Drilling is the most commonly used form of machining. A single automobile is said to have more than 5,000 forms of holes. Even if all of these are not drilled holes a very high percentage are. It is estimated that around 40% are actually drilled.
Drilling may be the most common form of machining, but it is also one of most difficult. Since the machining is done in a hole, you don’t know what is actually happening at the cutting edge.
Drilling can be done by almost any machining tool that is capable of cutting, including drilling lathes, milling machines and drill presses. The drilling process can be divided broadly into the five methods listed below.
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Drilling - the most common form of machining
Drilling
Creating a hole in material without a pilot hole using a drill.
Boring
Creating a hole in material with a pilot hole using a boring bar.
Reaming
Finishing a hole in material with a pilot hole using a reamer.
Burnishing
Improving the surface finish of a machined surface. This is typical in drilling operations. It can be achieved as the softer material (the workpiece) is rubbed after machining by a harder material (the drill).
Tapping
Cutting a screw thread in material with a pilot hole using a tap.
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