Carbide Drilling Interrupted Cuts and Cross Holes: Checklist
A cross-hole or slot that looks “just another feature” on the print often chips the carbide point on entry—then the plant buys a harder grade, chips the new point on the same cross-hole entry, and still scrapes the next side-port hit.
This checklist is for interrupted cuts and cross-hole entry, not deep-hole peck recipes alone (deep-hole drilling) and not packing-only diagnosis (chip packing checklist). No fake SFM tables.
Interrupted vs continuous load
Continuous walls load the edges smoothly. Interruptions unload and reload the point each time the edge enters air or a side port—impact and edge chip risk rise even at moderate depth.
Entry into cross-hole / slot risks
Watch for:
- Point entering a side hole before the margins are supported
- One flute loaded while another is in the interruption
- Exit/breakout at the intersection — exit breakout
- Stickout that amplifies bounce — stickout/runout
Chip packing interaction
Interruptions change chip shape and can start packing at the port. Run chip packing checklist if flutes come back loaded after the intersection—not only if the hole is “deep.”
Geometry and coolant—without a catalog dump
After path and chip flow are stable, discuss point/margin and coolant aim (geometry). Through-coolant may help chip transport but does not cancel bad entry timing. Product: Solid Carbide Drill.
RFQ: intersection sketch, material, failure photos
Send the drawing with the cross-hole marked, material, entry strategy tried, chip/break photos, stickout/runout if measured → drill RFQ checklist · Custom Cutting Tool RFQ.
Frequently Asked Questions
### Is every cross-hole undrillable with carbide?
No—stabilize entry and chips first; then decide geometry/coolant.
Deep-hole article enough?
Deep-hole covers L/D/peck; this page owns interruption/cross-hole load.
Grade first?
Usually no—path and chip evidence first.
What to send?
Intersection sketch, material, failure photos, setup notes → RFQ.