Proper Maintenance for Drilling Machines

There are two types of drilling machines used by people who are in fabrication. One is the hand-feed or the power-feed and the other one is radial drill press or simply drill press. Using these tools can help us to be more productive but don’t forget to conduct maintenance if we want our precious tools to live longer.
How to do maintenance:

1. Lubrication

During the process of drilling, the drill generates friction and heat which can deteriorate the moving parts. Check the manufacturer’s guide for proper lubrication. Make sure to clean the drill after usage to prevent dirt buildup that causes the machine to slow down. Clean the belt, groves, pulleys and T-slots.

Put some light coat on unpainted parts of the drill to prevent rust. Remember to remove chips to avoid unnecessary damage to the drill.

2. Special Care

Heavy work load during operations requires extensive care for drilling machines. For example, you’re working on an environment where dust is literally present everywhere, make sure to operate at a slow pace to avoid abrasive wear on the parts. Under cold conditions, make sure to start on a slow speed to warm up the drill. Extreme heat can cause the motor to overheat, so try to on and off between operations to cool it down.

3. Belt and Vibration

Worn out or bent belt can be a source of a very annoying noise and vibration for the drilling machine. Remove the head of the drill and rotate the belt manually, if it has cracks or lumpy section better to replace it right away. If the belt looks normal, check if the tension is normal; if it is too loose or too tight.

Other Things to Remember:

• Always wear an eye protection when using your drill.
• Make sure that cutting tools are running smoothly before starting the operation
• Never place tools or even equipment on the drill table
• Keep your guard while operating
• Adjusting the machine while using it can be dangerous, make sure to adjust it while the machine is not running.
• Use a brush to clean away the chips

We know that drilling machines is one of the most dangerous equipment in workshops. During operations we must remember that safety comes first that’s why we’re giving you this tips to eliminate accidents and unnecessary loss of time.