Machine Guarding and Interlocks for Deep Hole Drills
The Guarding Hazards Specific to Deep Hole Drilling Standard machine shop hazards like rotating spindles and flying chips exist on every machine. Deep hole drilling adds two specific guarding challenges: high-pressure coolant containment and chip projectiles from the bore exit. Coolant at 1000-2000 psi creates a fine mist that penetrates any gap in a guard. A pinhole in a chip shield turns into a cutting jet that can sever a finger or inject coolant into an arm. I treat every guard on a deep hole machine as a pressure containment device. ...