This research effort is to establish a scientific understanding and basis for the drilling operation. While most metal removal operations have enjoyed substantial increases in speed and efficiency over the last few decades, drilling has been and exception. Yet, it continues to be a major operation in most manufacturing enterprises and as result constitutes a major impediment to increases in manufacturing productivity. An attempt improving efficiency, could result in the much needed breakthrough. In this effort a Computer Integrated Design, Manufacturing and Evaluation (CIDME) platform will be developed, which will consist of four modules. These will be: (1) a drill point modelling module, (2) a drill grinding module, (3) a drill performance evaluation module, and (4) a computer integration module. This will enable this effort to synthesize all available techniques, bridge the missing links between the different modules and to develop a scientific framework for drill point design, grinding and performance evaluation. This significance of this research effort is clearly illustrated by the degree of industrial financial support already committed to this program. It could have a major impact on improving the efficiency of the metal working industries in the United States.
