A deep hole drilling machine is not a standalone tool — it is the center of a work cell that includes workpiece staging, chip handling, coolant management, tool setup, and inspection. The layout of this cell determines how much of each shift is spent cutting versus waiting, moving, and handling. In deep hole drilling, where cycle times can run 30 minutes to several hours per hole, non-cutting time is expensive.
Floor Plan Considerations
| Machine Type | Machine Footprint (L × W) | Total Cell Required (including clearance) | Pit Required? |
|---|
| Gun drilling (short, < 1.5 m stroke) | 3 m × 2 m | 6 m × 4 m | No |
| Gun drilling (medium, 1.5–3 m stroke) | 5 m × 2.5 m | 8 m × 5 m | No |
| Gun drilling (long, 3–6 m stroke) | 8 m × 3 m | 14 m × 6 m | Optional (chip trough) |
| Gun drilling (extra long, > 6 m) | 12 m × 3 m | 20 m × 7 m | Recommended |
| BTA drilling (medium, 1–3 m) | 6 m × 3 m | 10 m × 6 m | No |
| BTA drilling (long, 3–6 m) | 10 m × 3.5 m | 16 m × 7 m | Recommended |
| BTA drilling (extra long, > 6 m) | 15 m × 4 m | 22 m × 8 m | Required |
Clearance Requirements
| Area | Minimum Clearance | Recommended | Reason |
|---|
| Front of machine (operator side) | 1.5 m | 2.0 m | Operator access, panel swing |
| Rear of machine | 1.0 m | 1.5 m | Maintenance access, coolant tank |
| Spindle end (load/unload) | Machine length + 2 m | Machine length + 3 m | Long part loading, tool changes |
| Tailstock end | 2.0 m | 3.0 m | Part overhang, drill tube storage |
| Side access | 1.0 m | 1.5 m | Chip conveyor access, maintenance |
| Coolant tank area | 1.5 m around tank | 2.0 m | Cleaning access, filter changes |
Tip: The most common layout mistake is underestimating the space needed at the spindle end for part loading and tool changes. Deep hole drilling parts are long — a 3 m part needs 3 m of clear space in front of the machine just for loading. Measure the longest part you will ever run and add 2 m — that is your minimum spindle-end clearance.
Material Flow
Workpiece Flow Path
| Stage | Activity | Equipment | Space Required |
|---|
| 1 | Raw material receiving | Forklift or crane offload | 5 m × 3 m |
| 2 | Raw material storage | Rack or horizontal storage | Varies by volume |
| 3 | Pre-machining (if needed) | Lathe or mill | 4 m × 3 m |
| 4 | Deep hole drilling | DHD machine cell | Per machine cell size |
| 5 | Post-drilling inspection | Borescope, gauges | 2 m × 2 m |
| 6 | Secondary operations | Reaming, boring, honing | 3 m × 3 m |
| 7 | Final inspection | CMM or gauge station | 3 m × 3 m |
| 8 | Shipping | Packaging, staging | 5 m × 4 m |
Layout Configurations
| Configuration | Flow Direction | Best For | Pros | Cons |
|---|
| Straight-line | Raw → Machine → Inspect → Ship | High volume, one product class | Simple flow, clear separation | Long footprint |
| U-shaped | Raw and finished goods at same end | Medium volume, mixed parts | Shared crane coverage, compact | Congestion at shared end |
| L-shaped | Raw in one leg, finished out the other | Limited space | Fits corner spaces | Awkward flow for long parts |
| Cellular | Machine grouped by part family | Multiple machines, similar parts | Reduced transport, focused supervision | Higher machine investment per cell |
Crane Coverage
Requirements by Machine and Part Size
| Part Length | Part Weight | Crane Type | Minimum Capacity | Coverage Required |
|---|
| < 1.5 m | < 500 kg | Jib crane at machine | 1 ton | Full spindle-to-tailstock |
| 1.5–3 m | 500–2,000 kg | Bridge crane (single girder) | 3 ton | Full cell + staging area |
| 3–6 m | 1,000–5,000 kg | Bridge crane (double girder) | 5–10 ton | Full cell + raw material |
| > 6 m | 3,000–15,000 kg | Heavy-duty bridge crane | 15–30 ton | Full shop bay |
Crane Coverage Zones
| Zone | Coverage Requirement | Typical Configuration |
|---|
| Part loading area | Full coverage for part transfer | Bridge crane extends 1 m past machine ends |
| Tool and tube storage | Coverage at storage rack + machine | Bridge crane or separate jib |
| Chip bin removal | Coverage for bin swap-out | Overlap with machine zone |
| Coolant tank area | Coverage for pump/motor removal | Bridge crane or portable gantry |
| Inspection area | Coverage for part transfer | Extended bridge crane coverage |
Chip Handling System
Chip Removal Options by Layout
| System | Space Required | Capacity | Best For | Considerations |
|---|
| Central chip conveyor (trench) | 600 mm wide trench, full machine length | High | Multiple machines, high volume | High installation cost, floor modification |
| Individual chip bin | 1 m × 1 m per machine | Low | Single machine, low volume | Frequent bin changes |
| Auger conveyor | 300 mm diameter pipe | Medium | Long chips, medium volume | Limited to chip size |
| Vacuum system | Central unit + piping | Medium | Fine chips, multiple machines | High energy cost |
| Robot chip removal | Robot + bin | Low-medium | Automated cells | High capital cost |
Chip Bin Location
| Bin Location | Pros | Cons |
|---|
| Rear of machine | Shortest chip travel, out of operator way | Harder to access for removal |
| End of machine (tailstock) | Easy fork truck access | Uses valuable end space |
| Below floor (pit) | No floor space used, long chip fall | Expensive to install, harder to maintain |
| Central collection point | Single removal point | Requires conveyor system to transport |
Work Cell Organization
Cell Components
| Element | Location Relative to Machine | Purpose |
|---|
| Operator control station | Front, centered on machine | Machine operation, cycle monitoring |
| Tool setup bench | Side (operator side), 2 m from machine | Drill inspection, measurement, assembly |
| Tube storage rack | Side or rear, within crane reach | Chip tube storage and selection |
| Bushing and holder rack | Near spindle, within arm's reach | Quick bushing changes |
| Inspection station | Near cell exit, within crane reach | First-article and in-process inspection |
| Coolant test station | Near coolant tank | Concentration and pH testing |
| Maintenance tool board | On wall near cell | Quick access to common tools |
| PPE station | Cell entrance | Safety glasses, gloves, hearing protection |
Work Cell Dimensions (Typical)
| Cell Component | Width | Depth | Notes |
|---|
| Machine footprint | Per machine spec | Per machine spec | — |
| Operator area (front) | Cell width | 1.5–2.0 m | Clear floor space |
| Tool setup area | 2.0 m | 1.5 m | Bench + cabinet |
| Tube storage | Machine length | 1.0 m | Horizontal rack |
| Staging area (incoming) | 2.0 m | Part length + 1 m | Raw material queue |
| Staging area (outgoing) | 2.0 m | Part length + 1 m | Finished goods queue |
| Inspection area | 2.0 m | 2.0 m | Bench + gauges |
| Aisle space | 2.0–3.0 m | — | Forklift/pedestrian aisle |
Workflow Optimization
Reducing Non-Cutting Time
| Activity | Typical Time | Optimization | Potential Saving |
|---|
| Part loading | 5–20 min | Powered assist, pre-rigging | 30–50% |
| Tool change | 5–15 min | Pre-set tools, quick-change holders | 40–60% |
| Setup changeover | 30–120 min | SMED methodology, standard tooling | 50–70% |
| Inspection (first article) | 15–30 min | In-process gauging, CMM programming | 30–50% |
| Chip bin change | 10–20 min | Larger bins, central collection | 30–50% |
| Coolant maintenance | 15–30 min/day | Automated monitoring, central system | 50% |
| Tool sharpening/regrind logistics | 30–60 min/week | On-site sharpening, organized storage | 40–60% |
Layout Optimization Checklist
| Optimization | Implementation | Impact |
|---|
| Minimize part travel distance | Position raw material and finished goods nearest machine ends | Reduced handling time |
| Intersecting crane coverage | Single crane covers loading, unloading, and staging | Reduced wait time for crane |
| Tool storage at point of use | Keep drills, bushings, holders at machine | Reduced walk time |
| Chip removal path clear of workflow | Bin or conveyor at rear, not in operator path | Reduced congestion |
| Coolant maintenance access | Tank area accessible without moving parts | Reduced maintenance time |
| Inspection close to machine | First-article inspection within 5 m of machine | Reduced feedback time |
FAQ
What is the minimum floor space needed for a deep hole drilling machine?
The total cell space required is 2–3× the machine footprint. For a typical 3 m stroke gun drilling machine (machine footprint 5 m × 2.5 m), the cell needs approximately 8 m × 5 m (40 m²) including operator access, part staging, tool setup, and chip handling. Longer machines need proportionally more space — a 6 m stroke machine requires 14 m × 6 m (84 m²) minimum.
How should I organize the work cell around a deep hole drilling machine?
Place the machine with the spindle end facing the material staging area and the tailstock end toward finished goods staging. Position the operator control station at the front center. Place the tool setup bench on the operator side within 2 m of the spindle. Store chip tubes horizontally on a rack within crane reach. Keep the coolant tank area at the rear with clear access for filter changes and cleaning.
What crane capacity do I need for deep hole drilling parts?
Crane capacity should be based on the heaviest part plus the handling fixture weight, with a 25% safety margin. For typical deep hole drilling parts: bars up to 3 m length and 200 mm diameter weigh approximately 750 kg (steel), requiring a 1–2 ton crane. Longer bars (6 m × 200 mm) weigh approximately 1,500 kg, requiring a 3–5 ton crane. Consider future part sizes when specifying crane capacity.
Should I put my deep hole drilling machine in a pit?
A pit is recommended for machines with stroke length over 6 m, or when the chip conveyor needs gravity-assisted chip flow. Pits provide several advantages: the machine bed is at floor level for easy part loading, chips fall directly into a below-floor conveyor eliminating chip handling at machine level, and the machine's center of gravity is lower improving stability. However, pits are expensive to construct, complicate maintenance access, and can collect coolant mist and fumes.
How do I lay out chip handling for a deep hole drilling cell?
For a single machine, the simplest layout is a chip conveyor discharging into a bin at the rear or end of the machine. Position the bin so a fork truck can access it without entering the operator's work zone. For multiple machines, consider a central trench conveyor that transports chips from all machines to a central collection point. The trench should be covered with grating for pedestrian access and sloped for drainage.
Shop layout for deep hole drilling is about reducing waste — wasted motion, wasted waiting, wasted handling. Every metre the part travels, every minute the crane is shared, every trip the operator makes to the tool crib adds cost without adding value. Design the cell around the workflow, and the workflow around the machine. This article reflects industry practice as of 2026.
