What exactly is a 3-plate / 6-edge SDS-Max head?

A head built from three separate carbide plates, each presenting two cutting edges — six edges in total — arranged around a raised self-centering point. Trade listings usually call it 6-cutter; engineering descriptions say 3-plate. It is the architecture of the Diager Ultimax 168 line and of the DeWalt French-made mining bits Latin America calls 'broca francesa'. We manufacture this head type in-house.

What is this head architecture best at?

Round, calibrated, straight deep holes in rock and masonry. Six distributed edges share each impact (chipping resistance on uneven collars), keep the bore concentric and full-gauge, and the center point stops the bit walking on sloped surfaces. That makes it the volume choice for hand-held mining blast holes — where a ø25 mm cartridge must slide to the bottom of a 32 mm hole — and for deep anchor and dowel work where hole calibration drives pull-out values.

Do you match the Diager Ultimax 168 and DeWalt DW010xx sizes?

Yes. Our program runs Ø22–45 mm with total lengths 450 / 570 / 620 / 920 mm, which covers both the Diager (e.g. 32 × 780 × 920) and DeWalt (32 × 450 / 620 / 920) mining length systems. When your requirement is hole depth, specify working length — the 920 mm formats differ between brands (780 vs 800 mm working). Other diameters and lengths by drawing or sample.

What carbide and body materials do you use?

We use virgin (non-recycled) YG11C-class carbide plates brazed under controlled atmosphere. The 42CrMo body receives the approved heat-treatment route and a wide helix for deep-hole evacuation. The carbide grade and batch material certificate are agreed in the purchase specification.

Is the 6-edge head available in SDS-Plus?

The volume program is SDS-Max. SDS-Plus diameters in the 3-plate / 6-edge format can be evaluated on a project basis — send your target sizes and quantities and we will confirm feasibility per drawing.

What are the MOQ, sample and branding terms?

MOQ 200 pcs per size. Paid samples (sample and freight at buyer's cost), roughly 30 days sample lead after confirmation. Branding: laser-etched logo plus custom packaging (bulk, blister or branded box). ISO 9001 with material certificates on every shipment.

3-Plate / 6-Edge SDS-Max Drill Bits Manufacturer (Ultimax-168 Class) — Mining & Anchoring OEM

3-Plate / 6-Edge SDS-Max Drill Bits — the Round-Hole Architecture, Factory-Direct

Program Overview

See our ZHMAX-168 mining drill bit manufacturing process: head forming, furnace brazing and finished six-edge carbide heads.

The 3-plate / 6-cutting-edge SDS-Max head — the architecture behind the Diager Ultimax 168 and the DeWalt mining bits Latin America calls broca francesa — drills round, diameter-calibrated, straight deep holes that flat-tipped bits cannot match on rock. Zhonghuan manufactures this head type in-house: three controlled-atmosphere brazed virgin carbide plates around a self-centering point, on a progressive 42CrMo body, in mining lengths to 920 mm — supplied factory-direct as an OEM / private label program for mining and fastening distributors.

ZHMAX-168 SDS-Max drill bit vertical poster showing the three-piece carbide head, centering point, six cutting edges and deep flute — ZHMAX-168 vertical product view: three-piece carbide head, centering point, six active cutting edges and high-capacity flute.

What the Geometry Buys You

Design element	Function
3 carbide plates / 6 cutting edges	Each blow is shared across six contact lines — no single edge takes the full hit on uneven rock; the bore stays concentric and holds nominal gauge
Self-centering point	Engages first and anchors the bit — no walking on sloped or fractured collars, clean spot drilling at 15° into a face
Progressive core	Body diameter steps up along the flute — bending resistance for 920 mm bits driven off-axis by hand
Wide-spiral deep-hole flutes	Clears coarse rock cuttings in deep dry holes — the main defence against packed-dust overheating

How this family compares against full carbide head construction — and how to word an RFQ so 6-cutter / 3-plate / full-head never get confused — is covered in our 3-plate / 6-edge vs full carbide head guide. The brand-level story of the benchmark line is in the Diager Ultimax 168 analysis.

Size Program

Spec	Range	Notes
Diameter	Ø22–45 mm (Ø32 is the mining volume size)	32 mm hole fits ø25 mm (1") cartridges with working clearance
Total length	450 / 570 / 620 / 920 mm	Covers the Diager and DeWalt mining length systems; specify working length when hole depth is the requirement
Shank	SDS-Max	Fits all SDS-Max rotary hammers; SDS-Plus per project
Carbide	Controlled-atmosphere brazed virgin carbide, YG11C class	Approved YG11C-class carbide with lot material certificate
Body	42CrMo, progressive core, heat treated	Multi-stage: normalizing, quenching, annealing, stress relieving

Application Scenarios

1. Mining Blast-Hole Drilling

Material: Medium-hardness or mixed rock at the working face; for hard, abrasive rock compare the ZHMAX-7

Recommended: Ø32 × 620 / 920 mm

Notes: The volume application. Round, full-gauge, straight holes let ø25 mm cartridges seat fully in 450–800 mm holes; retire bits on gauge wear. Field engineering in the blast-hole drilling guide; the wider program on the SDS-Max mining drill bits page.

2. Deep Anchor and Dowel Holes

Material: Concrete, stone, hard masonry

Recommended: Ø28–32 mm, length per embedment + 50 mm

Notes: Diameter-calibrated holes drive anchor pull-out values — the same property the head was designed for. Six edges also tolerate incidental rebar contact better than a flat two-edge tip.

3. Service Penetrations in Masonry and Stone

Material: Brick, block, rubble masonry, natural stone walls

Recommended: Ø28–38 mm, lengths to 920 mm

Notes: Pipe and cable through-holes in old, inconsistent walls reward the self-centering point and distributed impact — mixed material is where flat tips chip.

Mining drill bit packing: photos from our factory

Our long SDS-Max mining drill bits in individual protective tubes inside a carton, followed by strapped cartons on a wooden pallet. Tell us your sizes, quantities and packaging requirements for an OEM quotation.

Long SDS-Max mining drill bits in protective tubes inside the carton.

Mining drill bit cartons strapped on a wooden pallet before shipment.

OEM & First-Order Terms

MOQ: 200 pcs per size
Samples: Paid samples; sample and shipping cost carried by the buyer; ~30 days sample lead after confirmation
Production timing: Confirmed after specification and capacity review at order placement
Branding: Laser-etched logo + custom packaging (bulk / blister / branded box)
Quality: ISO 9001; material certificates with every shipment; material certificates tied to the approved carbide grade and shipment

Benchmarking Against the Ultimax 168 Class?

Send us your sizes, rock conditions and target volumes. We reply within 24 hours with specifications and a sampling plan.

Get a Quote

3-Plate / 6-Edge SDS-Max Drill Bits Manufacturer (Ultimax-168 Class) — Mining & Anchoring OEM | Zhonghuan