West Manufacturing News • April 2024 • The Fundamentals of Deep Hole Drilling

Deep hole drilling is a machining process that revolutionized the manufacturing industry after World War I. Originally developed for making gun barrels, this technology has now expanded its applications across 15 different industries with over 200 unique uses. Following are the fundamentals of deep hole drilling, its major applications and how Precihole Machine Tools provides innovative solutions in this field.

Standard drilling techniques have their limitations when it comes to length-to- diameter (L/D) ratios exceeding 10. To address the challenges of tool life, surface finish, hole straightness, roundness and chip removal, deep hole drilling techniques are employed. The two primary methods are gun drilling and BTA drilling.

Gun drilling is a deep hole drilling process designed for creating long holes with diameters typically ranging from 1 mm (0.04”) to 40 mm (1.5”). This method involves pumping high-pressure coolant through a tube, while chips are evacuated from a V-shaped flute along the length of the tube from the outside.

BTA drilling, also known as Single Tube System (STS), is another deep hole drilling process used for drilling long holes with diameters from 12 mm (0.5”) to 250 mm (10”). High-pressure coolant is pumped in from the outside of the tube, while chips are evacuated from the inside out.

Deep hole drilling technology has become essential in various industries, especially when drilling exotic materials or hard super-alloys while maintaining accuracy and productivity. Achieving hole straightness, tolerance and surface finish requires expertise and in-depth knowledge of the process. Factors such as machine features, process parameter selection, material input condition, tooling, coolant and filtration significantly impact the output parameters.

Deep hole drilling can be performed using different configurations, depending on the application requirements and desired accuracies. Absolute Machine Tools offers a comprehensive range of deep hole drilling solutions tailored to meet specific needs and optimize drilling performance.

The success of deep hole drilling lies in achieving desired output parameters, including hole straightness, hole tolerance and surface finish. These parameters determine the quality and functionality of the final product. Precise control and adherence to specifications ensure superior results.

With over three decades of experience, Precihole Machine Tools is a provider of high-precision deep hole drilling and hole finishing technology. Absolute Machine Tools has partnered with Precihole’s advanced range of solutions for over 10 years.

“Precihole offers a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art machine tools, supported by our expert application team and exceptional service,” said a spokesperson. “As a proud partner of Precihole, Absolute Machine Tools is dedicated to advancing the deep hole drilling industry by investing in research and development and collaborating with tooling partners worldwide. Together, our continuous innovation ensures that our products remain at the forefront of cutting-edge technology.”