At In-situ Machining Solutions, we provide a wide variety of on-site machining services to a broad range of clients worldwide. With our solutions-driven approach to solving these problems, we have created a selection of services to suit any situation that might arise. Equipped with our advanced, portable equipment, we are always confident that our team of experts can have your machinery operational again.
Industrial machinery will withstand significant wear and tear during its lifetime, and even a regularly scheduled maintenance program won't be able to catch every problem. In addition, components can fail with age and use; for example, broken studs are a common problem for many businesses that rely on heavy plant machinery. In addition, threads can be worn or damaged over time leading to more problems.
On-site drilling and tapping services are one of the many services we provide for our clients. Our mobile team has access to a broad selection of modular drilling equipment that can be customised to suit any applications and thereby always be the right tool for the job.
Drilling and tapping both require specific cutting tools to remove unwanted metal. This is primarily used to repair machinery where components have become worn or damaged; depending on the tool, this can be used to repair a threaded hole or drill out a broken stud. Both may seem like similar processes and are usually used in conjunction, but they have unique purposes.
Drilling will involve drill bits (or end mills) that create new holes. Alternatively, tapping employs an external cutting device that either cuts into exiting threads or can slice new threads into the smooth sides of a drilled hole.
Our client base consists of a broad range of industries from around the globe. We have assisted in repairs with our drilling and tapping services in power generation, marine, petrochemical, mining and transportation. Our highly-skilled and professional engineers can design standard or particular purpose machining tools and any associated equipment to suit any on-site drilling or tapping needs. This gives our team impressive adaptability for repairing your machinery, but it also requires a consistently high level of attention regarding safe operations. Over the years, we have perfected a working method that can be applied to the varied environments our technicians operate in and ensures the highest results without sacrificing personal safety. Here are some examples of this successful process.
Correct tool usage is vital to all drilling and tapping operations. All of our technicians receive the latest training for on-site machining services to build a wealth of valuable experience as they conduct their machining operations. That is why we monitor oil application during the cutting action to prevent overheating and squealing and clean out loose chips created during the process. We also use the commonly used technique of pecking. Pecking is a process where you hesitate your drilling by removing it regularly; this allows the loose metal chips to be removed and allows the drill bit to cool before being used again. In addition, pecking helps reduce the friction force during both the initial drilling and sequential tapping. With proper tool usage, we can maintain the quality of our work and the longevity of the tools we use simultaneously.
Maintaining control at all times is essential. Therefore, we emphasise quality and working to the highest levels of precision to meet the exacting requirements of the machinery our technicians work on. Without constantly maintaining control throughout operations, not only is that precision lost, but the safety of the technicians is placed in jeopardy. Maintaining both is the highest priority that dominates all of our machining operations.
Wearing appropriate PPE is a requirement when conducting all our machining services. This is because there are a lot of potential health and safety issues that can occur during our operations. Fortunately, these can all be overcome with our safe work practices and effective PPE collection. However, metal cutting is unpredictable, and you can never predict if some small chips or slivers will fly off the main structure at speed when drilling. This is why safety goggles and eye and face shields are essential for eye protection, but this cannot be limited to forward-facing protection. Side eye shields and other protections are needed that leave no vulnerabilities.
Hearing protection is also essential for long-term safety of our technicians. Protective ear defenders protect our team from excessive noise and prevent long-term hearing damage. It's not only the head that's at risk, though. Due to the nature of the sites our team works on, we ensure they are supplied with full protective clothing, including gloves, gauntlets and steel toecap shoes with protective soles to enable them to work confidently in these difficult environments. We also ensure that the appropriate high-visibility clothing is worn to suit the safety procedures of the worksite in question.
In-Situ Machining Solutions offers effective machining services that assist many businesses with precise, efficient repair services, but never at the expense of workers' safety. Choosing In-Situ is choosing peace of mind for your repairs, so you can know that everything will be expertly handled.
You can learn more about our drilling and tapping services online, and please contact us directly if you’d like to know more about what we could do for you.
