Holes in Heavy, Awkward Components
Drilling accurate holes through thick plate, castings or a large weldment is straightforward until the component is too heavy to keep repositioning. A radial arm drill solves that by moving the head to the work instead. At Radial Engineering, we use radial drilling in Hobart for drilling, tapping, reaming and counterboring on components that won't fit a pedestal machine, including flanges, base plates, gearbox housings and structural steelwork. Hole position matters more than most people expect. A bolt pattern that's out by a few millimetres can still be forced together, and it then carries load unevenly. Where a job also needs machined faces, our general machining and metal fabrication covers it. Call 0408 008 610 to discuss the component.
What We Drill & How
Radial drilling covers more than putting a hole through steel.
Drilling and tapping. We drill and thread holes to size in plate, bar and castings, including blind holes where chip clearance and tapping depth need watching.
Reaming and counterboring. Where a hole needs a precise finished diameter or a recessed seat for a bolt head, we ream or counterbore rather than relying on the drill size alone.
Repeat patterns. Base plates, flanges and mounting brackets often need the same pattern across multiple pieces, so we set up once and work through the batch.
Large and heavy work. The radial arm reaches across a fixed component, so heavy items get clamped down once instead of being lifted and turned for every hole.
FAQs
01What is the difference between a radial arm drill and a pedestal drill?
A pedestal drill has a fixed head, so the workpiece has to be moved and re-clamped for every hole. A radial arm drill moves the head over a stationary component, which is the practical difference once a part is too heavy to shift easily.
02Why do holes drilled in thick steel end up off-centre?
Drift usually starts at the beginning of the cut, from a wandering drill point, an uneven surface or insufficient clamping. Spot drilling first and holding the component rigidly removes most of the problem.
03Should holes be drilled before or after a component is welded?
Drilling afterwards is often the better order, because welding distortion can pull a pre-drilled pattern out of alignment. The component does need to be fully cooled and checked for movement before the holes go in.
Send Us the Details
Send through the component details, along with photos and dimensions if you have them, and we'll tell you whether it's work we can take on.