chandley
Plastic
- Joined
- Jan 24, 2010
- Location
- Huntington Beach, CA USA
Hi Everyone,
I have been reading this forum for several months now. I have found answers to many of my questions by reading threads from others. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge that is available here.
I am currently in the market for a drill press for our small prototyping shop. I have read all of the drill press recommendation threads. None of them seem to cover my concerns.
They have however, provided me with an understanding of the information that you would like to see in order to help me. Here goes.
Largest/Hardest Drilling Operation: 1.250" holes in 1.000" thick 304 and 316 Stainless. Approximately 50 holes per month or 1% of total drilling. If this operation throws a wrench in what would otherwise be a much broader range of recommendations, this work could be sent out.
Majority of Drilling Operations: 0.125" to 0.375" holes in 0.250" to 0.625" thick 6061 and 7075 Aluminum. Approximately 2000 holes per month or 80% of total drilling.
Minority of Drilling Operations: 0.250" to 0.750" holes in 0.125" to 0.750" thick 4130, 4140, A6 Steels, 6061 and 7075 Aluminum, 304, 316 and 416 Stainless. Approximately 500 holes per month or 20% of total drilling.
It would be nice to be able to tap up to about 0.500" in 4130. Maybe a tapping cycle or just a Tap-Matic head.
Lots of the parts we do have holes that have tight relational tolerances. For instance, a 6' length of 0.250" x 0.750" 6061 flat bar that needs 10-32 tapped holes starting 1.000" from the end and spaced every 0.625" on center. Tolerance from center to center of holes is +-0.002". Cumulative tolerance over the entire 6' length is +-0.020".
We currently do the part above with what we call a pin jig on a 15” benchtop drill press, no nameplate. Clamp the bar in a 6” stationary Kurt vise. Drill a #22 hole. Ream to #21. Place the hole just reamed on a #21 pin that is 0.001” undersize that is located 0.625” center to center from the center of the spindle, clamp in place. Drill, ream, move. Repeat until done.
When all of the holes are drilled mount a Tap-Matic head and tap the holes. This is a very time consuming process.
I am thinking that acquiring and mounting some sort of cross slide table with an associated long travel dial indicator could speed up the process considerably. Or maybe a drill press that has an integral bed instead of a table?
Many of the previous drill press recommendation threads seem to spend a lot of time on the benefits of drilling with a mill. We do not physically have the space for another mill and we do not have regularly available time on the mills we have to do this work.
I will not buy anything made in China or India. Taiwan probably, Korea maybe, Japan, Germany, the US definitely. If I missed some of the good machine tool countries I apologize in advance. Please do not take offense.
New or used I do not really care. Condition, spindle run out, etc. is important.
Budget: I know this is not going to be cheap. I think Something between $1,500 and $5,000 would be a reasonable expectation depending upon features, condition and capacity.
What I think I want:
MT 3 or 4 spindle
4.5” or more spindle travel
Power Feed, 0.003, 0.006 and 0.009 ipr
Tapping cycle, auto reverse feature
100-3000 rpm variable speed, No belt changes
8” to 12” spindle to column
Maximum spindle to table should be at least 20”
2 HP, Single or 3 phase does not matter, have both
Weight something at least 500#, probably better 700# and up
Cross slide table, 10” to 20” X travel and ~5” Y travel
The questions:
1. Is the a single piece of equipment that can perform all of the above operations?
2. Should I buy a separate machine specifically for drilling the stainless? Once we get a high enough demand that is.
3. For the above operations is there any adavantage to a geared head drill press over a belt and pulley drill press?
4. Should I consider an electronically controlled variable speed drive?
5. DRO on a drill press? We currenlty use long range dial indicators, 4” nd 5”.
6. Horsepower, I am thinking 1.5-3, depending upon whether or not the 1.250” holes in stainless are to be drilled in house.
7. Spindle speed range, I am thinking ~100 to ~3000 rpm.
8. Where can I buy a good, smooth, accurate, repateable, cross slide table?
9. New or Used?
10. Specific manufacturers and models I should look at?
I am sorry for being so long winded. I have tried to anticipate the questions that may arise.
My sincere thanks in advance for any advice you may be able to offer.
Chris
I have been reading this forum for several months now. I have found answers to many of my questions by reading threads from others. I appreciate the wealth of knowledge that is available here.
I am currently in the market for a drill press for our small prototyping shop. I have read all of the drill press recommendation threads. None of them seem to cover my concerns.
They have however, provided me with an understanding of the information that you would like to see in order to help me. Here goes.
Largest/Hardest Drilling Operation: 1.250" holes in 1.000" thick 304 and 316 Stainless. Approximately 50 holes per month or 1% of total drilling. If this operation throws a wrench in what would otherwise be a much broader range of recommendations, this work could be sent out.
Majority of Drilling Operations: 0.125" to 0.375" holes in 0.250" to 0.625" thick 6061 and 7075 Aluminum. Approximately 2000 holes per month or 80% of total drilling.
Minority of Drilling Operations: 0.250" to 0.750" holes in 0.125" to 0.750" thick 4130, 4140, A6 Steels, 6061 and 7075 Aluminum, 304, 316 and 416 Stainless. Approximately 500 holes per month or 20% of total drilling.
It would be nice to be able to tap up to about 0.500" in 4130. Maybe a tapping cycle or just a Tap-Matic head.
Lots of the parts we do have holes that have tight relational tolerances. For instance, a 6' length of 0.250" x 0.750" 6061 flat bar that needs 10-32 tapped holes starting 1.000" from the end and spaced every 0.625" on center. Tolerance from center to center of holes is +-0.002". Cumulative tolerance over the entire 6' length is +-0.020".
We currently do the part above with what we call a pin jig on a 15” benchtop drill press, no nameplate. Clamp the bar in a 6” stationary Kurt vise. Drill a #22 hole. Ream to #21. Place the hole just reamed on a #21 pin that is 0.001” undersize that is located 0.625” center to center from the center of the spindle, clamp in place. Drill, ream, move. Repeat until done.
When all of the holes are drilled mount a Tap-Matic head and tap the holes. This is a very time consuming process.
I am thinking that acquiring and mounting some sort of cross slide table with an associated long travel dial indicator could speed up the process considerably. Or maybe a drill press that has an integral bed instead of a table?
Many of the previous drill press recommendation threads seem to spend a lot of time on the benefits of drilling with a mill. We do not physically have the space for another mill and we do not have regularly available time on the mills we have to do this work.
I will not buy anything made in China or India. Taiwan probably, Korea maybe, Japan, Germany, the US definitely. If I missed some of the good machine tool countries I apologize in advance. Please do not take offense.
New or used I do not really care. Condition, spindle run out, etc. is important.
Budget: I know this is not going to be cheap. I think Something between $1,500 and $5,000 would be a reasonable expectation depending upon features, condition and capacity.
What I think I want:
MT 3 or 4 spindle
4.5” or more spindle travel
Power Feed, 0.003, 0.006 and 0.009 ipr
Tapping cycle, auto reverse feature
100-3000 rpm variable speed, No belt changes
8” to 12” spindle to column
Maximum spindle to table should be at least 20”
2 HP, Single or 3 phase does not matter, have both
Weight something at least 500#, probably better 700# and up
Cross slide table, 10” to 20” X travel and ~5” Y travel
The questions:
1. Is the a single piece of equipment that can perform all of the above operations?
2. Should I buy a separate machine specifically for drilling the stainless? Once we get a high enough demand that is.
3. For the above operations is there any adavantage to a geared head drill press over a belt and pulley drill press?
4. Should I consider an electronically controlled variable speed drive?
5. DRO on a drill press? We currenlty use long range dial indicators, 4” nd 5”.
6. Horsepower, I am thinking 1.5-3, depending upon whether or not the 1.250” holes in stainless are to be drilled in house.
7. Spindle speed range, I am thinking ~100 to ~3000 rpm.
8. Where can I buy a good, smooth, accurate, repateable, cross slide table?
9. New or Used?
10. Specific manufacturers and models I should look at?
I am sorry for being so long winded. I have tried to anticipate the questions that may arise.
My sincere thanks in advance for any advice you may be able to offer.
Chris