We’re pleased to offer Drill Units, which can be added to a Messer cutting machine to improve your productivity and to explore plasma drilling capacity without needing to purchase secondary drilling equipment.
How Plasma Cutting and Drilling Machines Work
Plasma and oxyfuel cutting allows for more work to be done on a piece part in a single handling. Our plasma drilling products give you the ability to complete all processes in the same setup, providing accurate, feature-to-feature relationships, either with a single piece or from part to part. For example, you cut a can hole within the plate with plasma, then the drill bit can tap into the hole making a tight fit for any bolt.
Quick view of cutting machines with drilling capabilities
MPC2000 MC – “Drilling & Milling Powerhouse”
- Drilling up to 2.5″ and tapping up to 1½″.
- X-Y Milling Capability.
- The new drilling and milling chip high-suction vacuum system prevents chips from flying off the table surface, resulting in a cleaner table surface and work area and increased operator safety.
TMC4500 DB – “Heavy Duty Cutting Machine”
- Drilling up to 4” and tap up to 1½”.
- 24 position rotary tool changer.
- 3/8″ Drilling.
- Drilling up to 1/2″.
- Drilling up to 2″ and tapping up to 1″.
- Drilling up to 1/2″.
Drill Types Overview:
Electric Drill Unit for the MetalMaster Evolution, MetalMaster Xcel, Titan III, MPC2000, & TMC4500 DB].
Drills mild steel up to 1” thick on the following Messer machines:
- Titan III: up to ½” diameter.
- TMC4500DB & MPC2000: up to ¾” diameter.
- MetalMaster Evolution & MetalMaster Xcel: up to 1/2” diameter.
- Mist lubrication unit mounted to the drill station results in reliable, easy drilling.
- A portion of the 4” drill stroke can be feed-rate controlled to provide reliable drilling while minimizing tool breakage.
- Automatic initiation of drill commands in the part program frees operators up for their other tasks.
- Collett-style spindle.
- SAIR purge chips.
MD200 Heavy-Duty Electric Drill [for the TMC4500 DB & MPC2000]
- Drills up to 2” diameter.
- 36 HP; CAT 40 taper spindle.
- Coolant through the tool results in reliable and easy drilling (mist or flood).
- Portions of the 15” drill stroke can be feed-rate controlled to provide reliable drilling while minimizing tool breakage.
- Optional 12-tool storage with automatic tool exchange.
MD250 Drill Unit [for the MPC2000 MC]
- Drills up to 2.5” diameter (on 6” thick mild steel).
- Tapping up to 1 ½”.
- A high suction vacuum system allows for cleaning of the table’s surface and work area, preventing chips from flying off the table, increasing operator safety, and plate cutting efficiency. There is a collection area for recycling steel chips.
- Coolant through the tool results in reliable and easy drilling (mist or flood).
- Feed-rate controlled 23.5” drill stroke.
- CAT 50 taper spindle.
- 49.8 HP peak; 1.5” – 6 unc.
- Optional 24-tool storage with automatic tool exchange.
MD400 Heavy-Duty Drill Unit [for the TMC4500 DB & MCP2000 MC].
- Drills up to 4” diameter (on 4” thick mild steel).
- Tapping up to 1 ½” – 6” in mild steel.
- Coolant through the tool results in reliable and easy drilling (mist or flood).
- Feed-rate controlled 18” drill stroke.
- CAT 50 taper spindle.
- 65 HP peak; 1.5” – 6 unc.
- Optional 24-tool storage with automatic tool exchange.
Choosing the right slat tray is important to drilling.
Serrated Slat Tray
- Replaceable slat trays.
- Scalloped plate support tray, for reduced tool-to-support contact.
- Alternating slat serration location, every other slat.
- Customizable serration size, profile, and location when replacing trays (depending on cut part type & size).
- Sacrificial angle iron tack welded to slat tray and to plate lessens plate vibration for higher cutting speeds.
- Slat frames pinched horizontally to eliminate side-to-side movement.
- Longitudinal “Comb Plates” minimize longitudinal plate movement.
Serrated Slat Tray with Brass Pins
- Sacrificial angle iron to be tack welded to slat frame and to plate, lessens plate vibration for higher cutting speeds.
- Slat trays are pinched horizontally to eliminate side-to-side movement.
- Longitudinal “Comb Plates” minimize longitudinal plate movement.
Pin Groove Style Trays with Brass Pins
- Replaceable slat trays.
- Scalloped plate support tray reduces risk of cutting tool hitting the slat.
- Machined brass plate contact surface extends tooling life.
- Optimized for drilling
Slat Trays
We offer various slat tray types for drilling and milling into plates. One of our friendly sales representatives will be happy to answer additional questions.
- Serrations reduce the surface area between the plate and support structure, preventing the tool from hitting the support structure. They also help reduce slag buildup, increasing slat life. Serrations may erode after prolonged use in common cut areas, requiring slat replacement.
- While more costly up front, brass pins help reduce slag buildup and increase slat life — however, the pins degrade quickly when cutting directly over them. Brass pins are soft, and elevate the plate above the hard support structure to prevent contact.
Frequently Asked Questions about Plasma Drilling Machines
What types of plates can you drill into?
Plasma cutting may only be used on materials that are electrically conductive, typically mild steel or aluminum under certain circumstances. Other metals and alloys may also be used — such as copper, brass, titanium, cast iron, etc. — but with the potential for decreased quality, since their melting point can make it difficult to produce clean edges.
What is milling?
Milling is a cutting process that uses a rotary cutting tool to remove material from the surface of a plate workpiece. The cutter typically moves perpendicular to the workpiece axis, whereas drilling moves the tool along the rotation axis. Milling cutters perform many separate, small cuts that push material off the workpiece in tiny “chips” that clump together.
What is the benefit of milling?
Milling is recommended for when you need to make individual pieces in small or large batches, and with great precision. It can produce complicated shapes, and gives operators exceptional control.
What machines is milling available on?
Milling is offered on the MPC2000, MPC2000 MC and the TMC4500 DB.
Can you retrofit a Messer Cutting machine with a drill?
The answer is yes, for these machines listed below:
Small drill for Titan II and Early Single beam MPC2000 and TMC4500.
Electric Drill Unit : ½” capacity and one mist lubrication unit.
These will have variable RPM feed-rate and vertical stroke control via manual set-up & adjustment (electric spindle; hydraulic feed).
Mist Unit description:
- Single-line output to distribute mist coolant.
- The unit to be mounted on station.
- Spray nozzle to be manually directed to drill.
Processing Notes:
- When working with thicker plate, caution must be used to watch for drill clearance over the plate and cut parts. In some situations, the drill will have to be removed in order to clear the material. The installation drawing will outline the clearance of each process.
- There is no center or spot drilling. Special combination tools can be implemented by the end user.
- Recommended for through holes 1/8″ – ½” in diameter; in mild steel, up to 1″ thick.
Standard drilling systems consist of:
- Pneumatic feed with hydraulic speed control during the drilling cycle.
- Electric variable speed spindle (RPM).
- Manual change tooling.
- External mist lubrication of the cutting tool.
- Material hold down clamp.
- One ½” Cobalt drill bit with appropriate collet and holder.
Manual customer setups are required for each drill size:
- Set the flow control on the drilling unit to achieve the proper drilling feed rate.
- Set the rpm of the spindle on the control screen.
- Change the tooling.
Drilling systems are not suited for:
- Counter boring or countersinking.
- Unattended operation.
- Dedicated drilling applications. (High Duty cycle).
Small drill for early style MPC2000 and TMC4500 ONLY.
Hypneumat Electric Drill Unit: 3/4″ capacity and one mist lubrication unit.
These will have variable RPM feed-rate and vertical stroke control via manual set-up & adjustment (electric spindle; hydraulic feed).
Mist Unit description:
- Single-line output to distribute mist coolant.
- The unit to be mounted on station.
- Spray nozzle to be manually directed to drill.
Processing Notes:
- When working with a thicker plate, caution must be used to watch for drill clearance over the plate and cut parts. In some situations, the drill will have to be removed in order to clear the material. The installation drawing will outline the clearance of each process.
- There is no center or spot drilling. Special combination tools can be implemented by the end user.
- Recommended for through holes in mild steel, up to 1″ thick.
Standard drilling systems consist of:
- Pneumatic feed with hydraulic speed control during the drilling cycle.
- Electric variable speed spindle (600-2400 rpm).
- Manual change tooling.
- External mist lubrication of the cutting tool.
- Material hold down clamp.
- 3-HP; 6” stroke.
- Includes customer-selected drill bit kit for sizes up to ¾”.
Manual customer setups are required for each drill size:
- Set the flow control on the drilling unit to achieve the proper drilling feed rate.
- Set the rpm of the spindle on the control screen.
- Change the tooling.
Drilling systems are not suited for:
- Counter boring or countersinking.
- Unattended operation.
- High production rate drilling.
Contact
Messer Cutting Systems, Inc.