What are drilling and tapping and what are their applications?

Drilling machines range from the huge industrial versions working 24 hours a day in a workshop or factory all the way down to the DIY variants we may have set up in the garage or shed. They will all drill a hole, and they all need the correct tipped drill or tap, depending on the material being worked on. This can be anything from wood, plastic, metal, and even glass. In certain applications, a lubricant or coolant is required to prevent cracking, splitting, or damage. A drilling machine simply makes holes in the material, while a tap makes a thread in a pre-existing hole or enlarges a thread that is already there.

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The Applications.

The use of drilling and tapping machines now spans a wide variety of industrial and engineering applications. The furniture industry benefits greatly from these precision tools, resulting in high-quality furniture with the high quality fit and finish expected by modern consumers, whether it is a pre-assembled or a flat-packed product.

The automotive sector makes great use of them too, where precision cutting and drilling are critical to the smooth running and efficiency of mechanical parts. In the aviation industry, where safety is of primary concern, these machines are vital in ensuring structural stability and longevity. Holes are a weak point in any structure so anything that can be done to mitigate this is crucial.

Today there is a wide choice of machines available depending on application and volume of use, and you can see examples at specialists such as https://www.cotswold-machinery-sales.co.uk/roscamat-tapping-machines/electric-tapping-machines/roscamat-tiger-electric-tapping-machine

Roscamat electric tapping machines use a tilting arm balanced by a pneumatic spring to keep the head at right angles to the raw material at all times. For a more detailed analysis of the various types of tapping heads, The heads or tips will vary greatly depending on what is expected of the finished product and how it is to be assembled.

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Specifications.

The material being processed will determine factors such as the speed of the machine and whether or not it needs lubrication, anything from 5m/min upwards to 110m/min for high-temperature metals such as aluminium or magnesium alloy is possible. Any relevant health and safety standards should always be respected when setting up or carrying out any procedures of this nature and ensure that any environmental implications are taken into account.

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