Edge Preparation for high performance carbide drill bits and step drills is a vital part to any sharpening process. In general, carbide tools do not cut very well if the cutting edges are left sharp. Sharp edges are actually very rough at the microscopic level, and the cutting material will want to stick to them. Sharp edges are also very weak and subject to chipping. At Performedge, we have years of experience and knowledge in proper edge preparation techniques.

Definitions: The T-land and hone are the two basic types of cutting edge preparation. The T-land is a negative chamfer along the cutting edge that reduces the positive rake angles and strengthens the cutting edge. The hone is an edge rounding which also provides strength and a smooth surface for the chip to flow across.

T-landing: At Performedge, we produce the chamfer along the cutting edge with diamond files under a stereo microscope. This allows the operator to clearly see the cutting edge and control the filing consistency. Substantial training is involved with this operation to assure good quality. Some T-lands can be ground with the 5-axis machine, but this is limited to certain types of drills with large volume.

Honing: The edge rounding operation is performed with a series of silicon carbide brushes. The edge is brushed for a specific period of time to generate the proper hone size. Afterwards the tool is examined under the microscope to verify proper hone form and size. At Performedge, we know that performance is delivered at the cutting edge!

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