Reamer Tools Guide: Types, Uses & Applications

Definition for a reamer tool

Reamer (Volume Name: Mechanical Engineering): A rotary finishing tool with straight or spiral cutting edges for reaming or smooth holes.

This process, known as reaming, involves semi-precision machining to refine small to medium-diameter holes. It is often employed as a preparatory step before further machining processes, such as grinding or drilling, or as a final step to achieve precise dimensional tolerances.

What are the types of reamers? And when should you use them?

Reamers can machine cylindrical, tapered, through and blind holes. They are precision tools used in machining to enlarge and smooth holes in various materials. Here are 5 types of reamers; they are categorized based on their design, material, and application:

Way to use

Hand Reamer Tool: Typically use 9SiCr material

Machine Reamer Tool: Made from high-speed steel (HSS)

Based on Material

High-speed steel (HSS): HSS is a popular material for reamers, drills and other cutting tools due to its durability and excellent hardness, wear and heat resistance

Carbide insert: Efficient for high-speed machining of hard materials like cast iron, stainless steel, and high-temperature alloys.

Shank design

Straight shank reamer: Feature a straight shank used for drilling and machine tools

Taper shank reamer: Designed with a tapered shank for tapered holes and machine tools

Set reamer: Come in sets of various sizes for versatility, adjusting in hole diameters.

Based on Adjustability

Adjustable reamer: Allow for hole sizes to vary with adjustable blades.

Non-adjustable reamer: Have fixed blade sizes for consistent hole dimensions.

Welded reamer: Using welding blades onto a shank for specific applications.

Convertible reamer: Adapt to different hole sizes with interchangeable parts.

Assembly reamer: For precision hole alignment in assembly processes.

Hole shape

Taper hole reamer: Used to refine tapering holes precisely, typically for engineering and metalworking use. (standard taper reamers have a 1:50 taper pin cutter and morse taper reamer two types).

Cylindrical hole reamer: Used for cylindrical holes.

Step hole reamer: Tailored to enlarge and refine stepped holes

By Construction Form

Solid and Shell Reamers: Solid reamers are one-piece tools, while shell reamers consist of removable cutting heads mounted on a shank.

Tooth Shape:

Straight-Tooth: With straight teeth.

Spiral-Tooth Reamers: Reamers with helical cutting teeth.

Download HSS and Carbide Reamers Tolerance Table Sheet as Following:

HSS and Carbide Reamers Tolerance Table Sheet.xlsx

Reamer Diameter Tolerances for Carbide Reamers (mm)
Reamer Diameter	Limit deviation of diameter	H7 Class of Accuracy	H8 Class of Accuracy	H9 Class of Accuracy
>5.3~6.0	+0.012	+0.007	+0.001	+0.019
>5.3~6.0	+0.012	+0.018	+0.03	+0.019
>6.0~10.0	+0.015	+0.009	+0.014	+0.023
>6.0~10.0	+0.015	+0.022	+0.036	+0.023
>10.0~18.0	+0.018	+0.011	+0.017	+0.027
>10.0~18.0	+0.018	+0.027	+0.043	+0.027
>18.0~30.0	+0.021	+0.013	+0.021	+0.033
>18.0~30.0	+0.021	+0.033	+0.052	+0.033
>30.0~40.0	+0.025	+0.016	+0.025	0.040
>30.0~40.0	+0.025	+0.039	+0.062	0.040
Reamer Diameter Tolerance for (HSS) High-speed Reamers (mm)
Reamer Diameter	Limit deviation of diameter	H7 Class of Accuracy	H8 Class of Accuracy	H9 Class of Accuracy
>5.3~6.0	+0.010	+0.005	+0.008	+0.014
>5.3~6.0	+0.010	+0.015	+0.025	+0.014
>6.0~10.0	+0.012	+0.006	+0.01	+0.017
>6.0~10.0	+0.012	+0.018	+0.03	+0.017
>10.0~18.0	+0.015	+0.008	+0.012	+0.020
>10.0~18.0	+0.015	+0.022	+0.036	+0.020
>18.0~30.0	+0.017	+0.009	+0.016	+0.025
>18.0~30.0	+0.017	+0.028	+0.044	+0.025
>30.0~50.0	+0.021	+0.012	+0.019	+0.03
>30.0~50.0	+0.021	+0.033	+0.052	+0.03
>50.0~80.0	+0.025	+0.014	+0.022	+0.036
>50.0~80.0	+0.025	+0.039	+0.062	+0.036
>80.0~100.0	+0.029	+0.016	+0.026	+0.042
>80.0~100.0	+0.029	+0.045	+0.073	+0.042

Download Reamers Cutting Parameters Table Sheet as Following:

Reamers Cutting Parameter.xlsx

Selection of Reamer Cutting Amount
The cutting parameters for high-speed steel (HSS) reamers when processing different materials
Reamer diameter d 0/mm	Low-carbon steel 120~200 HBS		Low-alloy steel 200~300 HBS		High-alloy steel 300~400 HBS		Soft cast iron 130 HBS		Medium hard cast iron 175 HBS		Hard cast iron 230 HBS


	f	v	f	v	f	v	f	v	f	v	f	v
6	0.13	23	0.1	18	0.1	7.5	0.15	30.5	0.15	26	0.15	21
9	0.18	23	0.18	18	0.15	7.5	0.2	30.5	0.2	26	0.2	21
12	0.2	27	0.2	21	0.18	9	0.25	36.5	0.25	29	0.25	24
15	0.25	27	0.25	21	0.2	9	0.3	36.5	0.3	29	0.3	24
19	0.3	27	0.3	21	0.25	9	0.38	36.5	0.38	29	0.36	24
22	0.33	27	0.33	21	0.25	9	0.43	36.5	0.43	29	0.41	24
25	0.51	27	0.38	21	0.3	9	0.51	36.5	0.51	29	0.41	24
Reamer diameter d 0/mm	Malleable cast iron		Cast Brass & Bronze		Cast Aluminum and Zinc Alloy		Plastic		Stainless steel		Titanium alloy
	Malleable cast iron		Cast Brass & Bronze		Cast Aluminum and Zinc Alloy		Plastic		Stainless steel		Titanium alloy
	f	v	f	v	f	v	f	v	f	v	f	v
6	0.1	17	0.13	46	0.15	43	0.13	21	0.05	7.5	0.15	9
9	0.18	20	0.18	46	0.2	43	0.18	21	0.1	7.5	0.2	9
12	0.2	20	0.23	52	0.25	49	0.2	24	0.15	9	0.25	12
15	0.25	20	0.3	52	0.3	49	0.25	24	0.2	9	0.25	12
19	0.3	20	0.41	52	0.38	49	0.3	24	0.25	11	0.3	12
22	0.33	20	0.43	52	0.43	49	0.33	24	0.3	12	0.38	18
25	0.38	20	0.51	52	0.51	49	0.51	24	0.36	14	0.51	18
The cutting parameters for carbide reamer reaming holes
Machining Material				Reamer diameter d 0/mm		Cutting depth α p/mm		Feed rate f/(mm/r)		Cutting speed V/(m/min)
Machining Material				Reamer diameter d 0/mm		Cutting depth α p/mm		Feed rate f/(mm/r)		Cutting speed V/(m/min)
Steel	σ b MP a		≤1000	<10		0.08~0.12		0.15~0.25		6~12
				10~20		0.12~0.15		0.20~0.35
				20~40		0.15~0.20		0.30~0.50
			> 1000	<10		0.08~0.12		0.15~0.25		4~10
				10~20		0.12~0.15		0.20~0.35
				20~40		0.15~0.20		0.30~0.50
Cast steel σ b ≤700MP a				<10		0.08~0.12		0.15~0. 25		6~10
				10~20		0.12~0.15		0.20~0.35
				20~40		0.15~0.20		0.30~0.50
Machining Material				Reamer diameter d 0/mm		Cutting depth α p/mm		Feed rate f/(mm/r)		Cutting speed V/(m/min)
Machining Material				Reamer diameter d 0/mm		Cutting depth α p/mm		Feed rate f/(mm/r)		Cutting speed V/(m/min)
Gray cast iron HBS		≤200		<10		0.08~0.12		0.15~0. 25		8~15
Gray cast iron HBS		≤200		10~20		0.12~0.15		0.20~0.35		8~15
		≤200		20~40		0.15~0.20		0.30~0.50		8~15
Gray cast iron HBS		>200		<10		0.08~0.12		0.15~0. 25		5~10
				10~20		0.12~0.15		0.20~0.35
				20~40		0.15~0.20		0.30~0.50
Cold cast iron HBS65~80				<10		0.08~0.12		0.15~0. 25		3~5
				10~20		0.12~0.15		0.20~0.35
				20~40		0.15~0.20		0.30~0.50

Conclusion:

Selecting the right tools is essential in machining. Explore various types of reamers to achieve precise hole dimensions across diverse materials and applications.

Types of Reamer Tools: Definitions, Uses, and Industrial Applications