High Speed Spindle - Drilling & Mild Steel

[EddyCurrent]

Yes I think it is (spiral drill method is CamBam speak)

[Chaz]

Yes I think it is

I think so too :-)

So certainly an option. Getting round holes round is always interesting. That said, if you need accuracy, you could ream afterwards (assuming slightly undersized hole).

[routercnc]

Hi Chaz,

This is not what you want to hear but I only spot drill on steel, then over to the drill press to finish off. Chinese spindle is way to fast to use as-is, and when slowed down the torque is too low, as you say.

Or I use the methods above and interpolate with an end mill with plenty of oil. You can certainly hear and feel that it is cutting something tougher than aluminium (on my modest router machine anyway).

For aluminium I pilot drill using a 3mm twist drill at 10,000 rpm and peck to the required depth (occasional dab of lubrication). Then over to the drill press or cordless drill to the final size.

On my new machine under construction I have allowed scope to fit an indirect drive WC spindle through a multi-V pulley gearbox to get the speed down (and torque up).