# Milling drill bits **URL:** \ **Category:** X-Carve\ **Created:** [April 13, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441 "2016-04-13T23:18:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ZacharyHennen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b782af/32.png) [@ZacharyHennen](https://community.inventables.com/u/ZacharyHennen)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:18pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/1 "2016-04-13T23:18:52Z")
Hello, I am looking for information on drilling holes with a drill bit rather than an endmill using the xcarve. I am using Estlcam as my controller/CAM which has a drilling feature, where it pecks at the hole to clear the chips. I can’t seem to find the right name for bits that have a standard 1/4"/1/8" shank size and a variety of drill size diameters. I know of those small 1/8" shank dremel bits used for drilling holes for PCBs, but I’m thinking larger scale such as a 1/4" drill. Most, if all my drilling will be in wood. - Is there an adapter that I could stick any old drill bit in (kinda like a chuck on a drill press)? - What would be the name for bits that are used in a CNC machine? Links are appreciated 🙂 Thanks, Zac ---
**Author:** ![ErikJenkins](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/erikjenkins/32/84368_2.png) [@ErikJenkins](https://community.inventables.com/u/ErikJenkins)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/2 "2016-04-13T23:26:01Z")
Most of the ones I see have a hex shank… [http://www.amazon.com/Tooluxe®-10171L-4-inch-Titanium-13-Piece/dp/B000P6G74M/ref=sr\_1\_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460589295&sr=8-1&keywords=1%2F4+shank+drill+bits](http://www.amazon.com/Tooluxe%C2%AE-10171L-4-inch-Titanium-13-Piece/dp/B000P6G74M/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1460589295&sr=8-1&keywords=1%2F4+shank+drill+bits) ---
**Author:** ![BillBucket](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/billbucket/32/84345_2.png) [@BillBucket](https://community.inventables.com/u/BillBucket)\ **Post date:** [April 13, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/3 "2016-04-13T23:49:17Z")
There is always the [step bit](http://amzn.com/B002GQ5AKG) option, which works well for making lots of different hole sizes as long at the material isn’t too thick. ---
**Author:** ![ShaneBell](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/shanebell/32/73291_2.png) [@ShaneBell](https://community.inventables.com/u/ShaneBell)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 3:00am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/4 "2016-04-14T03:00:19Z")
I think dowel drill is the term you are looking for. Or these they go to .25 inch. [http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carbide-Drill-Bit-Variety-Set-Super-Value-CNC-PCB-Dremel-Hobby-Models-C7-/151254836552?hash=item23377da548:g:joYAAOSw~CRTpD18](http://www.ebay.com/itm/Carbide-Drill-Bit-Variety-Set-Super-Value-CNC-PCB-Dremel-Hobby-Models-C7-/151254836552?hash=item23377da548:g:joYAAOSw~CRTpD18) If you can get access to a lathe you could gut a electric drill and have the shaft attached to the chuck turned down to .25. ---
**Author:** ![RichardRouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b77776/32.png) [@RichardRouse](https://community.inventables.com/u/RichardRouse)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 9:11am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/5 "2016-04-14T09:11:26Z")
Drill Mills would work. I order then from grainger. They are basically pointed endmills. They are good for pick drilling, but also Chamfer ING edges. ---
**Author:** ![ZacharyHennen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b782af/32.png) [@ZacharyHennen](https://community.inventables.com/u/ZacharyHennen)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 2:21pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/6 "2016-04-14T14:21:32Z")
Oh wow, I didn’t know that style would go that big, Thanks for the link! ---
**Author:** ![ChristianKnull](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/christianknull/32/44195_2.png) [@ChristianKnull](https://community.inventables.com/u/ChristianKnull)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2016, 4:28pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/7 "2016-04-14T16:28:06Z")
Depending on material and hole size you’re sometimes better off with the “Helical Drill” function and a small endmill, especially for large diameters. - The issue with drill bits is the lower rpm limit of the router or spindle motor → it is usually just too high for large diameters. - Drill bits require very low rpm compared to endmills → if rpm is too high the bit will get very hot and cause all sorts of trouble like burned edges, molten material or just gets dull and breaks. - A helical drill on the other hand uses an end mill with smaller diameter than hole size and cuts in a helical / spiral fashion. This causes much less friction and heat and may also save you some tool changes: ![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/uploads/inventables/original/3X/4/5/45f8350f9ae429e39b1fa25de925e0279ce2f0d8.png) **Peck drilling:** - Small diameter holes - Deep holes - Very good roundness **Helical drill:** - Large diameter holes - Much more tolerant in terms of feeds rpm ---
**Author:** ![cncrockstar](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/cncrockstar/32/82500_2.png) [@cncrockstar](https://community.inventables.com/u/cncrockstar)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2016, 5:16pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/8 "2016-04-15T17:16:43Z")
That’s exactly what I was thinking… ---
**Author:** ![ZacharyHennen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b782af/32.png) [@ZacharyHennen](https://community.inventables.com/u/ZacharyHennen)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/9 "2016-04-24T21:31:46Z")
Thank you everyone for all the information! I kinda got the idea when I watched someone at my work use a manual mill to drill some holes. He just threw in a chuck adapter, used a normal drill bit and basically used it like a drill press. But yes, on manual mills you can go much much slower speeds, which he adjusted when he was drilling the holes. @ChristianKnull I have been using your program for some time and to be honest I never thought of using the drill feature as I thought it was made more for threaded holes or drilling with drill bits (pecking). I have always been using the “Inside” feature to drill out holes. Is there much difference between the two features, inside vs. helical drill? ---
**Author:** ![ChristianKnull](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/christianknull/32/44195_2.png) [@ChristianKnull](https://community.inventables.com/u/ChristianKnull)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2016, 10:15pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/10 "2016-04-24T22:15:31Z")
There are 2 main differences between the “inside” and “helical drill” function - The “inside” function does not necessarily clear all material inside the hole. If tool diameter is smaller than half hole diameter a core will remain that may cause trouble once it loses contact to the rest of the material. The helical drill removes all material inside the hole no matter the diameters. - The “inside” function plunges deeper step by step while the helical drill goes deeper continuously. The latter improves the roundness of the hole and works a bit faster. ---
**Author:** ![RushLHarley1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/76d3ee/32.png) [@RushLHarley1](https://community.inventables.com/u/RushLHarley1)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/milling-drill-bits/22441/11 "2016-07-08T00:42:44Z")
Thanks for the Estlcam tip! Are you able to help with some settings for communicating to the X-Carve machine? Thank You in advance, Rush