KEVOS® MAKEOS · Manufacturing
Drilling Power, Torque and Thrust
What power, torque and thrust does this drill need?
Spindle speed, feed rate, cutting power, motor power, torque and approximate thrust for a solid twist drill from the specific cutting force.
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How this tool works
Inputs, units and where to find them
| Input | Unit | Typical source |
|---|---|---|
| Drill diameter | mm | Drill diameter. |
| Cutting speed | m/min | Cutting speed at the drill periphery. |
| Feed | mm/rev | Feed per revolution. |
| Specific cutting force kc | N/mm² | Specific cutting force for the work material at your chip thickness, from the tool supplier’s data (e.g. about 1500–2100 N/mm² for steels, 500–800 N/mm² for aluminium alloys). |
| Point angle | ° | Drill point angle (118° and 140° are common). |
| Machine efficiency | % | Overall machine efficiency from spindle motor to cutting edge (often 70–85%); check the machine manual. |
| Available spindle power | kW | Spindle power at this speed from the machine chart. |
Method and formulas
- n = 1000 vc ÷ π D; feed rate = f × n.
- Cutting power Pc = f × vc × D × kc ÷ 240 000 (kW); motor power = Pc ÷ η.
- Torque = Pc × 30 000 ÷ (π n); thrust ≈ 0.5 × kc × (D ÷ 2) × f × sin(point angle ÷ 2).
- Example: a 20 mm drill at 80 m/min and 0.25 mm/rev needs 4.1667 kW and 25 N·m.
Limitations
- The thrust estimate ignores the chisel edge, which can double thrust on drills without point thinning.
- Hole depth, chip evacuation and coolant pressure are not considered.
- Example values are illustrations. Replace them with values for your actual task.
Typical uses
- Check a large drill against machine power and torque
- Size workholding for drilling thrust
- Compare feed options
Who it is for
- Machinists
- CNC programmers
- Manufacturing engineers
What you get
- Spindle speed and feed rate
- Cutting power and motor power
- Torque
- Approximate thrust force
Interpreting the result
- Clamp the work for the thrust with your safety factor, and support thin parts under the drill.
References
- Machinery’s Handbook, 29th edition (Industrial Press, 2012), printed pp. 1089–1093. Topic reference; no source tables or recommended settings are reproduced.
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