Can You Drill and Tap JADCO QT-PLUS® ?
Our customer’s questions make us realize you may have the similar questions regarding wear resistant steel. This is a perfect reason to look at ‘Wear Plate Wednesday’, our weekly Blog Post.
One of our most frequent questions is:
Can you drill JADCO QT-PLUS ® with 500 BHN hardness?
Which procedure you need to use depends if you have access to a machining center, or if you are making repairs in the field.
Drilling QT-PLUS ® On A Machining Center:
- Machine set-up and tooling should be as rigid as possible.
- Tooling should be TiN coated carbide and kept sharp.
- Drills should be appropriate length, extra length drills should be avoided.
- Tooling should be flooded with a good grade of coolant.
- Best drilling results have been obtained using:
- A split point drill with an included tip angle of 140°.
- Speeds of 150 to 350 RPM.
- Feed rate of .001” / .003” per revolution for 1” diameter and smaller.
- Feed rate is .002” / .008” per revolution for 1” diameter and larger.
- Unlike when you are machining aluminum, DO NOT program the machine to ‘Peck’ (to back away tooling to remove material chips) when machining through hardened wear steel.
Drilling QT-PLUS ® On A Machining Center:
- Threading is done with a solid carbide threadmill on machine.
- We DO NOT recommend you hand tap QT-Plus ®.
For Turning & Milling QT-PLUS ®:
- Flood with a good grade of coolant.
- Speeds of 50 to 100 SFPM.
- .001” / .003” Chip Load.
For Repairs In The Field: :
When drilling holes, there are several steps you need to know:
• CRITICAL: If you plan to use a magnetic base drill – it is always best to do any welding in the mount area BEFORE you use a magnetic base drill.
One of the secrets to the long wear life with JADCO QT-PLUS ®, is the high quantity of Nickel, Chromium, Molybdenum, Boron and Titanium alloys. Unfortunately, if you use a magnetic base drill this will create areas that remain highly magnetic.
This QT-PLUS ® plate was unloaded at a scrap yard, using an electromagnet. The area circled in the above photo shows a 10” long 1/2-13 bolt, stayed on the side of a vertical QT-PLUS ® where the plate remained magnetized. NEVER move wear plate using a magnetic attachment. When you drill before you weld, this magnetic field can create significant welding problems.
• Layout your hole locations and mark them with soapstone or a marker. Don’t ruin your center using a punch marking your hole locations. JADCO QT-PLUS ® is designed as an impact and abrasion resistant plate, and QT-PLUS ® will likely ruin your punch.
• After you have laid out all locations on the steel, use an oxy-fuel torch to heat each individual hole location until it glows orange hot on the back side of the plate. This anneals the hole location so you can drill after it cools to room temperature.
IMPORTANT: This is one area where many people attempt to reduce the heating time required, and do not get the steel hot enough. Patience here makes for much easier drilling.
• Allow the hole locations on the plate to air cool to room temp, before you attempt to drill any holes. NOTE: If you try to drill it while it still shows color (heat) from annealing, you will likely anneal and destroy your drill bit. Let it get to room temperature before starting to drill.
• Use a 140 degree split point drill bit with plenty of cutting fluid/coolant.
• Drill QT-PLUS ® similar to the method used on stainless steel: Half the (RPM) speed used for mild steel, using twice the pressure. If you apply light pressure or use high speeds; the QT-PLUS ® material will work harden. Either method will ruin your drill bit.
• Drill the hole only once with the proper diameter drill bit.
NOTE:
DO NOT start with a smaller diameter drill bit and continue re-drilling the same location using a larger drill bit each time. This method will likely ruin the drill’s cutting edge. For accurate hole sizes, a handheld drill is usually not recommended.
NOTE:
NEVER ATTEMPT TO USE A PUNCH PRESS TO CREATE HOLES IN JADCO’S QT-PLUS ® LIKE YOU DO MILD STEEL.
THE PUNCH WILL SHATTER!
Here is a photo of a shattered punch, that was attempting to punch a hole through ¼” JADCO QT PLUS ®. Luckily no one was injured by sharp metal fragments flying through the shop.
For more Wear Plate Wednesday tips on our blog, use the magnifying glass search icon to find prior posts on your applications and industry.
For over 45 years, JADCO has focused exclusively on delivering consistent, longer life for our customers.
We are able to deliver better results to our customers, because we think differently. How? By strictly focusing on improving your current results.
Allow us to help you today by emailing us at info@jadcomfg.com or calling (724) 452-5252.
We will schedule a meeting with one of our local wear plate specialists at a time that best fits your schedule.
Remember, the only thing you have to lose by not working with JADCO, are your profits.
When your usual screw conveyor gives out, give JADCO a shout!
