If you run a machine shop you might perform a wide range of services for your customers. This may include the process of boring holes in things. On the surface, it may seem like a simple task and it is done millions of times each day, somewhere and in some manner. However, many of today’s parts require precision boring with a high speed drilling operation. The machine shop of the 21st Century has taken something as “everyday” as boring holes and turned it into a science to meet the needs of industry. So how can you keep up with the times? Here are some helpful tips for improving the process.
It’s Not Milling
In order to bore holes, you need some type of drill bit. Plus, boring is not like milling in which you can remove a small amount of material in one pass and continue working on the piece until it is in just the right shape, dimensions and specifications.
A drilling operation is a onetime shot (unless you decide to make the hole larger). Since you only have one shot, it must be perfect or you could end up scrapping your work piece and starting the entire process all over again. This is not only time consuming, it can get expensive.
High Speed Challenges
There is another factor to consider when boring. Many of today’s materials require the use of high speed drills and as speed increases it becomes more difficult. Why are the challenges increased with speed?
The faster a drill bit turns the more heat is generated and this can create a lot of problems. In addition, cuttings must be removed quickly or they could get in the way and damage material or interfere with the cut. Also, as speed increases, accuracy becomes a greater concern. High speed drilling can create problems in today’s machine shop and they must be solved in an efficient and cost effective manner.
Meeting Specifications
Today’s drilling operation must be constantly monitored and issues like center line adjustments have to be taken seriously. Runout can be a real problem in some applications.
Heat Build-up
With some materials, it’s very difficult to keep heat to a minimum. This is why the proper coolant system is extremely important. In addition, a modern drilling operation can place a huge demand on a coolant system and you might need to invest in more efficient filtration methods, to keep costs down. A more effective coolant system will not only reduce heat, but help to keep shavings build-up to a minimum.
With so many considerations and costs to take into account, it’s no wonder many shops choose to go with a custom machine shop service for many of their needs. These services are readily available and provide many different choices.
