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Drilling

technology Maturity 11-13 Next article →

Drilling is a way to cut holes into solid materials. Most of the time, these holes have a round shape. To do this, a tool called a drill bit spins very fast. It can turn hundreds or even thousands of times every minute. As the bit spins, it presses against the material to cut it. This action creates small pieces of waste called chips or swarf.

Drill - Hole Types
Drill - Hole Types

There are many ways this cutting works. In many jobs, the bit simply rotates to slice through the material. In rock drilling, the process is a bit different. The bit is often hammered into the hole with quick, short movements. This can happen from the top of the hole or from inside it. For very large holes, a method called trepanning is used. It cuts out a solid disk, much like a drafting compass works.

Trepanned hole in steel plate
Trepanned hole in steel plate

People have worked to make drilling better for a long time. In the 1950s, Professor V.N. Poduraev at Moscow Bauman University began studying vibration drilling. This new way uses small vibrations to break up chips. This makes it much easier to clear the cutting area. Another way to make holes is orbital drilling. This is when a tool orbits around a center point. This method helps make holes very precise and smooth.

Orbital-drilling
Orbital-drilling

Drilling can be a hard job because bits can get too hot. To fix this, workers use a cutting fluid. This liquid can be a spray mist or a large flood. The fluid cools the bit and helps wash the chips away. It also helps the tool last a longer time.

HSS Twist Drill into Aluminium with Lubricant
HSS Twist Drill into Aluminium with Lubricant

For very deep holes, gun drilling is a great tool. It can make holes that are 300 times deeper than they are wide. These bits have bearing pads to keep them perfectly straight.

Rixö granitbrott 23
Rixö granitbrott 23

It is important to keep the drill bit from "walking." Walking happens when the bit slides away from the center line. To stop this, people often make a small mark first. This is called spot drilling, and it acts as a guide. You might also use a drill jig to hold the bit in place. For tiny holes, scientists use microdrilling. These holes are less than 0.1 millimeters wide.

MITIS - comparison titanium chips
MITIS - comparison titanium chips
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🖼️ Images & Media (9)
File:Percage sineholing mitis.jpg
Percage sineholing mitis.jpg
File:Drill_-_Hole_Types.png
Drill_-_Hole_Types.png
File:Rixö granitbrott 23.jpg
Rixö granitbrott 23.jpg
File:Trepanned hole in steel plate.jpg
Trepanned hole in steel plate.jpg
File:MITIS - comparison titanium chips.png
MITIS - comparison titanium chips.png
File:Percage vibratoire multi-matériaux MITIS.png
Percage vibratoire multi-matériaux MITIS.png
File:Orbital-drilling.gif
Orbital-drilling.gif
File:HSS Twist Drill into Aluminium with Lubricant.jpg
HSS Twist Drill into Aluminium with Lubricant.jpg
File:Magnetic Drilling Machine from BDS.jpg
Magnetic Drilling Machine from BDS.jpg
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