Starter kit: Drilling Performance
Some holemaking technologies have eliminated the need for spot drills, but they're still useful when the 'perfect' hole is required.
Operation / Process
Drilling & Boring
Latest in Drilling & Boring
Modular Boring System
Parlec Inc. has integrated several reengineered products into its Precision Modular Boring line.
For practically any large-diameter boring job, there is a system that can get the job done
Boring is a common hole finishing operation, but boring large-diameter holes is a bit of a niche market. "Depending on the industry, you may only find a handful of shops in some areas capable of doing this type of work," said Ron West, global product manager for Kennametal Inc., Latrobe, Pa.
Changing tools to achieve tolerances
END USER: Richardson Manufacturing Co., (217) 546-2249, www.rmc-bigcnc.com. CHALLENGE: Achieve a tight tolerance without increasing cycle time. SOLUTION: A combination drill that eliminated an unreliable boring operation.
Pumping Up Production: Drilling Performance
As the U.S. strives to become less dependent on foreign energy sources, energy producers are increasingly employing hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking," to drill shale deposits and extract natural gas and some oil. That booming market requires a range of parts from shops around the country.
Drill, Ye Tarriers, Drill!: Drilling Performance
States near the Marcellus Shale, a huge natural gas formation centered in Pennsylvania, are feverishly pursuing a $4 billion ethane "cracker" to be built by Royal Dutch Shell. The cracker will process ethane-rich gas from the Marcellus Shale into ethylene, and the ethylene will be used by the pharmaceutical, chemical and plastics industries.
In-depth reliability: Drilling Performance
END USER: Machine Tech CNC, (780) 461-0890. CHALLENGE: Accurately bore 14 diameters deep and deeper. SOLUTION: Carbide-reinforced boring bars with built-in vibration damping.
Series 112 EWD 2-54
Complete with a built-in digital display, BIG Kaiser's new Series 112 EWD 2-54 Digital Precision Finish Boring Head allows operators to make precision adjustments on the fly.
Steely holemaking: Drilling Performance
Alan Richter takes a Look Ahead at a new solid-carbide drill dedicated for steel applications.
No more blowups: Drilling Performance
END USER: Marquardt Engineering Inc., (847) 669-0690, www.marquardt-eng.com. CHALLENGE: Eliminate chatter to prevent indexable inserts from blowing up and causing catastrophic tool body failure when drilling 4150 prehardened steel. SOLUTION: A new drill body and inserts.
Drilling without catastrophe
END USER: Three Sigma Manufacturing Inc., (253) 395-1125, www.threesigma.net. CHALLENGE: Improve cycle times and prevent catastrophic failure when drilling a hole in a complex aerospace part. SOLUTION: A replaceable-tip drill that reduced cycle times and provided progressive failure indicators.
Boring Big: Drilling Performance
Horizontal boring mills are behemoth in size and flexibility.
