Drilling holes in paper appears to be an uncomplicated process. However, it requires the right methods to be followed. Though the concept of paper drilling is simple, it involves more factors to be taken into account than you may think. These factors include paper stock type, number of holes, size of hole, drill bit type and coating, drilling blocks, lubrication, table speed, and drill bit depth adjustment.
If you need to drill paper, you may not find it difficult to purchase bindery equipment, set it up, and start drilling with it. However, if you ignore the details, you may soon find yourself dealing with issues such as clogged or broken drill bits, damaged drill head spindles, or ruined lifts of paper.
If you are serious about eliminating these problems and improve paper drilling performance, it is important that you follow the bindery tips discussed below.
- Adjustment of drill bit depth: Adjust the drill bit so that it is just able to cut into the drilling block. To start with, the drill should seat firmly in the spindle and the drill bit shouldn’t quite cut into the drill block. Now, make gradual adjustment, allowing the drill to cut through a single paper sheet. Seat the drill further by drilling a small lift of waste paper. If it fails to cut through the lift, adjust gradually until it is able to cut through cleanly. Resist the temptation of going deep into the wood because this can dull the bit prematurely.
- Use Chipboard: If want to achieve clean cuts without flaws on the bottom sheet, make use of chipboards or other waste materials on the bottom. This simple step will relieve you from adjusting the bit depth every now and then because you will be discarding the bottom sheet anyway.
- Drill sharpening: Before every job, don’t forget to sharpen the drills. This is a very fast process if you have the right tools, and helps avoid lost production time, premature wear on the machine, and untimely replacement of bits. If you notice a change in the sound while the drill cuts through paper, the time has come to sharpen it.
- Drill Lube: A drill lube should be used continuously on the bit’s sharpened edge as well as its outside. This will reduce the friction and ensure free flow of the waste chips.
- Table Speed: An enormous amount of mechanical resistance and heat is generated while drill bits spin through paper. Both these factors can cause serious damage to the bits, drive belts, drill heads, and motors. By using the fastest possible table speed, it is possible to ensure that the drill bit goes in and comes out in the minimum possible time. However, the right speed is not the same for every job, and it may take you some time to get a feel of it.
- Cleaning: As soon as you are done with a job, clean out all the drill bits. As the metal gets cooler and shrinks over time, there is a chance of clogging caused by drill chips moving freely through hot bits.
If you have any other questions about improving your paper drilling performance, please get in touch with us at Renz Australia.