HSS ANNULAR CUTTER VS CARBIDE ANNULAR CUTTER
Today we are going to talk about economics
on HSS verses CARBIDE annular cutters used with a magnetic drill.
Let us start with approximate labor rate
(Alberta) for a journey welder at $40.00/hr. We are drilling 240 holes in ½”
mild steel.
A Champion
annular XL100
1” x 1” HSS plain cutter runs on average $85.25 each. The ChampionXL100
has 20% longer life then normal HSS annular cutters due to the coating. Speed
for this cutter is approximately 350 rpm in mild steel. Average hole life of
cutter before requiring sharpening is 40 holes. Sharpening cost is about
$40.00.
A Champion
annular CT150
1” x 1-3/8 Carbide cutter runs on average $118.85 each. Speed for this cutter is approximately 610
rpm in mild steel. Average hole life of cutter before requiring sharpening* is
240 holes. (*if carbides are not damaged) Sharpening cost is about $80.00.
Now if you’re drilling ½” thickness mild
steel material, the time for HSS cutter to go through material is approximately
(depends on force applied) 30 to 40 seconds. So let’s do 30 seconds per hole to simplify
things. 240 x 30 seconds is 7200 seconds divide by 60 is 120 minutes which is 2
hours of cutting time. That is .67 per minute labor or $80.00, 6 cutters
required at $85.25 each = $511.50 and then sharpening after the job.
If you’re drilling ½” thickness mild steel
material, the time for Carbide cutter to go through material is approximately
(depends on force applied) 10 to 20 seconds. So let’s do 20 seconds per hole to
simplify things. 240 x 20 seconds is 4800 seconds divide by 60 is 80 minutes
which is 1 hour and 20 minutes of cutting time. That is .67 per minute labor or
$53.60, 1 cutter required at $118.85 then sharpening after the job.
Also these cutters are not just for Mag
drills they can be used on stationary machines as well, ie: Drill Presses. For
more information please check out Champion Cutting Tools web site at: http://championcuttingtool.com/
So which one would you chose?????
