Small Hole Drilling - Microdrilling with DATRON high speed CNC Machining Center.

Small Hole Drilling is becoming a common requirement across a range of industries and applications. From hydraulic valves and spray nozzles to torch tips and gasoline direct injectors, the ability to drill small, precise, repeatable holes is key to the integrity and functioning of a given product. Plus, many of the small hole drilling applications have volume requirements so drilling time ultimately rivals cost and quality in terms of importance.

Enter DATRON, with machines that feature a 60,000 RPM spindle that handles micro drills as small as .004 (0.1mm) with precision and repeatability in X,Y and Z. Our sheer speed combined with a micro-spray alcohol coolant system produces micro holes with smooth walls, well defined edges and virtually void of dross or recast.

DATRON Small Hole Drilling Advantages:
• Smooth clean walls
• Sharp, well defined edges
• High volume production
• All-in-one micro-drilling, cutting, milling and engraving
• Up to 5 Axis capability
• Integrated 3D Probing
• Integrated Workholding
• Full Automation Capability

Small hole drilling for screens and fileters

Small hole drilling in delrin and other plastic performed is often performed on DATRONÂ high speed CNCÂ milling machines

Small hole drilling in steel part on DATRONÂ high speed CNCÂ machining center

Small Hole Drilling Video will load soon (approx. 60 sec.).

What Is Small Hole Drilling?
Well, that depends on who your talking to. Some CNC machine manufacturers think that a 1/8" hole is small and tout that their VMC has that capability. But with DATRON CNC machines, 0.015" to 0.004" is a walk in the park. Alright, we admit it, that may be an overstatement ... but micro holes that small are being made each day in a variety of industries with DATRON high-speed CNC machining centers. One of the main reasons that Datron machines reign supreme in micro hole drilling is because of our high speed, low force technology. To sum it up, our machines have smaller motors because we cater exclusively to manufacturers who make small parts. Because our machines never run large tools, they simply don't need a hulking motor. The result is that an extremely low force is placed on the tool. That combined with the blazing speed of our 60,000 RPM spindle, a chilled spindle and the superior cooling qualities of our Spray-Mist Coolant System allows the tool to do its job evacuating chips without causing tool breakage.

Of course, the diameter of a small hole is only one consideration when undertaking a small hole drilling application. Depth of the hole is another considerable challenge ... especially when using small fragile tools that can "walk" and break. This is where runout, positioning accuracy and tight tolerance come into play ... and again, DATRON trumps conventional CNC manufacturers. Our DATRON M7HP is designed specifically with micro drilling applications in mind and delivers a runout of less than 5 microns, 0.0008" Positioning Accuracy and 0.0004 Repeatability.

small hole drilling in stainless steel sheet material using integrated vacuum table workholding on a DATRONÂ high speed CNCÂ milling machine

Small holes drilled in nickel caps of ignition systems fro gas engines

DATRON Microdrilling Increases the Efficiency of Gas Engines
DATRON customer Multitorch manufactures special ignition systems for gas engines. The basis of their unique technology is a nickel cap that is screwed onto the spark plug in the ignition area to ensure that the pressure caused by ignition of the mixture uniformly acts on the surface of the piston. Thus a higher efficiency is achieved while , at the same time, reducing nitrogen levels.

Using a DATRON M8 microdrill holes into a nickel cap measuring approximately 15 x 15 x 15 mm. Previously, these holes were drilled manually on a twin spindle machine.

A critical component of this micrdrilling system is the 4th & 5th axis capability of the M8. First the cap had to be firmly clamped into the multi-rotary axis and positioned based on a centering milling tool. Since the holes are not drilled at a perfect 90 degree angle, this process prevents the drill from "drifting". Subsequent deburring of the edge of the hole is done with an engraving tool. These tools are housed in an 11-tool auto changer positioned close to the rotary axis for minimize d tool change time.

small holes drilled on rounded surface of copper tube using a 4th axis on a DATRONÂ high speed CNCÂ milling machine

Small holes drilled in lava to make a plasma cutter nozzle

Small hole drilling in torlon plastic on DATRON high speed CNCÂ machining center

Plasma cutter nozzles with small holes drilled in lava

Above and Below: XRAYS of .004" Hole Drilled .040" Deep in Stainless Steel Rods.

Above: Plasma Cutter Nozzles milled from Lava - See Case Study Button Above

Delrin and Torlon - small hole drilling in plastics milled on DATRONÂ high speed CNCÂ milling machine

Stainless steel plate featuring small hole drilling machined on a DATRONÂ high speed CNCÂ milling machine

Small hole drilling in steel with thin walls

Medical application small hole drilling in catheter

Above: Small Hole Drilling in Catheter - Medical Device

Small hole drilling in steel measured in centemeters

Small hole drilling in steel tube performed on a DATRONÂ high speed CNC machining center

Small Hole Drilling?
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888.262.2833


	Datron Dynamics, Inc. 115 Emerson Road Milford, NH 03055			German Engineered. American Supported. High-Speed CNC Milling and Engraving Machines for Precision Machining.
	phone: 603.672.8890 info@datrondynamics.com			In our constant effort to improve our products and services, we reserve the right to change specifications with or without notice.
	(c) Datron Dynamics, Inc. 2005			Terms And Conditions Of Sale apply.

DATRON M10 Pro high speed machining center features linear scales on all axes driven by over-sized motors and drives that yield a +/- 5 micron position accuracy and rapids up to 30 meters per minute.