A hard film formed on/above a substrate has a composition represented by the following formula (1): Cr.sub.1−aMg.sub.a(B.sub.xC.sub.yN.sub.1−x−y) (1). In the formula (1), a is the atomic ratio of Mg, x is the atomic ratio of B, and y is the atomic ratio of C; and a, x, and y satisfy the following relationships: 0.05≦a≦0.30, 0≦x≦0.20, and 0≦y≦0.30.

A method for controlling flow localization in machining process is disclosed. By application of a constraint of sufficient level in the deformation zone and modifying the surface boundary conditions, suppression of unsteady flow and flow instabilities is achieved. The method enhances machined component quality by ensuring a uniform deformation state on the machined surface. Machined components are produced by ensuing uniform deformation by adopting constrained-cutting process for suppressing the instabilities and unsteady flow through a pre-determined location of the constraint of the constrained machining process relative to the machining tool.

Provided are a hole formation method enabling the formation of a high-quality hole even when a workpiece material is a difficult-to-machining metal material or a fiber-reinforced composite material and a drill bit used in the method. A drill bit includes at least one cutting edge and a leading flank adjacent to the cutting edge, and the leading flank is set to have a surface roughness Ra of 2.0 m or more and 3.0 m or less. A hole formation method includes a hole formation step of machining a portion to be processed of a workpiece material by means of drilling to form a hole while a lubricant material for assisting machining process is in contact with a drill bit and/or the portion to be processed, and in the hole formation step, the drill bit is used.