Product Description
CMT 311.160.12 Dowel Drill - 16 x 35 x 70mm Left-Hand Rotation is a precision two-flute dowel boring tool built for production-level panel drilling and furniture joinery. Engineered by CMT with a tungsten carbide (HW) cutting head, this left-hand rotating drill is designed for clean, flat-bottomed blind holes used in dowel connections across chipboard, MDF, hardwood, softwood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels. The spiral portion carries a P.T.F.E. coating that prevents pitch and adhesive buildup during high-cycle boring operations, making it a reliable choice for cabinet making, furniture manufacturing, and CNC panel processing centers.
Key Features
- HW (Tungsten Carbide) Cutting Head - delivers extended edge retention and consistent bore quality through abrasive materials like MDF, chipboard, and laminates without frequent resharpening.
- 2 Precision-Ground HW Cutting Edges - two carbide cutting edges produce a clean, accurate hole diameter on every plunge, reducing rejects and rework in high-volume production runs.
- 2 Negatively Ground Spurs - the negatively set spur geometry scores the material cleanly ahead of the cutting edges, eliminating tearout on the panel face and delivering smooth bore walls for tight-fitting dowel connections.
- P.T.F.E.-Coated Spiral Flutes - the non-stick coating on the two spiral flutes prevents resin, pitch, and glue from adhering during drilling, reducing downtime for cleaning and extending overall tool life.
- Precision Balanced Centre Point - the balanced HW centre point locates accurately on the workpiece before the cutting edges engage, ensuring consistent hole positioning across multi-spindle boring patterns.
- Left-Hand (LH) Rotation - purpose-built for left-hand spindle positions on multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers, allowing correct chip evacuation and clean entry without counterpart tooling compromises.
- Super-Strength Steel Body - the shank and body are manufactured from super-strength steel, resisting deflection under the clamping and boring forces typical of production boring machines.
- Parallel Shank with Driving Flat and Length Adjusting Screw - the 10 x 30mm shank locks securely in boring machine chucks and adapters while the adjusting screw allows precise depth setting, reducing setup time between production runs.
- 70mm Total Length (Long Series) - the extended overall length supports deeper reach into panel assemblies and accommodates a wide range of machine spindle configurations without additional tooling.
Why This Product
- Designed specifically for left-hand spindle positions, this drill fills a critical requirement in multi-spindle CNC boring machines where matching rotation direction to spindle assignment is essential for proper chip clearance and hole quality.
- The combination of negatively ground spurs and two precision carbide cutting edges produces flat-bottomed, tearout-free blind holes - exactly the surface quality needed for reliable dowel joint strength in cabinet and furniture panels.
- At 16mm diameter with a 35mm cutting height, this drill handles the full depth of standard furniture panel dowel connections in a single plunge, eliminating the need for multiple passes and keeping cycle times short.
- The P.T.F.E. spiral coating and HW construction together address the two most common causes of dowel drill downtime - adhesive buildup and premature edge wear - supporting consistent output across long production shifts.
Specifications
- Manufacturer Part Number: 311.160.12
- Brand: CMT Orange Tools
- Diameter: 16mm
- Cutting Height: 35mm
- Total Length: 70mm
- Shank: 10 x 30mm parallel shank with driving flat and length adjusting screw
- Number of Flutes: 2
- Number of Spurs: 2
- Sharpening: Negatively ground spurs
- Blade Material: HW (Tungsten Carbide)
- Rotation: Left-Hand (LH)
Approved Applications
- Blind hole drilling for dowel connections in panel furniture
- Production panel drilling on multi-spindle CNC boring machines
- Cabinet making and furniture manufacturing
- Boring in chipboard, MDF, HDF, hardwood, softwood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels
- Left-hand spindle positions on CNC boring centers and panel processing centers
- Use with boring machines equipped with a compatible adapter or chuck accepting a 10 x 30mm parallel shank
Frequently Asked Questions
What does left-hand (LH) rotation mean, and why does it matter when ordering a dowel drill?
Left-hand rotation means the drill spindle turns counter-clockwise when viewed from the shank end. Multi-spindle CNC boring machines and panel processing centers use both right-hand and left-hand spindles to bore a grid of holes simultaneously. Installing a right-hand drill in a left-hand spindle - or vice versa - causes incorrect chip evacuation, poor hole quality, and potential tool damage. The CMT 311.160.12 is purpose-built for left-hand spindle positions, so it is important to confirm your machine's spindle rotation before selecting this tool.
What is the shank size, and will this drill fit a standard boring machine chuck?
The shank is 10 x 30mm - a parallel shank with a driving flat and a length adjusting screw. This is a common format for European-style multi-spindle boring machines and CNC boring centers. The driving flat prevents rotation in the chuck, while the length adjusting screw allows the operator to set precise drilling depth. If your machine uses a different shank size, a compatible adapter may be required.
What materials can this dowel drill bore cleanly?
The HW (tungsten carbide) cutting head and negatively ground spurs are suited for chipboard, MDF, HDF, hardwood, softwood, plywood, laminates, and coated panels. The P.T.F.E.-coated spiral flutes help prevent resin and adhesive buildup when drilling through glue-coated or resin-rich materials, maintaining consistent hole quality across extended production runs.
What is the purpose of negatively ground spurs on a dowel drill?
Negatively ground spurs score the material at the perimeter of the hole before the main cutting edges remove the core. This scribing action severs the surface fibers cleanly, which prevents tearout on the panel face - particularly important when drilling coated panels, laminates, or veneered chipboard where surface appearance directly affects finished product quality. The result is a smooth bore wall and a clean entry circle that accepts a dowel with a tight, consistent fit.
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