Drilling Machine: Everything You Should Know

A drilling machine comes in many shapes and sizes, from small hand-held power drills to bench-mounted and finally floor-mounted models. They can perform operations other than drilling, such as countersinking, counterboring, reaming, and tapping large or small holes. uses cutting edges at its point to create holes in or through metal, wood, or other materials.

What is Drilling Machine?

A drilling machine is a device used to use drill bits to create holes in components or workpieces.

The drill bits, also known as multi-point cutting tools, can quickly affect the Material Removal Rate (MRR), or how quickly material is removed from a surface. a single-point cutting tool(like the one used in a lathe machine) can remove the material slowly whereas, a multi-point cutting tool removes the material at a faster rate and thereby increases MRR.

What Are the Types of Drilling Machines?

1. Radial drilling machine
2. Upright drilling machine
3. Automatic drilling machine
4. Multiple Spindle drilling machine
5. Deep hole drilling machine
6. Sensitive drilling machine
7. Portable drilling machine
8. Gang drilling machine

What Are the Construction of Drilling Machines?

These are the components.

Base:

The base is constructed of cast iron, which has high compressive strength, good wear resistance, and good absorbing qualities (i.e. absorb the vibrations induced during working conditions) and for these reasons, it acts as a base for the drilling machine.

Swivel Table: It is attached to the column that can hold the machine vice in place, and as a result, the workpiece is fixed in the machine vice to complete the drilling operation.

The Swivel table has a rotational motion that allows it to move up and down, and it can be locked to the column with a locking nut.

Power Transmission system:

It is made up of a motor, a stepped pulley, V-belt, and a spindle. The drilling machine’s operation provides an explanation of power transmission.

Column: It is precisely positioned in the base’s center, serving as a support for the Swivel table’s rotation and a holding mechanism for the power transmission system.

Hand wheel:

The spindle moves vertically up and down as a result of the handwheel’s rotation, providing the work with the necessary amount of feed.

A Rack and Pinion mechanism, which was described below, is used to convert the rotational motion in this situation into linear motion.

Chuck: The drill bit is held in place by it.

How Does Drilling Machine Work?

The motor spindle rotates when power is applied, which causes the stepped pulley that is connected to it to also rotate. One more stepped pulley is connected to the other end and can be inverted to alter the rotational motion’s speed.

A V-belt is now positioned in the gap created by the stepped pulleys to drive the power transmission. In this instance, a V-belt is used rather than a flat belt to improve power efficiency.

As a result, the spindle and the drill bit that was inserted into the chuck are now both rotating. The drill bit can turn as the spindle, which is connected to the pulleys, also rotates.

Now, with the help of the handwheel’s rotation, the spindle moves vertically up and down to provide the proper amount of feed to the work, and this drill bit is used to drill holes in the component positioned in the machine’s vice.

Where is Drilling Machine Used?

Power drill machines are mainly used for construction purposes or to complete various tasks at home. These are strong tools that can pierce through any kind of material, including rocks and hard surfaces made of concrete, plastic, wood, and metal.

How to Safely Use Drill Machines?

Prepare for Drilling

There are many different types of drilling machines on the market that you can use for do-it-yourself projects. Operation of these is simple. To use the machine safely, all you need to do is exercise caution. You must set yourself up with the appropriate safety precautions in order to do that.

WEAR SAFE CLOTHING AND EYE PROTECTION

The first piece of advice you need to abide by if you want to keep yourself safe when using a drill machine is this. Because ignorance can cause even the most skilled person to suffer serious injuries.

Wearing loose clothing or dangling jewelry that could get caught in the drill as you lean over it is never a good idea when using a drill or any other kind of power tool. To protect your eyes from flying debris, you should also wear safety goggles or glasses that cover the sides of your eyes.

WEAR EAR PROTECTION

The importance of wearing ear protection increases if you drill frequently. About 90 decibels of sound are produced by a handheld electric drill, which is loud enough to damage hearing over time. Hearing protection is not required because most cordless drills are quiet. Impact drills and hammer drills, on the other hand, are the loudest, producing over 100 dB. While performing these types of drills, hearing protection is advised.

PROTECT YOUR LUNGS

The importance of protecting your lungs cannot be overstated when working with brick or concrete. due to the possibility that prolonged exposure to crystalline silica dust could result in respiratory disease silicosis. Your mouth and nose could avoid being harmed by this dust if you wear a dust mask. However, it is advised to wear a respirator if you must work for an extended period of time under such conditions. Make sure to use the respirator that is appropriate for your project since each one is rated for specific types of hazards.

Choose the Correct Drill Bit

You must be familiar with the drill’s operation before using it for the first time. You can use your power tool safely with its assistance. The bit or the material you are drilling could break if you use a bit made of the incorrect material. On wood, masonry bits on stone, brick, or concrete, HSS (high-speed steel) bits on most metals, and carbide or a diamond-tipped bit on extremely hard and brittle surfaces, like porcelain, glass, or glazed tiles, can all be used.

There is a simple method to select the proper-sized bit whenever drilling a screw-hole. Hold the screw firmly behind the bit. Make sure the screw shaft is hidden by the bit, but also that both sides of the screw threads can still be seen.

In addition to these, you should learn more about the drill. You must look for these safety features of the drill:

• The drill’s cordless or corded status should be verified.
• How long can the machine be operated on the battery, and how long does it take to charge the battery?
• Do you find it simple to use?
• The power drill’s weight.
• What kind of material does the drill work best with?

Fit the Drill Bit Firmly into the Chuck

The clamp in the drill’s jaws is called the chuck. In spite of spinning, this keeps the drill bit in place. Ensure that the drill is turned off before attempting to replace a drill bit, and then rotate the chuck to release it. Depending on the type of drill you have, you might be able to do this by hand or you might require a chuck key, which is kept in a compartment on the drill’s handle or top. Screw it again after inserting the drill. Before you start the drill, check that the bit is straight and firmly in place, and take the key out.

• The largest size allowed by each chuck. The drill bit’s tip may be larger, but the shaft must be smaller than this size.
• You can see the drill bit spinning in the air as it is being operated. The bit is bent or not properly secured if it wobbles from side to side. Throw away bent bits because they are likely to break during drilling.

Clamp the Small Pieces Together

If you are drilling into a tiny or loose piece, clamp down the drill tightly. Make sure you’re not holding the piece down with just one hand because that could cause it to slip and hurt you.

Handle the Cord Safely

Never leave a corded drill stretched across a walkway when not in use. Additionally, avoid picking up the drill by the cord. Use a cordless drill instead if you’re working with the drill in a muddy or wet area.

Verify the minimum wire gauge in the drill manual before starting any drilling while using an extension cord. Use an adapter if you want to plug a three-prong cord into a two-prong outlet, chain multiple extension cords together, or use indoor extension cords outside.

How to Drill Safely?

Before beginning any drilling, it is crucial to know how to drill safely after you have taken all necessary precautions. It’s crucial to follow safety precautions when using these power tools, whether you’re a pro or a novice. So let’s look at the procedures for drilling safely.

Drill Pilot Holes

Beginning with a smaller drill bit than the final hole size will typically yield better results. Drill a pilot hole first, then finish the job by switching to the larger bit. The pilot hole lessens the possibility of splitting wood or causing other damage while preventing your drill bit from slipping.

• Glass and other brittle materials need to be handled with extra caution. Make a small “X” by masking tape where you want the hole, to help prevent slipping and chipping. Place your drill bit over the “X”, and then tap it with a hammer gently to create a small dent.

Drill With Steady Pressure

Push the drill into the material you are drilling while maintaining stability. You’re most likely using the wrong bit if drilling the hole requires more than a light force.

Adjust the Clutch

In order to change the torque, every drill has a twistable collar. The drill will exert more torque the higher the number. Increase the torque if you are having trouble piercing the material. Lower the torque if you are overdriving screws or drilling too deeply for fear of damaging something.

• Some of the models display a drill bit icon to indicate the highest torque.

Avoid Overheating

The drill may experience a great deal of friction when drilling through hard materials or at high speeds. This can quickly overheat the bit to the point where it burns the drilling material or becomes red hot. If the drill is having trouble moving smoothly, you can start at a low speed and then increase it. Stick to slow speeds and pause occasionally to allow the bit to cool down for a few seconds whenever drilling through dense materials or making numerous holes in any material.

Give a steady supply of water when drilling in glass, ceramic, or stone to keep it cool. Give the drill bit some time to cool off even if it does not appear to be hot.

Do Not Force a Jammed Bit Through

Do not attempt to force the stuck drill bit out by running the drill if it becomes embedded in the material. Use manual tools to disengage the bit from the chuck and remove it from the drill.

You can operate your drill machine with ease by following these safety recommendations. These safety recommendations are not just for drill machines; they also apply to other power tools. You can protect yourself from any type of unforeseen accident by following this advice.

Do you know more about drilling machines?