21 juli 2025
Hilti partners with Scatterin to deepen understanding of drill bit performance
As Hilti marks 30 years of its TE-CX drill bits, the company continues to invest in technologies that support innovation and durability. One such initiative involves exploring advanced material characterization techniques to better understand internal stresses in production-grade components.
Scatterin is proud to contribute to this effort by providing non-destructive residual stress analysis using synchrotron X-ray diffraction (S-XRD). This method enables high-resolution measurements inside WC-Co hardmetal drill bits, without altering or damaging the part.
Quantifying stresses where it matters most
Residual stresses play a critical role in tool performance, especially in demanding applications. Hilti’s engineering teams are working to measure and simulate how these stresses develop during production and in use, allowing for the optimization of the residual stress state to improve effective strength and therefore product lifetime.
To support this, Scatterin conducted S-XRD measurements on drill bits manufactured by Hilti, using the Swedish Materials Science Beamline P21 at DESY. The technique allows mapping of micrometer-scale strain distributions, even in highly X-ray-absorbent materials like WC-Co hardmetals. These insights are especially valuable for systems combining complex geometries and multi-step processing histories, affecting the tool life and performance.
Residual stress measurements provide critical experimental data to calibrate and validate finite element modeling (FEM) models. This link between experimental measurements and simulations helps reduce uncertainty in virtual design models and shortens innovation loops.
“Scatterin’s S-XRD measurements provided enormous insights that are helping our R&D teams further improve the Hilti TE-CX drill bit and make the best even better.” — Steven Moseley, Hilti AG Chief Scientist (Hard Materials)
Synchrotrons in service of industry
The results from the S-XRD measurements provide valuable experimental data for Hilti’s ongoing modeling and design validation work. This data helps refine finite element simulations and support decisions around process development.
Scatterin’s Synchrotron as a Service model, paired with our own data analysis software, makes advanced material characterization faster, more accessible, and cost-effective for industrial partners.
This work was made possible through close collaboration with Hilti and through access to the Swedish Materials Science Beamline (P21) at DESY. Scatterin thanks P21 and DESY for excellent infrastructure. Scatterin thanks Hilti for the trust and opportunity to contribute to this interesting project.
To learn more about Scatterin’s synchrotron X-ray measurement and data analysis technology, contact:
Markus Holmström, Business Development– markus@scatterin.com
Ahmet Bahadır Yıldız, CEO – ahmet@scatterin.com
Peter Hedström, CSO – peter@scatterin.com
Book a meeting with us via link.