Tapping Spindle
A hand drill is convenient for mobility and versatility but is unsuitable for more demanding tasks. Such tasks are volume-related to drilling holes through metal, wood, and plastic. An automatic drill press is more suitable because it has more torque and easily maintains a straight drilling path. The press sits on a firm base that supports the column that supports its table. Work material is held down in place with a vise or clamps. The ideal table has adjustable height to allow greater freedom when working with tall pieces of material. The column contains motorized parts as well as the quill. The quill is a hollow shaft that houses the spindle. The torque generated by the motor turns the spindle that holds the chuck – the part that holds the different types of cutting tools.
The Spindle
While all the parts of a drill press serve a purpose, the spindle is regarded as an essential component as it is responsible for the rotation of the drill. An automatic drilling machine has a spindle return spring that allows easy up and down movement.
The spindle material of choice in the average state-of-the-art driller is high-strength carbon steel.
The Spindle in Action
The spindle should be perpendicular to the work table, making centering easy. Other designs include horizontal drilling or drilling at an off-angle to match your part. To ensure the spindle sits accurately in the head, use a center finder. This piece inserts into the chuck and points down to a center punch mark. If there is concentricity between the quill and the center finder, the positioning will be acceptable.
Drilling a Hole
Start your hole with a center drill. Its short flute offers a true guide on the position of the hole and makes it easier to create a pilot hole. Use a center divot to mark out the drilling area in its absence. The small recess it creates is enough to hold your next drill bit when you are stacking material.
For automated drilling, make a small pilot hole before creating the hole you will use. It is better for accuracy and positioning and helps your bits last longer. For wide or deep holes or a large volume of holes where you want your tooling to last longer, remember to use a coolant and consistently clear the chips to avoid undue stress on the hole. Adjust spindle speed as required, especially if you move up bit sizes. Predetermine your depth hole by setting a depth stop on the quill.
The edges of the hole are likely to have burrs due to compression forces. Use a deburring tool on the hole's edges under moderate pressure to remove them. Cogsdill or other providers produce an automatic removal tool for burrs.
Use a tapping bit to create threads in your hole. These offer good reference points to determine what tapping bits to use for your screws. Maintain good tapping practice with your integrated auto driller by using moderate force and backing up the tap to clean and lubricate.
AutoDrill provides quality tapping and drilling solutions for manufacturers. Please call us at 1-800-871-5022 or email sales@autodrill.com to order.