Drilling Long Cylinders: Setup and Support Strategies
Long cylinders — anything over 2 meters — are a different class of work from shorter parts. The setup and support requirements are more demanding, and the consequences of a mistake are larger. I’ve drilled cylinders up to 6 meters long for hydraulic and industrial applications. The principles for setting up long work are the same regardless of the specific part. Support Spacing The most important decision when setting up a long cylinder is the support spacing. A cylinder that sags under its own weight produces a bore that’s not straight. ...