Efficient drilling doesn’t happen by chance. In high-volume environments, it depends on tool stability, predictable wear and a process that operators can trust.
For Hägglunds, a brand of Bosch Rexroth and manufacturer of direct drive systems, that trust was missing in a critical cam ring drilling operation. By switching to Sandvik Coromant’s CoroDrill DE10 exchangeable-tip drill, Hägglunds stabilized its process, enabled unattended machining and increased productivity by 18%.
The Challenge: Process Instability in Bearing Steel
Hägglunds drills cam rings made from bearing steel, a material known for its strength and wear resistance. While those properties are ideal for performance in the field, they can present serious challenges in machining. Maintaining tight hole tolerances and consistent surface finish across high volumes requires both rigidity and repeatability. The existing drill in the process could not consistently deliver either.
“Our old tool wasn’t durable or reliable enough,” said Andreas Branthsson, Production Engineering Manager at Hägglunds. “We didn’t trust it to deliver consistent results, and we couldn’t leave the machine unattended.”
In a production setting where lights-out machining and automation are key to efficiency, that lack of confidence became a bottleneck. The goal was clear: improve process security from the first hole to the last, reduce tool-related interruptions and make unattended machining realistic.
Why Exchangeable-Tip Drilling Matters in High-Volume Production
Selecting the right drilling tool is critical in high-output environments. Even small improvements in cycle time or tool life can translate into significant cost savings.
Exchangeable-tip drills are designed specifically for this type of application. Instead of replacing an entire drill body when the cutting edge wears, operators simply change the carbide tip. Because the drill body remains mounted in the holder, tool changes are faster and more repeatable.
This approach offers several advantages in high-volume holemaking:
- Faster tip changes with minimal machine downtime
- Reduced need for pilot holes or pre-setting equipment in certain designs
- More consistent hole positioning and dimensional control
- Simplified inventory management in busy machine shops
- Lower overall tooling costs due to extended drill body life
When drilling components such as gear housings, gear blanks or cam rings that require tight positional tolerances, process stability becomes essential. A secure clamping interface is particularly important. It must allow fast tip changes without additional spare parts while maintaining strength at high feeds and speeds. That combination of productivity and reliability was exactly what Hägglunds needed.
The Solution: CoroDrill DE10
In March 2025, Sandvik Coromant introduced CoroDrill DE10, an advanced exchangeable-tip drill engineered for high-volume holemaking. DE10 is designed around its M5 tip geometry, which balances high feed capability with precise penetration. This geometry allows the tool to perform across a wide range of materials, from steel alloys to stainless steels, while maintaining hole quality and process control.
What distinguishes DE10 is its pre-tension clamping interface. The design generates high clamping forces and accurate centering, which supports straight holes and tight tolerances. It also contributes to long drill body life by reducing stress at the interface.
The system is engineered as a plug-and-play solution. Manufacturers can integrate DE10 into existing setups without overhauling machines or processes. That practicality was important for Hägglunds, where production continuity could not be compromised.
Implementation and Results
Once implemented in cam ring production, the impact was immediate. Thousands of holes were drilled during testing, and the consistency was there, hole after hole. The improved stability of the DE10 allowed Hägglunds to confidently increase feed rates while maintaining hole quality. With greater process reliability, operators could finally run the machine unattended, freeing time for other value-added tasks.
Measurable results included:
- 18% increase in productivity
- Doubling the time in cut per drill tip from 40 to 80 minutes
- Extended drill body life
- Greater confidence in unattended machining
“The stability of the drill lets us push the machine harder without compromising quality,” said Branthsson.
Beyond productivity, the simplified tip change process reduced downtime and improved workflow. Because the drill body remains in place during tip replacement, setup repeatability improved and operator intervention decreased. In high-volume environments, these operational gains compound quickly.
A Broader Perspective on Process Optimization
The collaboration between Hägglunds and Sandvik Coromant reflects a broader approach to manufacturing optimization. Rather than focusing solely on a tool replacement, the teams evaluated the entire drilling process, from material challenges to automation goals.
High-volume holemaking requires more than speed. It requires durability, repeatability and a clamping interface strong enough to maintain precision at elevated feeds and speeds. When those elements align, manufacturers can achieve straighter holes, tighter tolerances and more stable processes — all while lowering overall tooling costs.
For Hägglunds, the shift to exchangeable-tip drilling with CoroDrill DE10 delivered that alignment. Thousands of holes later, the uncertainty is gone. The process is stable. Automation is achievable. And productivity gains are measurable. In high-volume manufacturing, that combination makes all the difference.
