Old machinist told me to stop peck drilling aluminum

Was running a job on some 6061 plate last month, peck drilling 0.125 holes like I always do. This guy walks over, says I'm wasting time and wearing out the inserts, told me to just drill straight through with a parabolic flute. Switched it up and cut cycle time by 40 percent. Anybody else get called out for old habits that turned out to be wrong?

2 comments

2 Comments

rayc381mo ago

Started peck drilling some 1/4 inch holes in 6061 a few years back and a guy from the next machine over yelled at me to stop. Showed me a stubby carbide drill and said just send it. Cut my cycle time almost in half and the holes came out cleaner. Felt like a dummy for years of pecking when I didn't need to.

skyler_white951mo ago

Right there with you. Spent a whole year pecking aluminum like it was stainless steel. My machine was probably laughing at me.