From drilling 8,500+ holes in 6061-T6 and 7075 aluminum over 12 months, the Amony UPX Series high-precision carbide drills consistently outperform with 4× longer tool life, zero built-up edge, and sub-0.4 µm Ra finishes.
±0.01 mm tolerance + polished flutes → prevents chip welding, 45% better evacuation
Sub-micron carbide (uncoated) → 3-4× tool life vs HSS or coated carbide (no BUE at 250 SFM)
High-helix geometry (35°) → clean holes without bell-mouthing, even at 0.008 IPR feed
Diameters 1-16 mm in 0.05 mm steps → ideal for precision aerospace/automotive parts
Real data: 6 mm hole in 7075 Al → 1,850 holes per drill (vs 450 with standard carbide)
Aluminum Alloy Drilling Challenges – What Really Goes Wrong
UPX vs ICF vs HSS – Head-to-Head Test Data
Proven Parameters for 6061/7075 (From Our Shop)
Size Table & Dimensional Specs (1-16 mm)
Case Studies: 6061 Plate & 7075 Aerospace Bracket
Quick Checklist – Pick the Right Drill in 45 Seconds
Recommended Amony Drills for Aluminum
FAQ – Straight from the Floor
We've seen it in every test batch: aluminum's gumminess turns standard drills into scrap fast. Here's the real breakdown:
High ductility → long, stringy chips that pack flutes and cause breakage
Low melting point (660°C) → built-up edge (BUE) welds material to the tool at >200 SFM
Thermal expansion → holes go oversize by 0.02-0.05 mm without precision geometry
Poor chip breaking → burrs and rough finishes (Ra >1.5 µm common)
Without high-helix and polished surfaces, tool life drops to 400-600 holes on 6 mm 6061. With proper design → 1,500+ holes easy.
| Series | Helix/Coating | Tool Life (holes) | Hole Tolerance | Surface Ra (µm) | Cost per Hole (USD) | Best For Aluminum |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amony UPX Uncoated | 35° / None | 1,850 | ±0.01 mm | 0.3-0.4 | 0.012 | Precision & Speed |
| ICF Internal Coolant | 30° / AlCrN | 920 | ±0.02 mm | 0.6-0.8 | 0.028 | Deep Holes Only |
| HSS M35 | 30° / TiN | 280 | ±0.05 mm | 1.2+ | 0.045 | One-Off Jobs |
Tested at 250 SFM, 0.008 IPR, flood coolant. UPX won with zero BUE issues.
Diameter | Speed (SFM) | Feed (IPR) | Peck Depth | Coolant 1-3 mm | 200-250 | 0.003-0.005 | None | Flood/Mist 3.1-6 mm | 220-280 | 0.005-0.008 | 1×D | Flood 6.1-10 mm | 240-300 | 0.006-0.010 | 0.5×D | Flood 10.1-16 mm| 220-280 | 0.007-0.010 | 0.5×D | Flood/MQL
Shop tip: Skip coatings – uncoated carbide runs cooler on aluminum, reducing BUE by 60% in our tests.
Previous standard carbide: 520 holes/tool, frequent BUE cleaning, Ra 0.9 µm.
Switched to UPX 4.0 mm uncoated, 260 SFM, 0.007 IPR, mist coolant.
Results: 1,950 holes/tool (+275%), no BUE, Ra 0.35 µm, 32% faster cycles.
Hit 1,620 holes per drill. Zero oversize issues, even after 1,000 holes – tolerance held at ±0.008 mm.
Precision holes (±0.01 mm)? → UPX Series straight shank
Deep drilling (>5×D)? → Add ICF internal coolant
High volume, no BUE? → Uncoated + high helix mandatory
Micro sizes (<3 mm)? → UPX micro with 3 mm shank
Budget prototype? → HSS only if speed doesn't matter
Precision leader for 6061/7075. Uncoated, high-helix. 4× life guarantee on aluminum.
View Range →For holes <3 mm. Same precision, perfect for electronics/Al parts.
View Micro →For deeper holes in sticky alloys. Dual channels prevent packing.
View ICF →Share your alloy type, hole specs, and current tool. We'll send optimized parameters and a free sample comparison – no strings attached.
Request Free Tech Support →Contact our experts today for a free quote or technical consultation.