The differences between reaming and drilling

Reaming and drilling are two common mechanical processes used to create precisely sized holes or holes in solid materials. Although both processes involve material removal, there are significant differences between reaming and drilling. In this article, we will take a close look at these differences and look at the various types of tools used for each process.

Differences between reaming and drilling

Reaming is a process that is used to improve the precision and quality of a previously drilled hole. It is performed after drilling to obtain a more precise diameter, a better surface finish or a closer dimensional tolerance. During reaming, a tool called a “reamer” is used to remove excess material from the hole, bringing it to the desired size. Reaming can be performed on a wide range of materials, including metals, alloys, composites, and even wood.

Drilling, on the other hand, is a process used to create new holes in the surfaces of materials. When drilling, a drill is used to cut or drill the material, creating a cylindrical shaped hole. Drilling is commonly used for different purposes, such as fixing materials, passing cables or pipes, inserting screws and much more. It is one of the most common machining processes and can be performed on materials such as metals, wood, plastic and ceramics.

Reaming Tools

Now that we have a general understanding of reaming and drilling, let's take a closer look at the various types of tools used for each process.

• Cylindrical reamers: these are the most common reamers and are used to create cylindrical holes of precise dimensions. They can be hand-operated or machine-operated and are available in different variants, such as manual reamers, spiral reamers and adjustable reamers.
• Tapered reamers: these reamers are designed to create tapered holes, often used for the installation of guides or to obtain a specific shape in the hole. They are mainly used in the automotive and aeronautical industries.
• Precision reamers: these tools are extremely precise and are used to achieve very tight dimensional tolerances. They are commonly used in high-precision industries such as precision engineering and the measuring instrument industry.

Drilling Tools

• Hand Drills: These are the simplest and most basic drills that require the use of human energy to generate rotary motion. They are widely used in domestic activities and small drilling operations.
• Electric drills: these drills are powered by an electric motor that generates the rotary movement. They are more powerful and cost-effective than hand drills and are used in a wide range of industries, from carpentry to manufacturing.
• Column drills: these are fixed bench machines that offer greater stability and precision than portable drills. They are widely used in mechanical workshops and in industrial environments where accurate and repeatable drilling is required.
• Numerically Controlled Drills (CNC): These drills are computerized and allow highly precise and complex drilling to be performed automatically. They are mainly used in high-precision manufacturing environments, such as the aerospace and automotive industries.

It is important to note that both reaming and drilling can be performed using a variety of tools and techniques, depending on the specific needs of the application. For example, reaming can also be performed using numerical control (CNC) machines or reamers specialized for particular materials such as ceramics or composites. Similarly, drilling can be performed using specialized drills for strong materials or advanced techniques such as dip drilling or high-speed drilling.

Conclusions

Although reaming and drilling are both processes used to create or modify holes in materials, there are significant differences between the two. Reaming is a finishing process that improves the precision and quality of a previously drilled hole, while drilling is the initial process of creating a new hole. The choice between reaming and drilling depends on the specific needs of the application and precision requirements. For both reaming and drilling, there are a variety of tools available, from simple manual drills to sophisticated numerical control drills, which allow the work to be carried out accurately and efficiently.