Introduction
Magnetic drill machines are commonly known as mag drills. They vary in terms of sizes, power and weight which is directly related to the maximum diameter of the hole it can make. It also determines the thickness of material they can drill through. Mag drills are considered as workhorses in the structural steel fabrication sector. These magnetic drills are primarily used to drill larger holes or higher quantity of holes. They are also used to create holes for bolted connections of the steel structures. Apart from this, magnetic drills are also used in the production of truck frame rails, steel signage, roadway guard rails, military equipment, etc.
Types of Magnetic Drilling Machines
Below stated are the 4 main types of magnetic drilling machines:
- Manual Feed Mag Drills: Manual feed mag drills are the most common type of magnetic drills. They are used by the operators to feed the cutter through the metals manually.
- Auto-Feed Mag Drills: This type of drill feeds and returns to its place automatically which allows operators to run several auto-feed drills at one time.
- Ultra Low-Profile Mag Drills: Ultra-low profile mag drills used to drill truck frames and other tight spaces.
- Hydraulic Powered Mag Drills: This type of drill is commonly used for underwater applications or in spark environments.
Factors to Be Considered While Choosing the Right Magnetic Drill
Below stated are some of the important factors to be considered while choosing the correct magnetic drills for one’s application:
- Diameter and Thickness of the Holes and Plates: It is important to know the maximum diameter of the hole and the maximum thickness of the surface that needs drilling. These two dimensions can help in determining the size and power of the drill required for one’s application. Mag drills can be used with both annular cutters and solid drill bits. However, using the correct equipment from these 2 is also essential as it affects the minimum size of the drill.
- Number of Holes to be Drilled: Manual feed mag drills are the most common and cheapest magnetic drill. However, if one wants to drill a large number of holes, then a semi-automatic mag drill is a more suitable option. Semi-automatic machines also reduce operator fatigue by extending the cutter’s life.
- Need of Integrated Cooling Systems Within the Drill: Integrated cooling systems are an essential part of mag drills. Annular cutters and solid drill bits tend to dull quickly if they are not cooled during the cutting process. Thus, it is advisable to choose a mag drill with an integrated cooling system and has a good quality water-based coolant. It is also advisable to use aerosol spray or paste coolants for making holes on vertical surfaces as they will be less messy in comparison to liquid coolants. Using a coolant can definitely improve the performance of the cutters.
- Type of Material: Most of the mag drills operate on single RPM. However, larger mag drills can incorporate variable speed motors and multiple ratio gear boxes that can optimize the RPM according to the material being cut, diameter of the hole and type of annular cutters being used. Hard materials should be cut on lower RPM to avoid overheating of the cutter and drill monitor. Also, larger diameter cutters should be operated at lower RPM to avoid cutter and motor overheating. Annular cutters tend to dull faster due to overheating. Thus, it is important to determine the type of material being drilled and choose the mag drills accordingly.
- Space Limitation: It is important to know the space limitations while choosing the mag drills. For example, low-profile mag drills are more suitable for applications like elevated locations i.e., bridges, building, and truck frames.
- Type of Surfaces: It is important to determine the type of surfaces being drilled. For example, all mag drills are supplied with a safety chain or strap. This secures the drill while being used one the vertical surface or in an overhead application. However, the magnet should also be according to the size of these drills and surfaces. It is important to have those safety chains or straps regardless of the type of surface to protect the drill against power failure or failure of the drill’s electromagnetic base.
- Accessories: One should also determine the accessories needed for the drill while choosing the mag drill.
- Usage: Mag drill should be easy to use and the magnet and monitor controls should be easily accessible. Usually, the monitor controls are easy to reach when operated in one direction but are impossible to reach when turned around. Thus, it is advisable to find a machine that has controls that can be reached easily regardless of its orientation.
Safety Features to Remember While Using the Mag Drills
Below stated are some of the safety tips to follow while using the mag drills:
- One should always refer to the operator’s manual guide to secure the chain or strap provided with the machine.
- One should always safeguard the swarf during drilling. This reduces the risk of body parts coming in contact with the cutter.
- The mag drills should also incorporate safety features such as Magnetic Field Shape Control (MFSC) and Magnetic Power Adhesion Control (MPAC).
Take Away
This is the brief explanation about magnetic drills, their types, factors to be considered while choosing them and some safety features to keep in mind. We hope this information will be effective for you. Please let us know through your valuable feedback and the suggestion in the drop box.
