Drilling Machines – The Ultimate Guide

A drilling machine definition is a well-designed component specialized to puncture cylindrical cavities in hard surfaces or materials like concrete and wood. This multipurpose tool, which is also known as the drill press, allows you to make perfect drillings on impenetrable surfaces seamlessly. The HSN code for drilling machines is 8459.

Main Functions of a Drilling Machine

Since drilling machines were invented hundreds of years ago, they have found their way into varying residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

These handy machines are primarily renowned for puncturing precise holes but you can also exploit them to fulfill other tasks.

• Drilling Holes: This is the principal role of drilling machines. It involves creating cylindrical cavities in distinct materials using a revolving drill bit. With a drilling machine, you can simply drill punctures into your wooden, metallic, or concrete workpiece.
• Reaming: You can also utilize your drill press to make pre-existing cavities or holes in your workpiece or surface bigger. The drilling machine will not only enlarge your cylindrical holes, it will also leave them with a smooth finish.
• Tapping: In addition to drilling punctures, your drill press can also engrave perfect threads on the drilled holes. This is an essential operation, especially when you are looking to use screws.
• Countersinking: With a drilling machine, you can also create a tapered opening, which can accommodate your countersunk screw head. This makes your workpiece visually appealing.

Types of Drilling Machines

Having looked at the distinct roles drilling machines can serve, you might be wondering how it is possible for one equipment to fulfill all these roles. Well, this is made possible by the availability of numerous drill presses, each customized to fulfill a specific role.

Corded Drilling Machines

You can distinguish a corded drill press by its characteristic power cable, which allows you to connect it directly to your power source.

This guarantees you more torque meaning you can use a corded drilling machine to puncture holes in heavy-duty workpieces. These drills come in various types including rotary drills and hammer drills.

Advantages

• Lighter Weight: Corded drills utilize power directly hence they do not necessitate a battery unit. This translates into a relatively lighter weight. As such, you will find using them quite comfortable and less tiring.
• Uninterrupted Power: To power your corded drill press, you simply connect it to a power source, which is most likely grid-connected. This ensures continuous drilling since your power source is reliable unlike batteries, which may run out of power mid-operation.
• Enhanced Torque: The direct power connection translates into more power meaning you can use your corded drill in heavy-duty applications. It also elevates its performance and drilling speed.
• Lower Cost: Corded drilling machines are often compared to their cordless counterparts and one of their overriding advantages is their affordability. This is primarily a consequence of the lack of an in-built battery.

Limitations

• Limited Mobility: You can only move your corded drill press as far as your cord’s length. This limits its use to areas within your power outlet.
• Reliance on a Power Outlet: To use a corded drilling machine, you must have access to a power source. The lack of an in-built battery means its use is limited to areas with a functional power source.

Cordless Drilling Machines

Cordless drill presses are advanced drilling machines designed to favor portable use since they are self-reliant. They come with an in-built battery that powers their operation. This means you do not need to tether your drill to a power outlet. This is quite advantageous in that you can move your drill as you like.

Advantages

• Freedom of Movement: The lack of a power code and non-reliance on a power outlet makes your cordless drill portable. Furthermore, these drills are largely lightweight making it easier for you to move them around.
• Self-Reliance: With a cordless drilling machine, you are not required to find a nearby power outlet to start drilling. You get to carry out your drilling operations anywhere thanks to an inbuilt power system.
• Versatility: They come with numerous drill bits each specialized to puncture different designs of holes. This means you can use your cordless drill press to puncture plastic, wooden, or even metallic workpieces.
• Long Run Times: They utilize high-power batteries, which keep them running for hours before necessitating recharge or battery change.

Limitations

• Higher Cost: The inclusion of a battery tends to drive the price of cordless drills upwards. However, their price depends on the type of battery installed and its respective features.
• Limited Power: Cordless drilling machines can only serve you as long as their battery has power. Once the power diminishes, you are forced to halt your drilling operations to recharge your drill.

Hand Drills

Hand drilling machines come with a hand-operate spindle, which you have to rotate manually to initiate the drilling process. They are not reliant on power and their makeup is quite simple.

As such, they are more suited for simple drilling tasks like DIY projects. Some common types include;

• Brace and bit hand drills.
• Breast hand drills.
• Pin vise hand drills.
• Ratchet brace hand drills.

Advantages

• They do not rely on electricity meaning you can use them in off-grid areas and save up on power bills.
• Their simple design means that you are not required to have special skills to operate them.
• They boast of a light weight making it easier for you to move them around.

Limitations

• Physical exertion.
• Slower drilling.

Angle Drills

These are unique drilling machines specifically designed to facilitate drilling operations in tight spaces.

They are distinguished by their 90-degree angled head, which allows you to drill even in weird angles.

Advantages

• Accessibility: They boast of a 90-degree angled head, which permits you to drill in areas where typical drills cannot.
• Better Control: Their unique configuration gives you better leverage when drilling in tight spaces.
• Compact: Compared to other drilling machines, they are comparatively lighter in weight and more compact. This allows you to utilize them in constrained areas.
• Versatile: You can exploit them to drill holes, drive screws and even mix paint among other uses.

Rotary Drills

These drilling machines are specialized for deep drilling due to their immense power and torque. They utilize rotary motion and are quite versatile meaning you can utilize them in various ways.

This includes screw driving, impact drilling, and hammering.

• High Penetration: You can drill deeper holes with rotary drills thanks to their immense power. They are also fast meaning you get to complete drilling operations quickly.
• Precise Hole Diameter: Their driving mechanism, which is rotary motion enables them to drill accurate punctures irrespective of the surface or workpiece.
• Continuous Drilling: They are capable of extracting the cut fragments while they drill thus facilitating continuous operation. The same cannot be said for other drills, which necessitate you to switch off your drill to remove the cuttings.
• Quite Safe: They come with operator controls, which give you more control over their operation. They are also designed to initiate automatic shut-off in case of a potential hazard.

Bench Drills

Bench drills are drilling machines mounted on worktables, which makes them virtually motionless. To use them, you have to position your workpiece beneath their drill bit. Their configuration gives them greater stability, which ultimately translates into better drilling precision.

Advantages

• More Precise: They are typically mounted on a stationary worktable and this makes it easier for you to correctly place your workpiece beneath the drilling bit.
• More Control: Their stationary nature means you have more control over the drilling process thus minimizing chances of making an error.
• Speed Control: You can increase or decrease the drilling speed of your bench drill depending on your workpiece material.
• Depth Control: With a bench drill you can adjust the drill bit to ensure that you drill holes whose depth meets your requirements.

Impact Drill

Impact drills are characterized by their high force, which makes them the perfect drill for driving screws. They are also well-suited to digging holes in rough surfaces and heavy-duty workpieces.

For this reason, they are often utilized in construction operations.

Advantages

• More Drilling Force: They deliver superior percussive force, making them ideal for driving screws into tough surfaces.
• Versatile: Their high percussive force means that you can utilize them in distinct applications including metalworking, construction, underground mining, tunnel, and carpentry.
• Faster Completion Times: Due to their high drilling force, they drill holes and drive screws in significantly less time compared to other drills.

Diamond Drilling Machines

These machines are specially designed to handle hard surfaces that cannot be drilled using typical drill machines. They feature a round wet core bit that is fitted with diamonds on the edges and this allows them to penetrate concrete and bricks.

Advantages

• During drilling they utilize water, which cools the drilling bit thus preventing abrasion of your diamond edges.
• You can adjust the size of the drilling bit to control hole depth.
• They are quite precise and this ensures that your workpiece or surface is safe from damage.
• During drilling they emit relatively less dirt and dust.

Magnetic Drilling Machines

Mag drills are designed to puncture cylindrical cavities in metallic surfaces like steel. They rely on powerful magnets and you can position them horizontally or vertically. This facilitates their use in constrained areas where they guarantee accurate hole placement.

Advantages

• These machines are lightweight.
• They can handle varied drilling operations.
• They are quite stable and less prone to sliding.
• Can be operated using one hand.

Additional Types of Drilling Machine

• Drilling oil machines
• Drilling rock machines
• Borehole drilling machines
• Drilling or mortising machines
• Drilling and boring machines
• Broachcutter drilling machines

Breaking Down Your Drilling Machine

Drilling machines are seemingly simple and they carry out simple operations like drilling and reaming. However, when broken down, they reveal a complex makeup featuring numerous components. These components include;

• Base: The base is the robust flat surface stand on which the other parts of your drill are installed. It provides support and a flat surface which makes your drilling machine precise. For larger machines, this base is huge and it can be mounted on the ground while for smaller machines it is often implanted on benches or worktables.
• Column: This is a pillar planted on the base that rises upwards and accommodates other essential components. They include the drill head and table.
• Drill Head: This is an essential component tasked with housing essential parts like the spindle and chuck. You can move it along the column to adjust the position and length of your drill bit.
• Chuck: The chuck is the component that tightens your drill bit onto the multiple spindle. To tighten or loosen it, you can use your hands or a chuck key.
• Arm: The arm is not found on all drilling machines. However, it serves the function of positioning your drill’s drill head.
• Spindle: This is the part that supports your drill bit, which can be tightened or loosened using the chuck. It is linked to the motor, which powers its rotation.
• Worktable: The worktable is a small table with a flat surface that is designed to hold and position the object you intend to drill.
• Power Source: The power source is an essential component that powers the operations of your drill. It can be an external power outlet, which is synonymous with corded drilling machines or a battery.

Operating Your Drilling Machine

Operating a drill is not a complex task. However, it requires a certain level of know-how and expertise to minimize errors and the risk of accidents. If you want to put your drill to task, kindly follow the following steps.

• Step 1: Preparation: First, you must prepare your workpiece or surface for drilling. Secondly, you have to prepare your drilling machine and this could include adjusting the drill head.
• Step 2: Settings: After you have prepared your drill and workpiece, proceed to set your drill bit depth and speed. This is essential as it determines the length of drilled holes.
• Step 3: Power on Your Drill: With everything in place, proceed to switch on your drilling machine.
• Step 4: Drilling: Proceed to lower the spindle until your drill bit touches your workpiece. Then apply pressure on the feed level to begin the drilling process. The drill bit will penetrate through the material consequently creating a cylindrical hole.
• Step 5: Remove the Drill Bit: After you are satisfied with the depth of the drilled hole, gradually stop applying pressure on the feed lever. Then proceed to pull the spindle and this will withdraw your drill bit from the workpiece.
• Step 6: Switch Off Your Drill: After you have withdrawn the drill bit, proceed to power off your drill. Simply flick your power switch or press the power button.

Settling on the Best Drilling Machine

Using the wrong drilling machine can damage your workpiece or leave you with unimpressive results. This means you cannot afford to settle on the wrong equipment. To make the right pick, kindly deliberate on the following factors.

• Drill Power: Look at the power rating of the drill machine you intend to use. A machine with a higher amperage can drill deeper holes and is more suited for hard surfaces.
• Chuck Size: The chuck is the component tasked with holding your drill bit and its size determines the size of drill bits you can use. You can choose between ¾, ½, and 3/8 inches.
• Specific Features: You must look at the respective features your prospective drill offers. Check on its:
• Dust collection mechanism.
• Safety features.
• Level indicator.
• Laser guide etc.
• Comfort: Asses the weight of the drill as well as its operating controls. Drills with controls that are easy to grip and light in weight are more comfortable.
• Type of Material or Surface to be Drilled: Before procuring a drill, you must first identify the type of materials you intend to drill. If the material is extremely hard, go for a drilling machine with a high drill force such as the magnetic drill.
• Budget: Go through the varying options and settle for a drilling machine that does not exceed your budgetary limits. Also, ensure that it has all the features you are looking for.

How to Safely Operate Your Drilling Machine

Handling or operating drilling machines names carelessly can cause bodily harm or damage to your workpiece. This is why you are advised to conform to the following safety measures.

• Wear personal protective gear e.g. eye protection, mask, and gloves.
• Use the right drill bit.
• Ensure your drill is tightly fixed into the chuck.
• Grip the cord tightly.
• Maintain cleanliness.

Applications of Drilling Machines

Drilling machines serve a very specific yet essential role. This explains why they have found their way into numerous industries. Today, their application transcends the following fields.

• Woodworking: Drilling holes and driving screws.
• Construction: Drilling holes in construction materials and concrete.
• Metalworking: Puncturing holes in metal pipes and sheets.
• Electrical Work: Drilling cavities for installing electrical boxes and wiring.
• Automotive Industry: Creating holes for fasteners.
• DIY Projects: Drilling holes for mounting curtain rods and hanging shelves.
• Plumbing: Creating precise holes for plumbing fixtures.

If you are looking for high quality drilling company machines for sale in your industry, Tsinfa CNC Equipment offers a perfect solution for you. We are trusted drilling machines manufacturer in China you can trust – talk to us now. Request drilling machines pdf for more informations.

More Resources:

Machining Center – Source: TSINFA

Lathe Machine – Source: TSINFA

Tips on Drilling on Metals – Source: HANDYMAN