Product Description
CMT 310.120.12 Dowel Drill 12 x 27 x 57.5mm Left-Hand by CMT is a precision-engineered, carbide-tipped boring tool designed for clean, accurate blind hole drilling in panel processing and furniture manufacturing applications. Built on a super-strength steel body with a tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head, this left-hand rotation dowel drill delivers flat-bottom holes with minimal tearout in solid wood, chipboard, MDF, HDF, laminates, and coated panels. The spiral portion carries a P.T.F.E. coating that resists pitch and adhesive buildup, keeping the tool running cleanly through high-volume production runs. With a 10 x 27mm parallel shank featuring a driving flat and length adjusting screw, it seats securely in multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers.
Key Features
- Tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head with 2 precision-ground cutting edges (Z2) - delivers consistent bore quality and extended tool life compared to standard steel tips, reducing changeover frequency in production environments.
- 2 negatively ground spurs (V2) - score the perimeter of the hole before the cutters engage, producing clean bore walls and sharp, splinter-free entry points even in laminates and coated panels.
- P.T.F.E.-coated spiral flutes - prevent pitch, resin, and adhesive from bonding to the tool surface, maintaining cutting efficiency and reducing cleaning downtime during extended runs.
- Left-hand (LH) rotation - engineered specifically for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers, ensuring correct cutting geometry and chip evacuation on those stations.
- 2-flute spiral design - promotes efficient chip evacuation from blind holes, reducing heat buildup and the risk of workpiece burning or surface damage.
- Parallel shank (10 x 27mm) with driving flat and length adjusting screw - provides a positive, slip-free drive connection and allows precise depth setting directly at the tool, saving setup time.
- Precision-balanced centre point - locates the drill on layout marks accurately before the spurs engage, minimizing wander and ensuring hole placement accuracy in dowel joinery and cabinet panel layouts.
Why This Product
- The left-hand rotation configuration makes this drill the correct choice for LH spindle positions on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers - pairing it with a right-hand drill on the same machine ensures both sides of a panel are bored with proper cutting geometry simultaneously.
- The combination of negatively ground spurs and a precision-ground carbide cutting head produces clean, flat-bottom blind holes that are ready for dowel insertion without secondary cleanup - critical in high-speed furniture and cabinet manufacturing where surface quality directly affects joint strength.
- The P.T.F.E. spiral coating addresses a common pain point in panel drilling: pitch and glue buildup that clogs flutes and degrades cut quality. By resisting adhesive transfer, this drill maintains consistent performance across long production runs on chipboard, MDF, and coated panels.
- At 57.5mm overall length with a 27mm cutting height, this short-series drill is sized for the compact spindle spacing typical of multi-spindle boring machines used in flat-pack and cabinet panel production, fitting where longer drills would interfere.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 310.120.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 12mm
- Cutting Height: 27mm
- Total Length: 57.5mm
- Shank: 10 x 27mm parallel shank with driving flat
- Rotation: Left-hand (LH)
- Number of Cutting Edges: 2 (Z2)
- Number of Spurs: 2 (V2)
- Spur Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: HW (tungsten carbide)
- Number of Flutes: 2
- Coating: P.T.F.E. on spiral portion
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel connections in furniture panels
- Cabinet making and flat-pack panel boring
- Panel drilling on multi-spindle CNC boring machines
- Panel processing center operations
- Boring machine applications with adapter or chuck
- Drilling in chipboard, MDF, HDF, hardwood, softwood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does this drill use left-hand (LH) rotation instead of the more common right-hand rotation?
Multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers have both right-hand and left-hand spindle positions. Drilling on a left-hand spindle with a right-hand drill produces incorrect cutting geometry, causing poor hole quality and rapid tool wear. The LH rotation of this drill matches those specific spindle positions, ensuring the spurs and carbide cutting edges engage the workpiece correctly to produce clean, flat-bottom blind holes.
What does "negatively ground spurs" mean, and why does it matter for panel drilling?
Negatively ground spurs are sharpened so that their cutting edge geometry directs cutting force inward toward the hole perimeter rather than outward. This scribes the material cleanly at the bore boundary before the main cutters remove the core, which prevents surface fiber tearout at the entry point. The result is a clean, sharp-edged hole - important when drilling laminates, coated panels, and veneered chipboard where surface appearance is critical to the finished furniture piece.
What is the benefit of the P.T.F.E. coating on the spiral flutes?
P.T.F.E. (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a non-stick coating applied to the spiral portion of the drill. In panel boring applications involving chipboard, MDF, and wood composites, adhesive binders and wood resins can deposit on tool flutes, restricting chip flow and generating excess heat. The P.T.F.E. coating reduces the adhesion of these materials to the steel body, helping chips evacuate freely and keeping the tool running at consistent cutting efficiency without frequent cleaning stops.
What machines accept the 10 x 27mm parallel shank with driving flat on this drill?
The 10 x 27mm parallel shank with driving flat is a standard format used in multi-spindle CNC boring machines, CNC boring centers, and panel processing centers common in furniture and cabinet manufacturing. The driving flat provides a positive rotational connection that prevents slippage under load, and the integrated length adjusting screw allows depth setting at the tool itself without removing it from the spindle. Boring machines equipped with a compatible adapter or chuck can also accept this shank format.
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