A collar system for a dust extractor is provided including: a collar including a drill passage extending through the collar and an extension forming an internal passage that connects at one end with the drill passage, the extension being attachable to a housing of the dust extractor to enable the internal passage to connect to a suction passage of the dust extractor; and a cover mounted adjacent an entrance of the drill passage, the cover being moveable between a first position where it covers the entrance and a second position where is remote from the entrance, wherein the cover comprises at least hole that passes through the cover.

A modular drill including a shank having a shank bore therein, a guide pin tip disposed in the shank bore, a cutting tip, and a connection shaft coupled to the cutting tip, the connection shaft having a connection shaft sidewall and a guide path therein for guiding the guide pin tip therethrough while the connection shaft moves through the shank bore.

A modular drill including a shank having a shank bore therein, a guide pin tip disposed in the shank bore, a cutting tip, and a connection shaft coupled to the cutting tip, the connection shaft having a connection shaft sidewall and a guide path therein for guiding the guide pin tip therethrough while the connection shaft moves through the shank bore.

End effector assemblies for drilling a plurality of spaced-apart holes in a part, robots including the end effector assemblies, and associated methods are disclosed herein. The end effector assemblies include a first force application structure, an end effector, and a second force application structure. The first force application structure is configured to apply a first force to a surface of the part. The end effector is configured to selectively transition the first force application structure between a retracted state and an extended state and to selectively extend a drill bit into the part and subsequently retract the drill bit from the part. The second force application structure is configured to continuously apply a second force to the surface of the part while the first force application structure is in the retracted state and as the end effector assembly transitions from a first predetermined location to a second predetermined location.

A method for assisting with the positioning of a drill bit for boring a component, which includes capturing images of a first component which has notable points, of calculating a digital representation from these images, of superposing the digital representation thus calculated and a digital design representation of the component, of evaluating the distances of the centers of bores to be created with respect to the notable points, and of positioning a drill bit with the aid of a camera and of the evaluated distances. The method continues in the same way for the other components to be assembled.

Methods and apparatus for forming an aperture in a composite component are provided. For example, a method for forming an aperture in a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component comprises, based on a final dimension of the aperture, selecting a tool having a tool size and a cutting surface; selecting an angle at which to cut the component with the tool; cutting a back surface of the component with the tool, the cutting surface positioned at the angle; repositioning the tool relative to the component; and cutting the aperture through to its final dimension. The tool may be a core drill with a diameter within a range of 60% to 90% of the aperture final dimension. The angle may be within a range of 10° to 60° with respect to the back surface. The aperture may be cut through to its final dimension from a front surface of the component.

Methods and apparatus for forming an aperture in a composite component are provided. For example, a method for forming an aperture in a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) component comprises, based on a final dimension of the aperture, selecting a tool having a tool size and a cutting surface; selecting an angle at which to cut the component with the tool; cutting a back surface of the component with the tool, the cutting surface positioned at the angle; repositioning the tool relative to the component; and cutting the aperture through to its final dimension. The tool may be a core drill with a diameter within a range of 60% to 90% of the aperture final dimension. The angle may be within a range of 10° to 60° with respect to the back surface. The aperture may be cut through to its final dimension from a front surface of the component.

A system (40) is provided for processing a workpiece. The system (40) includes a support surface (48) for supporting a workpiece and includes an automatic tool changer (64) having a first tool storage bay (80) for removably storing a drill tool therein and having a second tool storage bay (80) for removably storing a plasma torch tool therein. The system (40) includes at least one drill spindle (60) movable with respect to a surface of a workpiece. The drill spindle (60) and the automatic tool changer (64) are movable relative to one another and configured to transfer between them a drill tool stored in the first tool storage bay (80) and a plasma torch tool stored in the second tool storage bay (80).

According to one implementation, a rotary cutting tool includes: a body without a back taper; and a cutting edge part integrated with the body. The body has a flow path of a cutting oil inside the body. The cutting edge part has a first supply port that supplies the cutting oil toward a workpiece. The body has at least one second supply port that supplies the cutting oil to a clearance formed between a bush for positioning and the body. The bush is used by being inserted in the body.

According to one implementation, a rotary cutting tool includes: a body without a back taper; and a cutting edge part integrated with the body. The body has a flow path of a cutting oil inside the body. The cutting edge part has a first supply port that supplies the cutting oil toward a workpiece. The body has at least one second supply port that supplies the cutting oil to a clearance formed between a bush for positioning and the body. The bush is used by being inserted in the body.