Question 1

Which drill should I use for titanium and Inconel® aerospace alloys?

Accepted Answer

For titanium, Inconel®, chrome and stainless steel we recommend M42/M35 cobalt high speed steel drills with a 135° split point, run at low surface speed with high, constant feed pressure and flood or mist coolant. Cobalt retains hardness at the elevated temperatures generated in work-hardening alloys, while the split point eliminates walking and reduces thrust.

Question 2

What is the advantage of a double margin drill in aircraft structures?

Accepted Answer

A double margin drill carries a second margin on each land, so the drill is supported against the hole wall as it cuts. The result is a rounder, straighter and better finished hole with improved size control — in many stacked aluminium and Hi-Lok® applications it removes the need for a separate reaming operation.

Question 3

What does NAS 965 Type D mean on a threaded shank drill?

Accepted Answer

NAS 965 is the National Aerospace Standard covering threaded shank adapter drills used with right-angle drill motors and microstop cages. Type D defines the 1/4-28 threaded shank configuration and overall length classes (very stubby, stubby, short, long, extra long) so tooling is interchangeable across aircraft maintenance platforms.

Question 4

Which tools are recommended for carbon fibre composite (CFRP) panels?

Accepted Answer

Solid carbide tooling with composite-specific geometry: brad point drills for delamination-free entry and exit, dagger drills for CFRP/titanium stacks, carbide drill/reamers for one-shot hole finishing, and taper routers for trimming. Keep the cutting edge sharp, use high rpm with moderate feed, and support the exit side of the laminate.

Question 5

Do you ship aerospace tooling outside the United States?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Pan American Tool ships worldwide from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA, supporting airlines, MRO stations, aerostructure plants and distributors across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific. Our CAGE Code is 0PFP1.