SPMX140512 Indexable Drilling Insert for ZSD Series U-Drill - LM - Medium Cutting Chipbreaker

Indexable drilling is a hole-making process that uses a drill body (the holder) fitted with one or more replaceable carbide cutting inserts at the tip, rather than a solid one-piece drill.

The inserts do the cutting and are clamped to the body and when an edge wears, the insert is indexed (rotated to a fresh edge) or replaced, while the body is retained. This makes indexable drilling highly economical for medium and large diameter holes (the body is a one-off purchase and the consumable is a small, inexpensive insert).

Indexable drills are the standard choice on CNC lathes and machining centres for holes from around 12 mm up to 50 mm and beyond, where a solid carbide drill would be prohibitively expensive and where through-coolant and high metal-removal rates are required.

The holder (sometimes called the body) is the reusable shanked tool that mounts in the machine turret, spindle or toolholder. It carries the coolant channels, the clamping pocket and the geometry that sets the insert's position and angle.

The insert is the small replaceable carbide cutting tip that is clamped into the pocket on the holder (it is the consumable cutting edge). When the insert wears, you replace or index just the insert and the holder stays in the machine.

This page separates the two so you can buy the holder once and then reorder only inserts as needed.

Always confirm the insert grade and geometry matches the holder pocket before ordering replacements.

Our category offers indexable drilling products from two brands.

ZCC-CT offers a wide range of indexable drill holders & inserts covering the full diameter range and multiple length ratios, suitable for general-purpose and production drilling in steels, stainless steels, cast irons and heat-resistant super alloys.

Europa Tool offers a comparable range of holders and inserts, giving an alternative geometry, substrate and price point across the same diameter and length coverage.

Both ranges include through-coolant holders and matching insert grades for the main material groups, so the choice between them often comes down to preferred geometry, availability and the specific application.