Conicity Lab Test 2
Drilling Titanium & Graphite Composite Stack
Test Information
• Company: Northrop Grumman
• Test Site: El Segundo, CA
• Date: February 2003
Test Design
• Objective: Evaluate hole size and tool life as a function of edge preparation
• Tool Styles: .250" solid carbide drill
• Edge Preparations:
• Up-sharp drill, no hone
• 0.0005" variable EMG™ edge prep
• Test Part: Titanium/Graphite stack for F-18 Hornet
Drill Performance in Titanium Stack
Northrop Grumman Aircraft Corporation
 Unhoned Cutter - Location A |
 Honed Cutter - Location M |
 Unhoned Cutter - Location B |
 Honed Cutter - Location N |
SEM Photographs of Unhoned & Honed Cutters
Test Summary
• Current up-sharp drill yields only 30 holes, a 3X improvement realized with Conicity EMG drill
• Hole size deviation reduced 60% with Conicity EMG drill.