A method for drilling an element to be drilled by a drilling device and a cutting tool including drill margins and cutting edges. The method includes determining at least one load value representing overall drag due to internal friction of the drilling device and to friction of drill margins in the element to be drilled. Determining includes: stopping a drilling operation in progress; partial retraction of the cutting tool on a predetermined distance, the predetermined distance being chosen such that the cutting edges are no longer in contact with the element to be drilled; driving the cutting tool with predetermined cutting parameters; measuring at least one load value during the driving of the cutting tool with the cutting parameters before its cutting edges again come into contact with the element to be drilled and after stabilization of the load values, the measured load value representing the overall drag.

A crankshaft balancer machine for balancing a crankshafts having a measurement station configured to rotate the crankshaft to obtain vibration-related data, a transfer station configured to transfer the crankshaft between the measurement station and the correction station, and a correction station configured to drill at least a portion of the crankshaft to correct an imbalance in response to the imbalance data. The measurement station includes a base structure, a measurement bridge support, a plurality of flexural support legs extending therebetween, at least one sensor, and a drive system to spin the crankshaft and output imbalance data. The transfer station includes at least one lifting arm selectively engaging the crankshaft and supporting the crankshaft during transfer. The correction station includes a drilling device horizontally disposed to achieve a horizontal drill direction into the crankshaft to correct any imbalance according to a customized software protocol.

A drilling apparatus includes: a table supporting a plate; a drill machining a through-hole in the plate; an annular pressing member pressing the plate around the through-hole; a camera capturing a plate surface image through an inner space of the pressing member; and a moving device moving the drill between machining and retraction positions, the machining position being at which the drill center coincides with the pressing member center, the retraction position being a position at which the drill is positioned outside a field of view of the camera. Insertion holes distributed in a circumferential direction are formed in the pressing member, and illumination devices, each emitting light to the plate surface around the through-hole, are inserted in the respective insertion holes. An optical axis direction of each of the illumination devices inserted in the respective insertion holes and the plate surface form an angle of 25 to 60.

A method for processing a workpiece on a numerically controlled machine tool by a tool includes the steps of: controlling a relative movement of the tool relative to the workpiece for processing the workpiece, producing an ultrasonic vibration of the tool by an ultrasonic generator, detecting at least one sensor signal outputted from the ultrasonic generator and identifying a change in the material at the workpiece while controlling the relative movement of the tool relative to the workpiece on the basis of the at least one sensor signal outputted from the ultrasonic generator.

Apparatus and methods for performing and controlling the sequence of steps in a multi-step machining process utilizing a plurality of drilling units, where each drilling unit is configured to perform at least one step of the multi-step machining process. Air pressure sensors in each drilling unit measure air pressures at the surface of a workpiece where the cutting tool of the drilling unit is engaged, which measured air pressures indicate air flow at the surface. These air flows in turn indicate the state of the machining at the surface of the workpiece, and based on the state of the machining, a machine control system will determine whether a drilling unit can perform its particular machining operation in the proper sequence on the workpiece.

A hydraulic tool holder comprises a body and a piston assembly. The body defines a fluid reservoir adapted to hold a fluid. The piston assembly comprises a piston pin movably arranged within the body and including a first end in communication with the fluid reservoir, and a visual indicator. An elastic element of the piston assembly biases the piston pin toward the fluid reservoir with a predetermined elastic force. The predetermined elastic force is selected such that the visual indicator is visible from an exterior of the body when a pressure of the fluid in the fluid reservoir reaches a predetermined minimum threshold level.

One embodiment includes display device configured to wirelessly receive a first position status from a positioning device; display a first work-tool working-axis leveling status based on the first position status; receive cut parameters; receive a cut-start indication; determine a first work-tool position status difference based on cut parameters and a second position status; present a position status correction indicator; determine that a third position status is within cut parameters; send a cut-start signal to the positioning device operable to actuate the first work-tool; determine a work-tool cut completion; and send a cut-end signal to the positioning device operable to de-actuate the first work-tool.

A drilling system includes a drilling machine, configured to drill a hole in a work piece along a drilling axis, a deployment mechanism, attached to the drilling machine, a measuring probe, attached to the deployment mechanism, and a controller, coupled to the drilling machine, the measuring probe, and the deployment mechanism. The measuring probe is configured to produce a signal indicative of an actual geometric parameter of the hole when inserted therein. The deployment mechanism is configured to selectively align the measuring probe along the drilling axis. The controller is configured to cause insertion of the measuring probe into the hole, and to receive the signal from the measuring probe.

One embodiment includes display device configured to wirelessly receive a first position status from a positioning device; display a first work-tool working-axis leveling status based on the first position status; receive cut parameters; receive a cut-start indication; determine a first work-tool position status difference based on cut parameters and a second position status; present a position status correction indicator; determine that a third position status is within cut parameters; send a cut-start signal to the positioning device operable to actuate the first work-tool; determine a work-tool cut completion; and send a cut-end signal to the positioning device operable to de-actuate the first work-tool.

A drilling apparatus includes: a drill rotatable about a center axis and capable of advancing and retracting along the axis; and a pressing unit for pressing a work in an advancing direction of the drill. The drilling apparatus advances the drill while rotating the drill about the center axis to form a hole in the work, in a state in which the work is pressed by the pressing unit. A pressing force applied on the work by the pressing unit is set to a predetermined pressing force based on machining reaction applied to the drill from the work during drilling and the pressing force causing deformation of the work in the advancing direction of the drill. The predetermined pressing force can suppress deformation of the work and displacement of the drill due to the machining reaction. The machining reaction and the pressing force are calculated beforehand in a drilling test.