |
| Square Shank / Whistle Notch | Match to spindle / turret |
Critical: Match insert + drill body system (Seco / Maxigear / Sandvik — proprietary). Coolant-through systems for sustained production. Calculate breakeven volume vs twist drill cost. Brands: Seco, Maxigear. Companion: changeable drill bits, drilling, indexable inserts.
Indexable Drilling Tools for CNC Machining
Indexable drilling tools use replaceable carbide inserts rather than a fixed cutting edge, allowing the drill body to be reused while only worn inserts are replaced. This approach significantly reduces tooling costs compared to solid carbide drills in many production machining applications and eliminates the regrinding cycle required to restore solid drill geometry. AIMS stocks indexable drilling tools and replacement inserts from leading cutting tool brands for CNC machining centres, turning centres, and production drilling applications across manufacturing and engineering.
U-Drill Systems
U-drills (indexable insert drills) use two indexable inserts positioned at different radial positions within the drill body — one inner insert and one outer insert — each cutting a different portion of the hole diameter. The asymmetric insert arrangement distributes cutting forces and chip loads effectively across the tool. Hole diameter range is achieved by using different body sizes in discrete diameter steps, or in some systems by adjusting the outer insert position. U-drills are highly productive for full-diameter drilling into solid material in CNC turning and milling operations, offering significantly higher penetration rates than equivalent solid carbide drills.
Insert Selection for Indexable Drills
Indexable drill inserts are available in multiple carbide grades, coatings, and geometries to optimise performance across different workpiece materials. Uncoated carbide inserts are used for drilling aluminium and non-ferrous materials. PVD and CVD-coated carbide grades are standard for steel and stainless steel drilling. Insert geometry — the chipbreaker form, cutting edge angle, and point geometry — significantly affects chip formation, hole quality, and tool life. Always use the correct insert grade specified for the workpiece material and refer to the tooling manufacturer's cutting data for starting speeds, feeds, and coolant pressure recommendations.
Through-Coolant and Chip Evacuation
Effective chip evacuation is critical to indexable drill performance and tool life, particularly at high cutting speeds and in deeper holes. Most modern indexable drill bodies incorporate internal through-coolant channels that direct high-pressure coolant to the inserts and flush chips from the hole. Inadequate coolant pressure at depth leads to chip re-cutting, which rapidly damages inserts and degrades hole quality and dimensional accuracy. Verify that the machine spindle and toolholder combination can deliver the coolant pressure specified for the drill body being used before starting production runs.
For insert grade selection, application support, or volume pricing, contact our team.
AIMS stocks indexable drill bodies and replacement inserts from leading tooling brands for fast dispatch. For application-specific insert grade recommendations or toolholder interface advice, contact our team.