NC center drills 120°

Solid carbide (VHM) NC spot drill with 120-Degree tip angle

When selecting NC spot drills, it’s essential to choose the correct tip angle. The designation 90, 120, or 142 indicates the drill tip angle in degrees. Depending on the application area, the requirements for a VHM NC spot drill with a 120-degree angle may differ from those with other angles, as the angle significantly influences the lateral guidance and stability of the subsequent drilling with a twist drill. You’ll find the standard sizes in our selection. While the 90-degree variant is widely used for precision manufacturing in industry and craft, the 120-degree VHM NC spot drill is also frequently employed. We offer complete sets that cover all potential needs and sizes. A VHM (solid carbide) NC spot drill is necessary wherever the material requirements exceed the capabilities of HSS and HSSE. Unlike simple carbide-tipped drills, the VHM NC spot drill with a 120° angle is not just a carbide tip attached or soldered onto a cheaper base material. Instead, VHM tools are made entirely from a single piece of carbide and are ground or milled according to tool specifications. This makes VHM NC spot drills with a 120-degree angle significantly more stable and durable than HSS or HSSE drills. They can also reliably machine high-strength metals and other materials with high strength values.

Why Use a VHM NC Spot Drill?

When precise hole drilling in workpieces is required, drill wandering is highly undesirable. The longer a metal drill, the greater the risk of producing an off-center hole or other inaccuracies due to imprecise placement or an incorrect guide angle. In large-scale production, this is particularly costly, as it generates considerable waste. To avoid these costly outcomes, holes should generally be pre-drilled with an appropriate spot drill. Unlike center drills, VHM NC spot drills do not have a centering tip, as it is generally unnecessary when used on milling machines, CNC or NC machines, or automated drilling machines, which have very high intrinsic stability. Although it is possible to drill holes directly into workpieces with twist drills, the prior use of a VHM NC spot drill with a 120° angle greatly enhances precision.

Advantages of VHM over HSS or HSSE NC spot drills

You may not always need VHM NC spot drills with various tip angles. For many materials in metalworking, HSS or HSSE are entirely sufficient. However, for specialized applications and high-strength metals or alloys, we always recommend using VHM. Solid carbide (VHM) spot drills offer a significantly longer tool life, generate less heat, and allow for higher cutting speeds, which reduces overall machining time. If you do not find the right variant in the Nachreiner selection for your application, we can almost always suggest a suitable alternative or produce a custom design for you if needed. For further details, please contact our experts directly; they will provide comprehensive advice and work with you to create customized solutions. Please note that VHM NC spot drills with angles of 120, 90, or 142 degrees are not suitable for deep hole drilling or full-depth hole creation. Like all other spot drills or center drills, they do not have the necessary guiding chamfers to drill holes to full depth. Additionally, the short length of these drills naturally limits the theoretical drilling depth. Please always use an appropriate twist drill to complete the hole cleanly and precisely.