Gun drilling and deep hole drilling are specialized machining processes designed to produce precise, high-aspect-ratio holes—holes that are significantly deeper than their diameter. These techniques are essential in industries such as aerospace, medical, oil and gas, mold and die, and firearms manufacturing, where accuracy, straightness, and fine surface finishes are critical.
Gun drilling is ideal for hole diameters typically ranging from 1 mm to 50 mm and depths up to 100 times the diameter or more. The process uses a single-flute tool with internal coolant delivery to evacuate chips efficiently while maintaining tight tolerances and superior surface finish. Deep hole drilling encompasses not only gun drilling but also other methods like BTA (Boring and Trepanning Association) drilling and trepanning, which are suited for larger diameters and even deeper holes.
Numerous industries use gun drilling and deep hole drilling to manufacture a wide variety of precision parts. Medical companies use deep hole drills for cannulated bone screws and intramedullary nails (IM nails) that are used to repair fractures. Firearms companies use gun drills for their pistol and rifle barrels to ensure the bore is straight and true before reaming and rifling the barrel to perfection. Automotive companies use deep hole drills for cam shafts, engine blocks, transmission shafts, and engine valves. There are many other uses for deep hole drilling machines and gun drilling machines in manufacturing.
BTA drilling uses a different tool configuration that allows coolant to flow around the tool while chips are evacuated through the center. It is commonly used for hole diameters greater than 20mm and offers faster material removal rates than traditional gun drilling. Trepanning, on the other hand, removes a solid core from the workpiece, making it an efficient method for creating large-diameter holes while preserving material. Mollart’s MD-BTA series offers both gun drilling and BTA in one machine.
Mollart machines are engineered specifically for the challenges of gun drilling and deep hole drilling. Our LD Series, including models like the Mollart LD2-1200 Drillsprint, provides unmatched precision and reliability. These machines are optimized for both single- and multi-spindle configurations, offering flexible solutions for everything from prototyping to high-volume production.
Mollart’s deep hole drilling machines feature high-pressure coolant systems, rigid machine construction, and advanced control technology to ensure consistent results across a wide range of materials and hole geometries. Whether you’re producing small, precision bores in medical components or drilling long, large-diameter holes in aerospace alloys, Mollart offers tailored solutions for your application.
When it comes to gun drilling and deep hole drilling, choosing the right machine is critical. Mollart’s decades of expertise and proven performance make them a top choice for manufacturers looking to achieve accurate, repeatable results in demanding applications.
Explore the full range of Mollart machines and see how they can elevate your deep hole drilling capabilities. Reach out to us to learn more about how we can help.
