In this post, you’ll learn What is Twist Drill and How it is used? With Its Parts, Types, and Nomenclature of Twist Drill. Also, you can download the PDF file at the end of this article.
Twist Drill
The most popular type of drill in use today is the twist drill. It was basically formed by twisting a flat piece of tool steel longitudinally for several revolutions, then grinding the diameter and point. Currently, twist drills are manufactured by two machining spiral flutes or grooves that run lengthwise around the body of the drill.

A twist drill is an end cutting tool. Different types of twist drills are classified by Indian Standard Institute according to the type of the shank, length of the flute, and overall length of the drill.
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Types of Twist Drill
Following are the types of twist drill:
- Short Series or Jobbers Parallel Shank Twist Drill
- Sub Series Parallel Shank Twist Drill
- Long Series Parallel Shank Twist Drill
- Taper Shank Twist Drill
- Taper shank Core Drill (Three or Four Fluted)
- Oil Tube Drill
- Centre Drills
1. Short Series or Jobbers Parallel Shank Twist Drill

The drill has two parallel shank of approximately the same diameter as the cutting end. The diameter of the drill ranges from 0.2 to 16 mm increasing by 0.02 to 0.03 mm in lower series to 0.25 mm in higher series. The figure illustrates the drill.
2. Sub Series Parallel Shank Twist Drill

The drill is a shortened type of the parallel shank twist drill, the shortening being on the flute length. The diameter of the drill ranges from 0.5 to 40 mm increasing by 0.3 m in lower series to 0.25 to 0.5 mm in higher series. The figure illustrates the drill.
3. Long Series Parallel Shank Twist Drill
The drill has two helical flutes with a parallel shank of approximately the shank diameter as the cutting end, which however does not exceed the diameter at the drill point.

The overall length of this drill is the same as the of a taper shank twist drill of the corresponding diameter. The diameter varies from 1.5 to 26 mm increasing by 0.3 mm in lower series to 0.25 mm in higher series. The figure illustrates the drill.
4. Taper Shank Twist Drill
The drills have two helical flutes with a tapered shank for holding and driving the drill. The shank for these drills conforms to Morse tapers. The diameter ranges from 3 to 100 mm.

The diameter increases by 0.3 mm in lowest series having Morse taper shank No. 1, by 0.25 mm in Morse taper shank number 2 and 3, by 0.5mm in Morse taper shank No. 4, and by 1 mm in Morse taper shank number 5 and 6.
The Morse taper shank is used below 6 mm size is not preferred. A drill gauge allows any drill to be easily selected by truing into the holes of the gauge. The figure illustrates the drill.
5. Taper Shank Core Drill (Three or Four Fluted)
These type so drills are designed for enlarging cored, punched or drilled holes. These drills cannot originate a hole in solid material because the cutting edges do not extend to the centre of the drill. The metal is removed by a chamfered edge at the end of each flute.

Cored drills provide better-finished holes than those cut by normal two fluted drills. The cutting action of a core drill is similar to that of a rose reamer and is used as a rough reamer. In some cases, a two fluted twist drill is chosen to originate a hole half the required size and the rest is finished by a three or four fluted drills. The figure illustrated the drill.
6. Oil Tube Drill

The oil tube drills are utilised for drilling deep holes. Oil tubes run lengthwise spirally through the body and to carry the oil directly to the cutting edges.
Cutting fluid or compressed air is pushed through the holes to the cutting point of the drill to separate the chips, cool the cutting edge and lubricate the machined surface. The figure illustrates the oil tube drill.
7. Centre Drills

The centre drills are straight shank, two fluted twist drills used when centre holes are drilled on the ends of a shaft. They are made in finer sizes. The figure illustrates the drill.
Twist Drill Nomenclature
The following are the twist drill nomenclature, definitions, and functions of the different parts of a drill illustrated in the figure.


Twist Drill Elements
The following are the twist drill elements:
- Axis
- Body
- Body clearance
- Chisel edge
- Chisel edge corner
- Face
- Flank
- Flutes
- Heel
- Lands
- Lip (cutting edge)
- Neck
- Outer corner
- Point right hand cutting drill
- Shank
- Tang
- Web
1. Axis
The longitudinal centre line of the drill.
2. Body
That portion of the drill increasing from its extreme point to the origin of the neck, if present, otherwise increasing to the origin of the shank.
3. Body Clearance
That portion of the body surface which is reduced in diameter to provide diameter clearance.
4. Chisel Edge
The edge formed by the intersection of the flanks. The chisel edge is also sometimes called the dead centre. The dead centre or the chisel edge cats as a flat drill and cuts its own hole in the workpiece.
A large amount of axial thrust is required to cut the hole from the chisel edge. In some drills, the chisel edge is made spiral instead of a straight one. This reduces the axial thrust and improves the hole location. The chances of production of oversize holes is also reduced.
5. Chisel Edge Corner
The corner produced by the intersection of a lip and the chisel edge.
6. Face
The portion of the flute surface adjacent to the lip one which the chip impinges as it is cut from the work.
7. Flank
The surface at a drill point that extends behind the lip to the following flute.
8. Flutes
The groove in the body of the drill that gives lip. The uses of the flutes are:
- To From the cutting edges on the point.
- To allow the chips to escape.
- For to cause the chips to curl.
- To allow the cutting fluid to enter the cutting edges.
9. Heel
The edge produced by the intersection of the flute surface and the body clearance.
10. Lands
The cylindrical ground surface at major edges of drill flute. The land width is measured at the right angle of the flute helix. The drill is full size only across the lands at the pointed end. Land keeps the drill aligned.
11. Lip (cutting edge)
The edge formed by the intersections of the flank and face. The requirements of the drill lips are:
- Both lips should be at the same angle of inclination with the drill axis, 59° for general work.
- The lips should be of equal length.
- Both lips must be given with the correct clearance.
12. Neck
The diameter between the body and the legs of the drill is partially reduced. The diameter and other details of the drill are engraved on the neck.
13. Outer Corner
The corner formed by the intersection of the flank and face.
14. Point
The sharpened end of the drill, consisting of all that part of the drill which is shaped to produce lips, faces, flanks, and a chisel edge.
15. Right Hand Cutting Drill
A drill that cuts when rotating in a counter-clockwise direction viewed on the pointed end of the drill.
16. Shank
That part of the drill by which it is held and driven. The most common types of shank are the taper and straight shank. The taper shank provides means of centering and holding the drill by friction in the tapered end of the spindle.
17. Tang
The flattened end of the taper shank designed to fit inside a drift slot in the spindle, socket, or drill holder. The tang ensures a positive drive of the drill from the drill spindle.
18. Web
The central portion of the drill situated between the roots of the flutes and extending from the point toward the shank; the pointed end to the web or core forms the chisel edge.
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Conclusion
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