The drill point length is the axial distance from the drill tip to the full diameter. It determines how deep you must drill past the required hole depth to achieve a full-diameter...
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Request a Proposal →What does a bad number cost you? Let's run the math on a typical job shop scenario. If your Drill Point Length is 15% too aggressive, you're not just buying more Dormer Pramet end mills — you're paying for unexpected downtime, rework, and missed delivery dates.
| Premature Widia tool failures | $6,400/yr |
| Unplanned machine downtime | $12,200/yr |
| Rework / scrap parts | $8,700/yr |
| Excess Lyndex-Nikken holder wear | $2,100/yr |
| Total Annual Loss | $29,400/yr |
Now flip the scenario. By optimizing Drill Point Length — using the manufacturer's recommended starting parameters for your specific Dormer Pramet or Widia tool, verified on a Hexagon presetter — you could recover nearly $30K annually. That's a new Starrag tool probe or a year's worth of Dormer Pramet inserts.
The ROI is immediate. First part optimized, first day of savings.
The drill point length is the axial distance from the drill tip to the full diameter. It determines how deep you must drill past the required hole depth to achieve a full-diameter hole bottom.
118° is the standard general-purpose point angle for drilling mild steel and cast iron. 135° is preferred for harder materials and is standard on most solid carbide drills. 140° is common for high-performance carbide drills in aerospace alloys.
The drill must feed past the nominal hole depth by the point length plus a small clearance to achieve a full-diameter hole. For a 10 mm drill with 118° point, add approximately 3 mm to the programmed depth.
No. A 135° point is shorter than a 118° point for the same diameter. If you switch without adjusting the depth, the hole bottom will be different. Always check the actual point geometry when changing drill brands.
Enter the drill diameter and point angle. The calculator gives the point length to add to your drilling depth and the approximate web thickness for reference. For through-holes, add point length + 2 mm clearance.
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