Drilling units with CNC-controlled axes for positioning the drilling heads.

Depending on the model, the moving axes move the clamped workpiece or the machining units. The holes are not drilled in a single working cycle, as is the case with classic dowel drilling machines, but the entire drilling pattern is drilled individually in a single clamping. For this purpose, a drilling head (or several drilling heads) moves CNC-controlled to each individual drilling position (PTP control).

For drilling rows of holes in the surface, several drills are often arranged in a 32mm hole grid in order to reduce the number of drilling cycles and traverse movements required and thus the machining time.

In addition to horizontal and/or vertical drilling heads, CNC automatic drilling machines can also be equipped with units for driving in dowels, sawing or inserting fittings.

Construction methods

• Stationary machines designed for horizontal drilling. Additional vertical drilling spindles can only be used in the peripheral area. Used mainly in addition to nesting machines which do not allow machining of the narrow surfaces.
• Machining centre: These machines are comparable to CNC machining centres, but do not have a milling spindle.
• Throughfeed drilling line: These machines operate in throughfeed and may have automatic loading and outfeed. In contrast to multi support drilling systems for line and dowel drillings, however, the machining does not take place in a previously set individual cycle with a fixed drilling pattern, but the drilling positions are approached CNC-controlled.