What is a Drilling Machine - Drilling Machine Definition, Parts, Types & Uses

Similar to lathes, drilling machines are also one of the most common machine tools used in the machine shop. As a versatile machine, the drill press primarily for drilling holes and a lot of other operations with proper tools. Here we’ll talk about the drilling machine definition, parts and functions, types and uses.

What is a Drilling Machine?

A drilling machine, also called a drill press, is a powerful tool used to cut a round hole into or through metal, plastic, wood, or other solid materials through turning and advancing rotary drill bits into a workpiece. This drilling cutting tool is held in the drill press by a chuck and fed into the work at variable speeds. The speed and feed should be set properly and coolant needs to be provided for the desired finished part. The drilling machine can not only be applied in the drilling process, but also useful for many other machining operations. There are various operations can be performed on a drilling machine, such as plane drilling, step drilling, core drilling, boring, counterboring, reaming, countersinking, spot facing, tapping, and trepanning.

Drilling Machine Parts and Functions - Main Components of Drilling Machine

A drilling machine is usually composed of several or all of the following parts.

– Base: generally bolted with the ground to support the weight of the drilling machine.

– Column: located on one side of the base, can carry the load of the arm and drill head, with a sliding table mounted on it.

– Arm: at the top of the column, carries the drill head and the housing of the driving mechanism.

– Drill head: mounted on one side of the arm, consists of feed and driving mechanism. It can slide up and down.

– Worktable: mounted on the column, can move vertically and horizontally.

– Feed mechanism: hand and automatic feed by an electrical motor.

– Spindle: holds the drill or cutting tool and revolves in a fixed position in a sleeve.

– Chuck: situated on the spindle, holds the drill jig.

– Electric Motor

Types of Drilling Machines and Their Uses

Here are some different types of drilling machines with their construction, characteristics, and uses.

1. Portable drilling machine (Hand drilling machine): generally small in size and contains a universal motor, used for drilling holes on the rocks or any rigid surface, suitable for any location. The piece to be drilled is held in a vice.

2. Sensitive drilling machine (Bench drilling machine): perfect for producing small holes at high speeds, usually consists of a base, worktable, spindle, drill head, driving mechanism and column. The work is started from the drill fed into the piece by hand.

3. Radial drilling machine: mainly for drilling large and heavy workspaces, the table can be adjusted to suit different heights. It allows the operator to make the spindle directly over the workpiece rather than move the part to the tool, and also capable to create intersecting or angular holds in one setup.

4. Upright drilling machine: larger and stronger than sensitive drilling machine, designed for handling medium to large-sized holes.

5. Gang drilling machine: can be used for drilling, reaming, counterboring and tapping, just need to move the machine back and forth.

6. Deep mole drilling machine: special type that is designed to drill deep holes in the connecting rods, spindles and others, with high cutting speed and less feed.

7. Multiple spindle drilling machine: with several spindles, perfect for drilling a large amount of holes into a part and drilling same holes on identical workpieces.

8. CNC drilling machine: computer numerical control drilling machine can automatically change tooling with a turret or automatic tool changer. The program controls the speeds, feeds and table position.

9. Micro drill press: extremely accurate, high spindle speed, used to handle tiny or very small parts.

10. Turret type drilling machine: equipped with several drilling heads mounted on a turret, the tool can be quickly indexed into position.

What is a Drilling Machine – Drilling Machine Definition, Parts, Types & Uses | CNCLATHING