Drilling rsj

[Windy Miller]

https://engweld.co.uk/product/jei-p...rjn5gm30hNXqqHvAyw4-uxG_nxSxYqzQaAnf9EALw_wcB

These are the things....

That’s a proper bit of kit!

 

[brightspark]

you would need to earn a few shillings to make it pay and recover the cost of that

 

[Hitch]

Depending on the marking out, and the weights of the beam, if say 50 holes is of a few hours work if it's 18/22 or similar through an average thickness of say 10mm..

 

[snowcat]

As a very very rough rule of thumb about £1/hole. When you work out the costs of CNC processing against doing it 'manually' plus factor in a CNC machine doesn't make errors, it costs more to do it the old way. The cost of the drill and saw lines is coming down so more stockholders are getting them which drives down the prices/rates they can command.
Factor in all the time in handling full bars, dealing with offcuts, logging cast numbers for offcuts, handling scrap, marking out, it really is the way to go.

Iv had a few beams done that way by our local stockholders, and id agree especially when you factor in the labour reduction in not having to feed the saw, re-handle material, drill.... without adding the associated tooling needed.

 

[Adam Marshall]

I was drilling 15mm plate 18mm holes 8 in each plate them had to drill the rsj after. Not an hour's work haha

 

[500e]

We have one like this only a lot older

Only used for missing \ incorrect holed the steel people doing it is cheaper

 

[Revs1972]

Tea breaks, dinner, setting out etc it took about 2 min a hole but I wasn't constantly going straight after another as I had to lay it all out and make square etc. I was just wondering if it could be done quicker. My suppliers don't drill but they do cut only

As said above, find a supplier that does drilling and budget for £1 a hole.
Bear in mind if you can't give them a NC file, then they will charge extra to program .

If not then....

Mark out ALL the holes prior to drilling if possible. Then just follow through with the drill . If you have several groups of holes at the same pitch then make a template you can lay down on mark points and centre punch through. Drink tea when drilling.

Use these

Had 2 labourers drilling 22 dia holes in 20mm plate. They did 250 each and didn't snap one cutter . Use a good squirt of cutting fluid on each hole.

 

[Hitch]

As said above, find a supplier that does drilling and budget for £1 a hole.
Bear in mind if you can't give them a NC file, then they will charge extra to program .

If not then....

Mark out ALL the holes prior to drilling if possible. Then just follow through with the drill . If you have several groups of holes at the same pitch then make a template you can lay down on mark points and centre punch through. Drink tea when drilling.

Use these
View attachment 166397
Had 2 labourers drilling 22 dia holes in 20mm plate. They did 250 each and didn't snap one cutter . Use a good squirt of cutting fluid on each hole.

They're good those carbide cutters, hard spots don't seem to bother them like it does normal cutters. Worth the extra dosh if you're a regular user.

 

[rory1]

I have used those carbide HMT cutters On castings that have chilled to a glass hardness. They are great

 

[Revs1972]

They're good those carbide cutters, hard spots don't seem to bother them like it does normal cutters. Worth the extra dosh if you're a regular user.

By my calcs, they are 2-3 times the price , but last at least 10x as long.

 

[Onoff]

Drilled a bunch of 17mm holes for 16mm bolts years back in the top flange of RSJs using a Starrett cutter on the end of a foot long extension bar.
Plenty 'o lube.

Last time used one of those 110V portable hydraulic punches was for fitting eyebolts in a column flange. It is SO LOUD! We set the bank's safe's vibration alarms off.

 

[fizzy]

I always use soluble cutting fluid with my mag drill - I hate watching youtube videos with all that smoke when they are drilling - just doesn't look right.

I guessed that for large jobs the holes would be pre punched - I didn't realise they did a portable one - awesome bit of kit!

 

[fizzy]

This is the best way to do it - far faster than drilling or milling

 

[slim_boy_fat]

We have one like this only a lot older

Wouldn't like to picket up the tab for one of those. Hugely impressive, though!

 

[Hitch]

I’ve seen small plasma and drilling centres but never anything like that!

Our local stockholder runs a number of lines, one massive one in the middle with a huge blast/paint line, with rollers/ automated dollies moving and traversing the steel about literally as far as the eye can see. Its a 17acre site and expanding, must be an acre or two worth of rollers feeding machinery

 

[Revs1972]

Spent this morning drilling 18 dia holes in 11mm thick beam flanges.
Took around 4 hours to drill 100 holes.
These were the last 4 . Same cutter, still sharp

Forgot the bloomin handle , had to improvise

 

[123hotchef]

nice a cordless mag drill i bet that wasnt cheap