Threaded Shank Drills from Rocky Mountain Twist – Secure, Precise, Repeatable

by Bernard Martin

When your machining application demands quick-change precision with rock-solid repeatability, Rocky Mountain Twist’s Threaded Shank Drills deliver exactly what your shop floor needs. Engineered for production environments that require minimal downtime and maximum performance, these drills are a go-to solution for everything from aerospace to general job shop work.

What sets Rocky Mountain Twist apart isn’t just their high-speed manufacturing processes or vertically integrated operations—it's their tight quality control and dedication to American-made excellence. Their threaded shank drills are no exception, offering a rugged and repeatable design optimized for CNC machining centers using quick-change tool systems.

Why Threaded Shanks?
Threaded shank drills are designed for toolholders that use threaded retention systems, such as precision collet chucks or Swiss-type live tooling heads. Unlike traditional straight shanks, the threaded interface provides:

• Zero axial movement during operation
• Fast and repeatable indexing when swapping tools
• High torque resistance without slipping under load

That makes them ideal for close-tolerance drilling where precision hole location and repeatability between setups matter most.

Technical Specs and Performance Features
Here’s what you can expect from Rocky Mountain Twist’s Threaded Shank Drill lineup:

• Drill Diameters: From Ø0.015" (0.38mm) to Ø0.500" (12.7mm)
• Shank Types: Threaded Shank, compliant with industry standards including 8-32, 10-32, and M5 threads depending on tool diameter
• Materials: Made from premium high-speed steel (HSS) or cobalt HSS, depending on application requirements
• Point Geometry: Split point, 135°, with self-centering capability for burr-free starts, even on curved or hard surfaces
• Flute Types: Right-hand spiral with precision-ground geometry for optimal chip evacuation and hole finish
• Tolerances: Typical diameter tolerances held to ±0.0005", with concentricity optimized for high-RPM drilling applications
• Coatings Available:
  • TiN (Titanium Nitride) – general-purpose wear resistance
  • TiCN (Titanium Carbonitride) – ideal for harder steels and alloy materials
  • TiAlN (Titanium Aluminum Nitride) – recommended for high-heat applications and dry cutting scenarios

All drills are fully ground for consistent flute geometry, which improves chip flow and reduces tool breakage—particularly important in deep hole drilling or tougher alloys.

Ideal Applications
Rocky Mountain Twist's Threaded Shank Drills are popular in:

• Swiss-style CNC turning centers
• High-precision aerospace component machining
• Medical device manufacturing
• Any environment using quick-change or live tooling systems that benefit from reduced tool setup time

They’re perfect for operators who need consistency from tool to tool, without having to reset or dial in every time.

If you’re ready to reduce cycle times, increase hole quality, and boost tool change efficiency, it’s time to give Rocky Mountain Twist’s Threaded Shank Drills a test run. Reach out to Factory Tooling Solutions and let’s set you up with the right drill, geometry, and coating combination for your application.