Pacific Bearing Co., a manufacturer of precision metal components, used an off-line boring drill rather than CNC machinery, and increased throughput of a custom steel ring bearing line.
By introducing the manually operated drill, the company saved $100,000 and showed a 26 percent gain in productivity.
The drilling operation required a medium accuracy, automated drill to complete the final product specifications. The part composite produced debris that was not easily tolerated by conventional antifriction ball and roller bearings.
With this in mind, engineers designed the drill to use the company’s Dolphin Guides that incorporate its Simplicity linear bearing technology, along with FrelonGold selflubricating bearings running on the ceramic guides to provide maintenance-free smooth frictionless motion.
Company engineers also designed the drill specifically for the application and to be mobile, lightweight, foolproof to set up, durable, and with a small footprint.
“Although the concept is simple, it required a radical approach, and you have to appreciate the simplicity of it,” said Bill O’Connor, manufacturing engineer for Pacific Bearing (www.pacific-bearing.com).
