1. Drilling: a complex process to model

1.1 Description of drilling operation

Drilling is one of the most common processes used in many advanced industrial sectors (e.g. automotive, aerospace, energy, medical, etc.). It involves making cylindrical holes in a solid material using a cutting tool.

In industrial applications, the twist drill is the most commonly used tool for producing cylindrical through or blind holes. It is made up of a number of components, listed and illustrated in the figure below. 1