When it comes to metal engineering and fabrication, fabricators often rely on a milling machine for shaping and a vertical boring mill to widen or finish an existing hole, but have you considered the multiple benefits that a radial arm drill can bring to larger workpieces in your workshop? The experts at LSG Machine Tools would like to expand on the working mechanisms behind these specialised machines and the precision drilling they execute.
How a Radial Arm Drill Works
A radial arm drill is used for producing simple holes, particularly when components are substantial in height. Due to their size, these workpieces cannot be accommodated within a machine vice, necessitating the use of specialised machinery for drilling operations. A radial drill machine comprises three basic elements; a base, an inner and outer column, and a radial arm. The radial arm is capable of 360-degree rotation and can be adjusted vertically, offering significant versatility and convenience, especially when working with oversized components that cannot be easily moved.
Typically, a drilling head is mounted to slide along the radial arm. This arm can be raised, lowered, or rotated on a vertical pole to position the drill above the workpiece. The radial drill is equipped with a rotating cutting tool, commonly referred to as a drill bit. A large gearhead, moving along the arm and extending from the machine’s column, facilitates the process. The radial arm’s swinging motion positions the drill head away from the machine base, allowing for workpiece placement. This movement also enables drilling holes at various points on the workpiece without having to reposition it.
Why Workshops Depend on These Drills
Radial arm drills are highly versatile tools and are becoming indispensable in workshop environments. Known for their precision and efficiency, they facilitate error-free operations through accurate column rotation and prevention of spindle axis deviation.
Radial arm drilling applies to a wide array of materials, including cast iron and steel, finding extensive use within the metalworking industry. These extremely useful tools are not only able to drill holes, but they can counterbore, ream, and countersink, to name a few.
Let the leading supplier of sheet metal and engineering machinery, LSG Machine Tools, assist you in selecting the correct radial arm drill for your unique metal machining requirements. All you need to do is contact us.