The main objective of this study was to experimentally determine the influence of different inert gases on drilling aluminium and titanium alloys with carbide drills. For the experiment, a carbide drill with a diameter of 6.8 mm, featuring an internal channel for delivering coolant to the cutting zone, was used. Three cooling gases were applied at a pressure of 9 bar: compressed air, carbon dioxide (CO$_2$), and argon. Drilling was performed on an aluminium alloy of the 2000 series and a titanium alloy Ti-6Al-4V. During the tests, feed forces and cutting torques were measured using a load cell, and the collected data were analysed using NI LabVIEW software. Tool wear was assessed after each test using an optical digital microscope. The results showed that in drilling the aluminium alloy, the choice of gas had little effect on forces and torques, but slightly affected tool wear. In drilling the titanium alloy, the use of argon resulted in a significant reduction of feed forces, but had no notable effect on cutting torque or wear.
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