Deep Hole Drilling on Machining Centers: Capabilities and Limits
Standard machining centers — both VMCs and HMCs — are not designed for deep hole drilling, but they can handle limited work. I’ve used them for shallow deep holes on prototype parts and low-volume production. The main limitations I’ve run into are coolant pressure, guide bushing support, and chip evacuation. Coolant Pressure Limitations Coolant pressure on a standard machining center is usually 300-1000 psi. This is enough for drilling down to about 6mm diameter at moderate depths up to 10:1 L/D. For smaller diameters or deeper holes, a higher pressure system is needed. ...