Quality-Assurance

A deep hole drilling machine is a significant capital investment — often $200,000 to $1 million depending on size and capability. The acceptance test is your only opportunity to verify the machine meets specifications before you are committed to it. I have been involved in several machine acceptance tests. Here is the procedure I use. Documentation Review Before any physical testing, I review the documentation: Machine specifications vs purchase order — confirm all options and features are present Electrical and hydraulic schematics Operator and maintenance manuals Spindle runout certificate from the manufacturer Coolant pump performance curve Alignment certificate from the manufacturer If any documentation is missing, I note it on the acceptance report. Missing manuals will cause problems later. ...

Nuclear power components are in a class of their own when it comes to quality requirements. Every part that goes into a nuclear power plant must meet ASME Section III or equivalent standards. The documentation, traceability, and inspection requirements are more demanding than any other industry I have worked with. I have drilled components for nuclear power plants including reactor coolant pump shafts, control rod drive mechanisms, steam generator components, and main coolant line fittings. The common thread across all of these is the material: almost everything is stainless steel or a nickel-based alloy. The heat exchanger tube sheets in nuclear steam generators follow similar principles to general heat exchanger tube sheet drilling but with tighter tolerances and stricter documentation. ...