Drilling and finishing holes in strip spring components

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This standard identifies the competences you need to drill and finish holes in spring components, using hand held and fixed 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 workpiece for the drilling operations, and this will include the use of jigs, clamps, machine vice and other appropriate holding devices. In drilling and finishing 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 holes through the workpiece, 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 that are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work 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 provide a good understanding of your work, and will provide an informed approach to applying the drilling and finishing procedures. You will understand 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 workpiece prior to carrying out the process, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the drilling activities safely and correctly, and for ensuring that the spring components produced are to the required specification.

You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the drilling and finishing activities, and when using the associated tools and equipment. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout, and will understand your responsibility for taking the necessary safeguards to protect yourself and others in the workplace.

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1. work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. confirm that the machine is set up and ready for the machining activities to be carried out
3. manipulate the machine tool controls safely and correctly in line with operational procedures
4. produce components to the required quality and within the specified dimensional accuracy
5. carry out quality sampling checks at suitable intervals
6. deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be solved
7. shut down the equipment to a safe condition on conclusion of the machining activities

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1. how to work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
2. the importance of wearing the appropriate protective clothing (PPE) and equipment and of keeping the work area clean and tidy
3. the hazards associated with carrying out drilling and hole finishing operations and how to minimise them and reduce any risks
4. checks to be carried out to ensure that the drilling equipment and associated tooling is in a safe and fit condition to use
5. the safety mechanisms on the machine, and the procedure for checking that they function correctly (including how to start and stop the machine in normal and emergency situations)
6. the importance of ensuring that the drilling machine is isolated from the power supply before setting up the various tooling and operating mechanisms
7. how to obtain the necessary drawings, specifications and job instructions
8. how to extract and use information from engineering drawings and related specifications (to include symbols and conventions to appropriate standards) in relation to work undertaken
9. How to interpret first and third angle drawings, imperial and metric systems of measurement, workpiece reference points and system of tolerancing
10. terminology used in drilling and hole finishing operations in relation to the activities undertaken and types of spring components produced
11. the various types and application of drilling machines (including portable power tools, bench and pedestal machines and radial arm machines)
12. the range of drilling and hole finishing tools available (including twist drills, reamers, counterbore tools, countersink tools, spot facing tools)
13. the methods of holding and securing the drills and finishing tools into the machine spindle (including chucks, taper shank sleeves, collet chucks)
14. the methods of holding and securing workpieces for drilling
15. methods used to align the drill with the workpiece, and the use of centre drills and pilot drills
16. how to check that the drill hole is in the correct position before drilling to the full diameter
17. how to correct a drill that has been started off centre
18. the selection of speeds and feeds for drilling, reaming and finishing operations
19. the selection of cutting fluids and compounds for drilling
20. the care and control of tools and equipment; checking that portable power tool leads, plugs and sockets are in a safe, tested and usable condition
21. 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
22. the problems that can occur with drilling operations, and how these can be avoided
23. the importance of completing all relevant documentation on conclusion of the spring making activities
24. the extent of your own authority and to whom you should report if you have problems that you cannot resolve

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1. Carry out all of the following during the drilling and finishing of the spring components:
   1. obtain and interpret correctly the documentation for the type of spring being made
   2. adhere to procedures or systems in place for risk assessment, personal protective equipment and other relevant safety regulations
   3. select the appropriate drilling equipment/machine for the operation being performed
   4. ensure that machine guards and safety devices are in position and function correctly
   5. check that drill bits and cutting tools are in a serviceable condition (such as sharp and free from damage or chips)
   6. isolate the equipment from its power supply whilst changing drill bits
   7. securely clamp/restrain the spring components during the drilling operations
   8. leave the machine and work area in a safe and clean condition on completion of the drilling activities
2. Produce drilled holes in two of the following material types:
   1. mild steel
   2. alloy steel
   3. nickel based alloys
   4. carbon steel
   5. copper based alloy
   6. titanium and other special material
   7. stainless steel
   8. other specific material
3. Use two of the following drilling machines:
   1. hand held drilling machine
   2. radial arm drill
   3. pillar/bench drill
   4. other specific machine
4. Use two of the following workholding devices:
   1. jigs/fixtures
   2. clamps
   3. machine vice
   4. other specific device
5. Carry out three of the following drilling and finishing operations:
   1. centre drilling
   2. trepanning holes
   3. drilling holes through the workpiece
   4. tapping holes
   5. drilling holes to a depth (blind hole)
   6. spot facing
   7. countersinking holes
   8. de-burring
   9. counterboring holes
6. Carry out all of the following during the production and finishing of the holes in the spring components:
   1. mark out, position and secure the item to be drilled, in accordance with company procedures
   2. use the specified techniques and procedures to produce and finish the holes
   3. select and use the correct drilling speeds
   4. use appropriate and adequate lubrication/coolant
   5. check that positional accuracy complies with the specification
   6. ensure that the machined features are free from excessive tool marks, burrs and sharp edges
7. Produce drilled and finished components which meet all of the following quality and accuracy standards:
   1. dimensional and positional accuracy is within specification tolerances
   2. drilled holes are correctly formed and free from excessive tool marks
   3. counterbores, countersinks and spot facings meet job requirements (where applicable)

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3

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31 Mar 2028

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Current

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Original

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Enginuity

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SEMMME3140

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Engineering, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies, Engineering Technicians

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3113

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mechanical engineering; spring making; drilling; finishing holes; strip spring; hand held; drilling machine; pillar drill; bench drill; radial arm drill; mild steel; carbon steel; alloy steel; stainless steel; nickel based alloys; copper based alloy; tita

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