Drilling Thrust Force Calculator

Drilling Thrust Force Calculator

Drilling thrust force is the axial force pushing the drill into the workpiece - distinct from the rotational torque required to actually cut the material.

Thrust Force = 0.5 × Drill Diameter × Feed Per Revolution × Specific Thrust Force Constant

Example

10mm drill, 0.2mm feed per revolution, specific thrust force constant of 2,000 N/mm┬▓:

Thrust Force = 0.5 x 10 x 0.2 x 2,000 = 2,000 N

Why This Force Matters

Excessive thrust force can cause workpiece deflection, fixture slippage, or drill bit breakage - particularly with smaller diameter drills, which have inherently less structural strength to resist this axial load without deflecting or snapping.

What Increases Thrust Force

Higher feed rates and harder materials both directly increase thrust force - this is exactly why feed rate is commonly reduced when drilling harder materials or using smaller, more fragile drill bits, trading some cycle time for reduced risk of tool breakage or workpiece damage.