Install Drill On PRT

[toolman1953]

Hello Everyone, I am wanting to install a drill on my 2005 Prt 96x48. I have upgraded with a new Standard RBK control Box. I was wonder if it would be best to go with a air drill Or regular drill. Which drill mount that shopbot sales should i go with or is there another way to go. I have looked at a lot of options and wanted to get some feed back to see what everyone else was using. Thanks for you help.

[harryball]

The air drill is the better option if you can do that. It's listed in their products under Production Aids. I would call to go over mounting requirement, they'll know best what you need for your specific tool. However, a regular drill on a manual bracket so you can drop it into position then raise it back up when using your spindle will do the job if that's what you can do. It's really about how turn key you want it and how much you want to spend. Personally, if the money was available I'd go with a second Z axis and the 2.2HP spindle. You can use it for more than just drilling.

If going with an electric drill, you also might consider a second Z and just fabricating a bracket to secure the drill to it. You could then replace the drill with a spindle in the future.

About the second Z or any extra weight on your gantry. I installed a second Z with a small router, then removed it after about a month. The time I thought I would save was eaten up by the slower speeds I had to run due to the extra mass on the gantry. Sure, I could drill the holes faster, but when running my roosting grooves I had to slow down and set the ramping such that instead of saving 2 or 3 minutes per sheet, it was costing me an extra 1 or 2 minutes per sheet. But that is unique to my application as I cut roosting grooves at 8 to 12ips depending on what I'm running.

/RB

[jdwykrent]

I have the air drill and couldn't be happier with it. It took a short amount of time to learn.

[harryball]

Don't forget, if you go the air drill route you'll need an air supply to back it up and use good abrasion resistant air hose. Of course you would never do anything like that, I just know I would so I thought I'd mention it.

/RB