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Reaming
How to ream a hole

How to ream a hole

When reaming a hole, it is important to consider the following recommendations.

Stock removal

The recommended stock removal in reaming operations is dependent on the application material and the surface finish of the pre-drilled hole. General guidelines for how much material to leave for reaming are shown in the following tables.

Ø, mm
Material	1-3	3-5	5.1-10	10.1-20	20.1-30	>30
P1	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.4-0.5
P2	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
P3	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
P4	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.4-0.5
P5	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
M1	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
M2	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
M3	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
K1	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3	0.5
K2	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.4-0.5
K3	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.5
K4	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.5
K5	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.3	0.4	0.5
N1.1	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.4-0.5	0.5
N1.2	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.4-0.5	0.5
N1.3	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.4-0.5	0.5
N1.4	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.4-0.5	0.5
N2	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.4-0.5	0.5
N3.1	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.2-0.3	0.3	0.5
N3.2	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.2-0.3	0.3	0.3-0.4
N3.3	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.2-0.3	0.3	0.3-0.4
N3.4	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.2-0.3	0.3	0.3-0.4
N4	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2-0.3	0.2-0.3	0.3	0.3-0.4
S1	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.4-0.5
S2	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
S3	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
S4	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.3-0.4
S5	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.3-0.4
S6	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2-0.3	0.3-0.4	0.3-0.4
H1	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
H2	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
H3	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4
H4	0.1-0.2	0.1-0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	0.3-0.4

Ø, inch
Material	0.0394-0.1181	0.1181-0.1969	0.1969-0.3937	0.3937-0.7874	0.7874-1.1811	>1.1811
P1	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.016	0.016-0.020
P2	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
P3	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
P4	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.016	0.016-0.020
P5	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
M1	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
M2	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
M3	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
K1	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.020
K2	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.016	0.016-0.020
K3	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016	0.020
K4	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.012	0.012	0.020
K5	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.012	0.012	0.020
N1.1	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.016	0.016-0.020	0.020
N1.2	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.017	0.016-0.020	0.020
N1.3	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.018	0.016-0.020	0.020
N1.4	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.019	0.016-0.020	0.020
N2	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.020	0.016-0.020	0.020
N3.1	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.008-0.012	0.012	0.020
N3.2	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.008-0.012	0.012	0.016-0.020
N3.3	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.008-0.012	0.012	0.016-0.020
N3.4	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.008-0.012	0.012	0.016-0.020
N4	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008-0.012	0.008-0.012	0.012	0.016-0.020
S1	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.016	0.016-0.020
S2	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
S3	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
S4	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.016	0.016-0.020
S5	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.016	0.016-0.020
S6	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008-0.012	0.012-0.016	0.016-0.020
H1	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
H2	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
H3	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020
H4	0.004-0.008	0.004-0.008	0.008	0.008	0.012	0.016-0.020

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Workpiece setup

Make sure the workpiece to be reamed is sufficiently clamped
For through holes, make sure there is space for the chips to be evacuated
When reaming thin walled components, make sure the clamping force is uniform around the component

Cutting fluid for reaming

The main task of the cutting fluid is to deliver coolant directly to the cutting zone, resulting in longer tool life and good chip evacuation.

For solid carbide reamers, internal coolant is axial for straight flute and lateral for spiral flute reamers
Using emulsion as a cutting fluid usually results in better tool life than using oil
15 bar pressure is recommended
Increased coolant pressure can have a positive affect on chip control and chip breaking

Spiral flute – lateral coolant

Straight flute – axial coolant

Reamer position

The offset between the pre-machined hole and reamer should be as small as possible in order to avoid vibrations.

Interrupted cuts

Reamers can usually be used to machine:

Cross holes smaller than 2 mm (0.079 inch) in diameter if the diameter of the reamer head is smaller than 22 mm (0.866 inch)
Cross holes smaller than 3 mm (0.118 inch) in diameter if the diameter of the reamer head is 22 mm (0.866 inch) or larger

Reaming an angled or inclined surface

When reaming angled or inclined surfaces with a reamer:

Maximum recommended angle at entrance is 5 degrees
Always make sure to minimize the runout
Please consult a technical specialist when using solid carbide reamers

Reaming a pre-machined hole

Reaming should not be expected to correct any positional or straightness errors of the pre-machined hole.

Straightness of a pre-machined hole should be smaller than 0.05 mm (0.002 inch)
Make sure the diameter of the pre-machined hole allows for recommended radial depths of cut

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