A self-drilling screw is a type of self-tapping screw that features a drill point. The self-drilling screws have a point that acts as a drill bit and sharp cutting threads that tap the hole during installation. Self-drilling screws are commonly used for quick drilling into both metal and wood. A self-drilling screw can be identified by its notch like tip.
The notch area in the tip acts as a reservoir to receive wood chips or metal fillings. This creates the space that is necessary to drill the screw all the way into the place.
Maximum Performance Conditions of Self Drilling Screws
Self-drilling screws eliminate the need for separate drilling and tapping work. Self-drilling screws operate on the principles of a drill bit or a cutting tool. The performance of the self-drilling screws is determined by their cutting speed, feed rate, the material to be working on, and the depth of the cut. The screw size varies from six to sixteen and the applied force varies from eighty to one hundred and fifty-seven respectively.
Drill Flutes
Drill flutes allow the drilled materials to exit the hole that is completely embedded so that the flutes can no longer remove these chips. The chips present contain 80% of the heat that is created due to friction during the installation process. The length of the drill flutes varies between four to five times the diameter of the drill.
Point Length
The point length determines the thickness of the material on which the screw can drill through easily. The pilot section of the drill point that is the unthreaded portion should be completely able to drill through the working material, be it metal or wood before the thread gets engaged. The fasteners can bind together or even break if the thread engages even before the drilling is complete.
Point Wings
Point wings are used on some screws that fasten thicker materials such as wood and metal. These wings enlarge the holes in the fastening material that allows the thread to pass through without contacting the fastened materials. These are used for manual adjustments.
Special Considerations While Using Self Drilling Screws
The special considerations that are to be taken into account are,
1. Drill-Point Material
These are plain carbon steel and are less stable at high temperatures. To reduce the wear on the drill point, fasten using a drill motor. High-Speed Steel is a form of tool steel that is hard and much more resistant to heat than carbon steel. These can be used to drill metal, hardwood at greater cutting speeds than the carbon steel bits.
2. Reducing Applied Force
The applied force is the measure of the user’s applied force as the screw is installed. More force is not better. The reduced applied force increases the durability of the self-drilling screws and can pass through the materials be it wood or metal smoothly.
3. Reducing the Motor RPM
This can improve performance in harder materials where the user needs to push harder during the drilling process. The reducing motor RPM can help improve the performance of the drilling into harder materials. This allows the user to push harder during the drilling process and thus it extends the drill point life.
4. High-Temperature Stability
During the drilling of a self-drilling screw, the heat that is generated can affect the time it takes for the drill point to fail.
5. Drilling Temperature
The hardness of the work material, the applied force, and the motor RPM – these factors together contribute to the temperature. Any increase in these values increases the amount of heat being generated during the drilling.
Conclusion
If you are planning to purchase self-drilling screws, you can purchase them from the Screwexperts. You will receive a wide range of screws and other equipment for your household needs. You can visit their website for further details.