It was a Monday morning in January, the shop was freezing, and I was behind schedule. The weekend crew had left a machine set up and ready to run, and the part on the table was a large hydraulic cylinder block that had already gone through several operations. All it needed was a 25mm hole drilled 800mm deep. About an hour of cycle time, then on to the next operation. ...
Vibration analysis measures the vibration at key points on the machine and identifies the frequency components. Each machine component rotates at a specific speed and produces vibration at a specific frequency. I have been running a vibration analysis program across twelve deep hole drilling machines for four years, and it has fundamentally changed how I approach maintenance. Measurement Points and Equipment I use a handheld vibration analyzer (Fluke 810 or equivalent) with a single-axis accelerometer that has a 100 mV/g sensitivity. I have standardized on seven measurement points per machine: ...
The spindle is the most critical component of a deep hole drilling machine. The cutting tool is mounted in the spindle, and the spindle’s condition determines the quality of the hole. I’ve worked with spindles ranging from high-speed gun drilling spindles to heavy-duty BTA spindles. I’ve personally rebuilt over 30 spindles across five different machine brands. Each type has different design requirements. Gun Drilling Spindles Gun drilling spindles need high speed and moderate torque. A typical gun drilling spindle operates at 3000-12,000 RPM with enough torque to drive a drill from 1mm to 30mm diameter. ...