What Is Drilling? Its Applications, Operations, How It Works, And Safety Preclusions
Drilling is a cutting technique that creates a circular cross-sectional hole in solid materials using a drill bit. The drill bit rotates at hundreds to thousands of revolutions per minute, removing chips from the hole.
Mechanical engineers must be familiar with drilling, as it is frequently used in manufacturing and involves swift strokes. Drilling is a crucial process used to create cylindrical holes on workpieces with a predetermined diameter and depth.
A drilling machine is a piece of equipment that creates these holes using a specialised tool called a drill bit. Drilling is a significant machine tool, often used on metal and wood materials. Drilling removes chips from the hole, and drift drills are used for horizontal drilling.
The first handheld portable drilling machine was developed by Wilhelm and Carl Fein in 1895, and the first pistol-grip portable drill with a trigger switch was patented in 1917 by Black & Decker.
Drilling machines are essential tools for various operations, including countersinking, counterboring, reaming, spot facing, and tapping large and small holes. They come in various shapes and sizes, from small hand-held power drills to bench-mounted and floor-mounted versions.
The principles and drill bits used vary, but they all have the ability to perform various operations. Drilling machines are used in construction, mining, oil and gas, manufacturing, medical, and automotive sectors.
Operators must know how to set up work, set speed, feed, and coolant to achieve quality holes. They are crucial for drilling wells, extracting minerals, and drilling for various parts, such as chassis.
Drilling works in metal, similar to wood drilling, using standard drill bits and techniques. High-speed steel (HSS) is the least expensive twist bit suitable for most metal drilling tasks.
To create a centre punch, measure and mark the desired hole, then use a centre punch and hammer to create a small dimple. Lubricated bits last longer and make drilling easier.
Drilling successively larger holes with the drill bit for metal until the desired size is reached. Starting with a 1/4 in. hole yields the best results. After drilling, remove sharp edges or burrs by gently hand-twisting a slightly larger twist bit over the top of the hole.
Following these guidelines ensures a successful and efficient drilling process for any metal material. Drilling is a crucial operation in the drilling process, which involves creating circular holes of any size in a workpiece.
The most common drilling operation is drilling, which can be performed using a drill bit or a lathe machine. Core drilling is used when sand casting is made to displace metal, while step drilling allows for more than one diameter to be ground on the drill body.
Boring is done to enlarge the diameter of an existing hole, and reaming is the finishing of a drilled hole to obtain a specific size and fine surface. Counterboring is another drilling operation where a larger drill bit is used to open a wider hole.
This counterbore is called a counterbore and is used as a counterbore when the operation is done on a drilling machine. Countersink is an operation that produces an angular surface at the end of a hole with different angles and diameter sizes.
Spot facing is done to create space for a bolt head, washer, or nut, usually performed on casting or machining a flat or circular surface around the workpiece.
Tapping is a drilling machine operation that creates a tapped (threaded) hole on a workpiece by producing a non-tapped hole in the material using a specified-size drill bit.
A tapping attachment is held in the spindle of the drill press, which accurately centres on the drilled hole. Trepanning is a hole-making operation that produces an annular groove, making the centre a solid cylindrical core.
Trepanning is feasible if the hole has a diameter of more than 50 mm. Drilling, boring, and reaming are three distinct operations used by manufacturing companies to create and modify holes in workpieces.
Drilling involves using a drill bit to create circular-shaped holes in a material, scraping away material when pressed against the workpiece. Boring is a different operation that uses a single-point cutting tool to enlarge an existing hole in material.
Reaming creates smooth interior walls in an existing hole, primarily performed on a milling machine or drill press. These processes are essential for creating holes for bolts, screws, dowels, alignment, fitment, and assembly purposes.
Safety Precaution is essential when drilling metal, as it can cause serious eye injuries. Proper eye protection and lubrication are recommended for making holes in steel 1/8 in. or thicker.
High-speed steel (HSS) is the recommended drill bit for metal, with black oxide or cobalt steel being recommended for hard, abrasive metals like stainless steel or cast iron. Some bits have a special coating called titanium nitride (TIN), making them last up to six times longer.
Use clamps or a vise to securely hold down the workpiece, and drill successively larger holes until the desired size is reached. Deburr the hole after drilling with a twist bit slightly larger in diameter. Drill at a slow speed, 350 to 1,000 rpm, for hard metals like steel and larger drill bits.
For clean, precise holes in thin sheet metal, make a wood sandwich by sandwiching the sheet metal between two pieces of wood and clamping everything down on a table or workbench.
Step drill bits are ideal for creating perfectly sized, clean holes in steel junction boxes, electrical service panels, or stainless-steel sinks, but are more expensive than regular bits.
FAQs
What is drilling and its type?
Rotary-percussion drilling and percussion drilling are two types of drilling systems, each utilising a different method to penetrate different soil and rock conditions.
What is drilling in language teaching?
Language drills are a crucial tool in language teaching, aiding in the memorising of language structures and vocabulary, thereby ensuring that new vocabulary is introduced within the curriculum context.
What is drilling in mining?
Drilling is a significant stage in civil construction, providing significant information to the region surveyed through bores in soil or rock.
What is a drilling process?
The drilling process involves spinning a drill bit to cut a hole of circular cross-section in solid materials using a rotary cutting tool, often multi-point, at rates of hundreds to thousands of revolutions per minute.
Related: Lapping Explained!
Source: mechlesson.com/drilling
