The radial drilling machine is the largest and most versatile used for drilling medium to large and

heavy work pieces.

 The machine consists of a heavy, round, vertical column mounted on a large base. The column supports a radial arm which can be raised and lowered to accommodate workpieces of different heights. The arm may be swung around to any position over the work bed. The drill head containig mechanism for rotating and feeding the drill is mounted on a radial arm and can be moved horizontally on the guide ways and clamped at any desired position. These three movements in a radial drilling machine when combined together permit the drill to be located at any desired point on a large workpiece to drill the hole.

Machine Parts
1.Base 2.Column 3.Radial arm 4.Motor for elevating the arms 5.Elevating screw 6.Guide ways 7.Motor for driving the drill spindle 8.Drill head 9.Drill spindle 10.Table

Base
The base of a radial drilling machine is a large rectangular casting that is finished on its top to support a column on its one end and to hold the work table at the other end.

Column
The column is a cylindrical casting that is mounted vertically at one end of the base. It supports the radial arm that slides up and down on its face and an electric motor mounted on its top of the column which imparts vertical adjustment of the arm by rotating a screw passing through a nut attached to the arm.

Radial arm
The radial arm that is mounted on the column extends horizontally over the base and can swung round the column. It is a massive casting with its front vertical face accurately machined to provide guide ways on which the drill head may be made to slide.

Drill head
The drill head is mounted on the radial arm and can slide on the guide ways and has all the mechanism for driving the drill at multiple speed and at different feed.

Spindle drive and Feed mechanism

A constant speed motor is mounted at the extreme end of the radial arm which balances partially the weight of the overhanging arm. The motor drives a horizontal spindle which runs along the length of the arm and the motion is transmitted to the drill head through bevel gears. By the train of gearing within the drill head , the speed of the spindle may be varied and through another train of gearing within the drill head , different feeds of spindles are obtained.

Types of Radial Drilling Machine

Plain radial drilling machine
Vertical adjustment of the arm. Horizontal movement of the drill head along the arm. Circular movement of the arm in horizontal plain about the vertical column.

Semiuniversal machine
The drill head can be swung about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the arm. Thus permits drilling hole at an angle to the horizontal plane other than the normal position.

Universal machine
The arm holding the drill head may be rotated on a horizontal axis.