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Drilling, drilling machines, profile drilling machines

A CNC-controlled drill line with automatic measuring system is operating efficiently in plants processing such profiles as angle steel, beams, U-profiles, rectangular pipes, flat steel, etc. You can drill profiles of different lengths. At the beginnig the CNC-Control will receive data from the CAD system and a post processor will translate the CAD data into the CNC Control. After this operation the machine has all necessary information about the positions of the beam and the drill units. All operations are now running automatically.

As the production range differs from one steel construction company to another, there are different machine sizes available for beams from 300 mm up to 2.000 mm. The standard beam drill lines are suitable for beam profiles up to 1.000 mm size.

Carbide drilling with Kennametal drills on Kaltenbach KF1505 plate processing machine
Drilling with HSS oil feed drills on Peddinghaus beam drill line

Drilling process video showing HSS oil feed drills on Peddinghaus BDL600 beam drill line

Beam drilling machine movable on support frame for workpieces

With this cost-effective drilling system, it is not the workpiece (profile or flat steel) that moves, but the tool (the drilling machine with the drilling tool) that moves to the position of the steel profile to be drilled. The profiles or flat steel lie on a steel frame. The flange-mounted, CNC-controlled drilling unit moves along the longitudinal axis of the profile and can then carry out the drilling process at the desired position. However, the drilling process only takes place in one axis, i.e. either in the flange or in the web. The workpiece (profile) must be turned manually. This CNC drilling system is a good entry-level system for programmed profile machining. The following machines of this type are available for steel construction: Ficep Excalibur single-spindle beam drilling machine, Peddinghaus Ocean Avenger drilling machine and Voortman V600 beam drilling machine. All these drilling machines have the additional advantage of taking up little space and a low purchase price. These rigs are now available with an optional tool changer and reinforced drive for the use of carbide tools. You can find inexpensive used drilling rigs of various types at Nenok in Cologne.

Beam drill line, drilling machine with CNC control

In the past, normal HSS dry drills were used, but since 1987 these have been almost exclusively replaced by the use of HSS coolant channel drills. Due to higher drive power and more stable machine frames, the use of solid carbide drills or carbide drills with carbide cutting bodies became possible around 2004. Nenok will be happy to offer you the right drilling tools for your drilling system.

Voortman V600 CNC controlled beam drill line for X Axis traveling beside the work piece
Kaltenbach KDM1015 beam drill line with 3 drill units and tool changer
Vernet HD1215 CNC beam drill line with 3 drill units and tool changer
Peddinghaus TDK1000.9 beam drill line with 3 drill spindles each drill axis without tool changer
Voortman V613 Beam drill line with turning drill head and tool changer
Peddinghaus beam drill line with 3 drill units using HSS oil feed drills

Material flow and length measuring system on drill lines

You can choose between 3 different measuring systems – roller feed with measuring disc, gripper feed, measuring carriage with driving rod and the positioning of the drill unit. In combination with a handling system, the measuring system provides for a material positioning and simultaneously for a length measuring. The particular measuring system differs according to the machine manufacturer. The measuring systems allow for an accurate positioning of the material. The positioning has to be in accordance with the necessary tolerances in the structural steelwork. It is advised to exercise a check-up at regular intervals. This is to provide for a reliable repeat accuracy of the measuring systems.

Roller feed measuring on beam drill lines and plate processing machines

The roller feed with disc measuring system consists of a combination of rugged, driven feed rolls and separately hardened measuring discs. The driven feed rolls are clamping the profile. And through the rotation of the feed rolls the profile is moved in its longitudinal axis. Separate measuring discs identify the actual position of the profile by digital rotary encoders. The identified data are passed down to the CNC-control for monitoring purposes. Drill lines with integrated roller feed and disc measuring feature one particular advantage, namely that they save valuable floor space. Manufacturers such as VOORTMAN and KALTENBACH are using this kind of measuring system.

Gripper feed measuring on beam drill lines and plate processing machines

The gripper feed consists of a measuring arm that is moved sideways on a roller conveyor by means of a gear rod. At the end of this arm there are gripping pliers that clamp the workpiece and move it through the drill line on its specified position. If you are working on a saw/drill line, the gripper feed system features the advantage that there is barely residual length. A certain disadvantage follows from its increased space requirements. Machine manufacturers such as FICEP and VOORTMAN apply this system.

Measuring carriage with driven rod on beam drill lines

The measuring carriage or the so called stop positioning system consists of a measuring arm that is moved sideways on a roller conveyor by means of a gear rod. At the end of this measuring arm there is a plate which is provided with a sensor. The material is moved by the driven roller conveyors to the plate. Via sensor the control gets to know that the beam arrived the plate. The measuring carriage moves the workpiece through the drill line on its specified position. The measuring carriage features the advantage that there is barely residual length. A certain disadvantage follows from its increased space requirements. Machine manufacturers such as KALTENBACH, WAGNER apply this system.

Gripper feed measuring on Ficep beam drill line
Gripper feed system on Kaltenbach Beam drill line
Roller feed measuring system on Voortman V613 Beam drill line
Roller feed measuring system on Peddinghaus Beam drilling line
Measuring carrige system on Kaltenbach Beam drill line

Tool changer

Many modern machines are equipped with a tool changing systems. This provides for flexible operation of the machine. The tool changer is operated by the CNC-control. Different diameters or types of tools can be changed automatically during the machine is drilling. These systems feature one particular advantage, namely that they can be operated extremely flexible.

Tool changer in Kaltenbach KDM1015 beam drill line
Tool changer on Kaltenbach machine with carbide tools

Marking unit

The marking unit as an additional option can mill any identification number or character. This enables a better identification of the profiles. The marking process is programmed on the CNC-control. On modern drill lines the profiles are marked by means of needles or end mills. It is important to make sure that the marking can be chosen deep enough, so that you can read the numbers or characters even after the galvanizing process.

Marking unit on Kaltenbach KDM1015 beam drill line
Peddinghaus beam drill line BDL 1000 with marking unit Signomat 05
Kaltenbach KDM 1015 beam drill line with marking unit for numbers and letters

Drill unit for HSS oil feed drills (inner coolant drills)

For the use of HSS oil feed drills, drilling spindle speeds of up to 1000 rpm and drive powers up to 7.5 KW are sufficient.
A coolant supply with at least 6 bar of compressed air power is necessary for good cooling lubrication at the drill cutting edge.

Drill unit for Kennametal KSEM carbide drills and solid carbide drills

For the use of KSEM carbide drills or solid carbide drills very stable machines with good workpiece clamping are necessary. In addition, high drilling spindle speeds and high drive power are required. Speeds of over 2000 rpm are not unusual.
The drilling rates of carbide drills, such as the KSEM cutting bodies from Kennametal, are much faster than conventional HSS inner coolant drills due to the high feed rate.

Carbide drilling on Kaltenbach KF1505 plate processing machine

Drilling with Kennametal carbide drills on Kaltenbach beam drill line

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