In March 2025, Sandvik Coromant introduced the CoroDrill DE10. With its universal M5 geometry and plug-and-play functionality – a pilot drill is not required – this indexable drill sets new standards in terms of faster setup, improved performance, and greater versatility. Mikael Carlsson, Global Product Specialist for Indexable Rotating Tools at Sandvik Coromant, provides insights into how customer feedback and open collaboration have driven the development of this new generation of drills.
It all started with the introduction of the CoroDrill 870, which improved drilling efficiency with a system of interchangeable heads. However, over time, customer demands grew. They expected more reliability, longer tool life, and easier handling. In response, Sandvik Coromant launched an ambitious development project for a drill that would combine maximum productivity, better user-friendliness, and seamless adaptability to modern manufacturing.
Plug-and-play for all users
One of the biggest challenges in today's manufacturing is the increasing skills gap among many employees. For this reason, powerful tools that are easy to set up and handle are required. The CoroDrill DE10 offers exactly that. It is intuitive to use, even for less experienced users, and impresses with minimal setup time and maximum output.
Moreover, it is extremely versatile. It handles drilling in high quantities across a wide range of materials, including steel, stainless steel, heat-resistant superalloys, cast iron, non-ferrous materials, and hardened steel. Even under demanding cutting parameters that typically accelerate wear, it remains resilient and delivers a long tool life.
The development of such a reliable and user-friendly tool requires an innovative and precise approach to development, testing, and manufacturing. At Sandvik Coromant, product development followed a structured process: from conceptual designs to prototype construction and laboratory tests, all the way to field trials, everything took place under one roof. This allowed the team to iterate quickly and optimize the design through continuous feedback.
Innovations in detail
A highlight of the CoroDrill DE10 is its drill body made of high-strength steel with a patented interface between the interchangeable head and the drill body. This ensures excellent stability and performance. Particularly innovative is the injection-molded interchangeable head, the first of its kind from Sandvik Coromant. The powder injection molding process, usually used for plastics, has been adapted for solid carbide for the first time.
The result is a more detailed and optimized design of the interchangeable head. Additionally, the corners have been reinforced to enhance performance, productivity, and drilling quality. The result is an interchangeable head that allows for a long tool life while maintaining consistently high drilling quality across a wide range of parameters.
Continuous improvements
To achieve maximum durability and process reliability, continuous improvements and extensive testing under extreme conditions were required during the development of the CoroDrill DE10. Subsequently, the geometry of the drill was fine-tuned. The feed rate was optimized, cutting forces were reduced, and drilling quality was improved.
Image: Sandvik Digital twins played a key role in this process. In virtual simulations, the drill was pushed to its limits to identify weaknesses and optimize the design. This ensured that the CoroDrill DE10 is scalable for mass production and delivers maximum performance.
Another success factor was the continuous feedback from customers throughout the entire development process – from the CoroDrill 870 to the final design of the CoroDrill DE10. For example, a plastic handle with a collar set for the assembly key of the interchangeable head was developed. This not only improves handling but also enhances safety. Therefore, although each drill box contains a standard key for the entire range, a plastic handle for the assembly key can also be ordered separately.
The background is that some users expressed concerns about the safety and ease of handling of the key during field tests. This prompted the team to develop a plastic handle to improve ergonomics and avoid the risk of carbide splinters.
Collaboration – the key to success
The success of the CoroDrill DE10 is the result of true teamwork. Experts from various disciplines worked closely together. The Scandinavian work culture, characterized by flat hierarchies and open dialogue, provided room for innovations and enabled the team to push boundaries.
"Our special environment and customer feedback were crucial for our development process," explains Ulrik Sunnvius, Senior R&D Engineer at Sandvik Coromant and a member of the development team.
"There are no barriers. Everyone can ask questions and contribute ideas. This free flow of knowledge allows us to be innovative and develop a drill that not only meets the needs of users but exceeds them."
Conclusion
The development of the CoroDrill DE10 shows: teamwork, rigorous testing, and a practical and customer-oriented development lead to breakthroughs. The result is a versatile and powerful tool that is ideally suited to the demands of modern manufacturing.
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