Producing holes using drilling machines
Overview
This standard identifies the competencies you need to produce holes in sheet, plate, rolled section or pipe, using drilling machines, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to select the appropriate drilling equipment to use, based on the operations to be performed and the size of the component worked on. You will be expected to use appropriate workholding methods and techniques to secure the work piece for the drilling operations, and this will include the use of jigs, clamps, machine vice and other appropriate holding devices. In drilling the holes, you will need to position the drill bits accurately and use appropriate speeds and feeds to drill and finish the holes to the required specification. Drilling and finishing operations will include through holes, blind holes, counterbored holes, countersunk holes, spot facing, reaming and tapping.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisational policy and procedures for the drilling activities undertaken, and to report any problems with the equipment or drilling activities that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work to instructions, with a minimum of supervision, taking personal responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will be sufficient to provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying the drilling and finishing procedures. You will have an understanding of the drilling equipment used and its application, together with the material characteristics and the appropriate tooling for carrying out the drilling and finishing process. You will know about the basic principles and requirements of securing the work piece prior to carrying out the process, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the drilling activities, correcting faults and ensuring the work output meets the required specification.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the drilling and finishing activities. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- confirm that the machine is set up and ready for the machining activities to be carried out
- manipulate the machine tool controls safely and correctly in line with operational procedures
- produce drilled components to the required quality and within the specified dimensional accuracy
- carry out quality sampling checks at suitable intervals
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
- shut down the equipment to a safe condition on conclusion of the machining activities
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
- the specific safety precautions to be taken when working in a fabrication environment and when carrying out drilling and finishing operations on materials used in fabrication (general workshop and site safety, appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), accident procedure; statutory requirements, risk assessment procedures and relevant requirements of HASAWA, COSHH and Work Equipment Regulations; safe disposal of waste materials)
- the personal protective clothing and equipment to be worn when carrying out the fabrication activities (such as leather gloves, eye/ear protection, safety helmets)
- the correct methods of moving or lifting materials
- the safe working practices and procedures to be used when using portable power operated tools and drilling machines (including emergency stop procedures for the machines)
- the hazards associated with drilling work (such as using dangerous or badly maintained tools and equipment; insecure or poorly clamped workpieces; airborne metal particles; sharp edges and splinters), and how they can be minimised
- how to obtain the necessary drawings, specifications and work instructions
- how to use and extract information from engineering drawings and related specifications (to include symbols and conventions to appropriate British, European or relevant International standards in relation to work undertaken)
- how to interpret marking out conventions (such as cutting lines, centre lines)
- the various types and application of drilling machines (including portable power tools, bench and pedestal machines and radial arm machines)
- the range of drilling and hole finishing tools available (including twist drills, reamers, counterbore tools, countersink tools, spot facing tools) and how to check their serviceability
- the methods of holding and securing the drills and finishing tools into the machine spindle (chucks, taper shank sleeves, collet chucks)
- the methods of holding and securing workpieces for drilling (including jigs and fixtures, machine vices, clamps and restraining devices)
- methods used to align the drill with the workpiece, and the use of centre drills and pilot drills
- how to check that the drill hole is in the correct position before drilling to the full diameter
- how to correct a drill that has been started off centre
- the selection of speeds and feeds for drilling, reaming and finishing operations
- the selection of cutting fluids and compounds for drilling
- setting and adjusting tools and equipment (use of depth stops)
- the material characteristics and process considerations to be taken into account when carrying out drilling operations
- the care and control of tools and equipment; checking portable power tool leads, plugs and sockets are in a safe, tested and usable condition
- the importance of using tools or equipment only for the purpose intended; the care that is required when using the tools or equipment; the proper way of preserving tools or equipment between operations
- the problems that can occur with drilling operations, and how these can be avoided
- inspection techniques that can be applied to check that dimensional accuracy and finish is to specification and within acceptable limits
- the extent of your own authority and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
- reporting lines and procedures, line supervision and technical experts
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Ensure that the equipment is fit for purpose and used safely, by carrying out all of the following:
- selecting the appropriate drilling equipment/machine for the operation being performed
- checking that machine guards and safety devices are in position and function correctly
- checking that drill bits and cutting tools are in a serviceable condition (sharp, free from damage or chips)
- isolating the equipment from its power supply whilst changing drill bits
- securely clamping/restraining the components during the drilling operations
- using the equipment safely and correctly and only for its intended purpose
Use two of the following drilling machines:
- hand held drilling machine
- pillar/bench drill
- radial arm drill
- other types of clamped drills (such as magnetic, vacuum)
Use two of the following workholding devices:
- jigs/fixtures
- machine vice
- clamps
- other types of clamps (such as magnetic, vacuum)
Produce drilled holes in two of the following material types:
- ferrous sheet metal
- stainless steel plate or components
- stainless steel sheet metal
- non-ferrous plate or components
- non-ferrous sheet metal
- non-metallic materials
- ferrous plate or components
- composite materials
- other specific material
* *
Carry out three of the following drilling and finishing operations:
- drilling through holes
- trepanning holes
- drilling holes to a depth
- tapping holes
- counterboring holes
- jig or template drilling
- countersinking holes
- component alignment drilling
- centre drilling
- spot facing
Produce drilled and finished components which meet all of the following quality and accuracy standards, as applicable to the process:
- dimensional and positional accuracy is within specification tolerances
- drilled holes are correctly formed and free from excessive tool marks
- counterbores, countersinks and spot facings meet job requirements
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Additional Information
You will be able to apply the appropriate behaviours required in the workplace to meet the job profile and overall company objectives, such as:
- strong work ethic
- positive attitude
- team player
- dependability
- responsibility
- honesty
- integrity
- motivation
- commitment