Compact Powerfeed Drill for Limited Access Drilling

The Navy needs a compact drill with controlled powerfeed for drilling holes in limited access areas of aircraft structures. We propose to adapt technology we are developing for a compact high-speed high-power milling spindle to develop a compact powerfeed drill for the Navy. Our drill uses compact high-stiffness large-damping hydrostatic bearings which: minimize the distance from the centerline of the spindle to the top of the drill housing; minimize the overall size and weight of the drill; and provide a large amount of damping, which leads to smooth holes and long tool life. Our drill uses direct liquid-turbine drive, which can generate large torques in a compact space claim with few parts that can wear. Our drill uses a hydraulic feed system to generate required controlled thrust forces with a compact cavity size. In Phase I, we will: develop a design for a pre-prototype drill; provide a simulation of our drill machining provided F-35 part models; and demonstrate a breadboard compact powerfeed drill. In Phase II, we will build and demonstrate a prototype drill. In Phase III, we will sell our compact powerfeed drill to the government and the private sector.