3.2 mm drill size

    A 3.2 mm metric drill is 0.1260 in (3.200 mm). It is the form (roll) tap, 65% thread drill for M3.5x0.6.

    Decimal inch
    0.1260
    Millimeters
    3.200
    Nearest 1/64
    1/8" (+0.0010)
    Type
    metric drill

    Nearest equivalents in other systems

    Drills closest to 3.2 mm
    SystemDrillInchmmDifference
    Fractional1/8"0.12503.175-0.0010 in
    Number / letter#300.12853.264+0.0025 in

    Speeds and feeds: in mild steel an HSS drill starts at about 2,730 RPM and 0.0030 in/rev (8.19 IPM); in 6061 aluminum about 7,580 RPM.

    3.2 mm drill speeds and feeds by material

    Jobber-length twist drill, D = 0.1260 in. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D, rounded to 10. Feed per rev scales with diameter and material; IPM = RPM × IPR.

    3.2 mm drilling speeds
    MaterialHSS SFMHSS RPMCarbide SFMCarbide RPMFeed (in/rev)HSS IPMCarbide IPM
    Aluminum (6061)2507,58060018,1900.002922.052.8
    Brass / free-machining1504,55040012,1300.002410.929.1
    Low-carbon steel (1018)902,7303009,1000.00308.1927.3
    Alloy steel (4140, annealed)702,1202507,5800.00306.3622.7
    Stainless 304401,2101504,5500.00202.429.10
    Gray cast iron802,4302507,5800.00184.3713.6
    Titanium 6Al-4V257601003,0300.00161.224.85
    Plastics (acetal)3009,10050015,1600.005045.575.8

    Metric: Vc (m/min) = SFM × 0.3048; feed (mm/rev) = in/rev × 25.4. In steel, 2,730 RPM × 0.076 mm/rev = 208 mm/min.

    Worked example: 3.2 mm drill in 1018 steel

    1. HSS drill in low-carbon steel: 90 SFM.
    2. RPM = 3.82 × 90 ÷ 0.1260 ≈ 2,730 RPM.
    3. Feed for a 0.126 in drill in mild steel ≈ 0.0030 in/rev.
    4. IPM = 2,730 × 0.0030 = 8.19 IPM.

    Peck cycle by hole depth

    3.2 mm drill: depth and canned cycle
    DepthCyclePeckNote
    3×D = 0.378 in (9.6 mm)G81 (no peck)NoneUp to 3×D a sharp drill clears chips on its own.
    5×D = 0.630 in (16 mm)G73 chip-break1 × DChip-break pecks; full retract if chips pack (soft aluminum, stainless).
    8×D = 1.008 in (25.6 mm)G83 full retract0.5-1 × D, shrinking with depthRetract to clear chips; reduce feed ~10-20% past 5×D.

    Taps that use a 3.2 mm drill

    Nearest drills

    • 1/8": 0.1250 in / 3.175 mm (-0.0010 in)
    • #30: 0.1285 in / 3.264 mm (+0.0025 in)
    • 3.1 mm: 0.1221 in / 3.100 mm (-0.0039 in)
    • 3.3 mm: 0.1299 in / 3.300 mm (+0.0039 in)

    Common questions

    What is a 3.2 mm drill in decimal and mm?
    0.1260 in, or 3.200 mm; nearest fractional drill: 1/8" (0.1250 in, -0.0010 in); nearest number / letter drill: #30 (0.1285 in, +0.0025 in).
    What RPM for a 3.2 mm drill in steel?
    In low-carbon steel (1018) an HSS 3.2 mm drill (0.1260 in) runs about 2,730 RPM at 90 SFM; a carbide drill about 9,100 RPM at 300 SFM. RPM = 3.82 × SFM ÷ D.
    What feed for a 3.2 mm drill?
    About 0.0030 in/rev in mild steel, 0.0029 in/rev in aluminum and 0.0020 in/rev in 304 stainless. At 2,730 RPM that is 8.19 IPM in steel (IPM = RPM × IPR).
    What RPM for a 3.2 mm drill in aluminum?
    7,580 RPM with HSS (250 SFM) or up to 18,190 RPM with carbide (600 SFM), feeding about 0.0029 in/rev.
    What tap uses a 3.2 mm drill?
    M3.5x0.6 (form (roll) tap, 65% thread).

    Nearby drill sizes

    Sources

    Material feed multipliers (aluminum 1.3×, brass 1.1×, 4140 0.85×, stainless and titanium 0.7× the mild-steel feed) are JobLine estimates. Peck guidance is JobLine shop practice. Use your drill maker's data first.

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