Drilling monitor

A drilling monitor comprising:

• means associated with a drill bit for measuring twist angle, including a first laser beam directed at a first reference point on said drill bit reflected to a first sensor, and a second laser beam directed at a second reference point on the drill bit reflected to a second sensor;
• image measuring means associated with said drill bit for measuring bending including a third laser beam on a first side of said drill bit directed by a fiber optic bundle at a sensor on a second side of said drill bit, opposite said first side, whereby said drill bit interrupts a portion of said third beam;
• means for measuring said drill bit temperature including an IR sensor directed at an intersection formed between said drill bit and a surface of an associated workpiece;
• signal processing means coupled for receiving instantaneous measurements of twist angle, bending and temperature of said drill bit;
• drill life data accumulator means coupled for receiving and accumulating instantaneous measurements from said signal processing means;
• means for controlling motor power for driving said drill bit;
• a drill life function module having preselected data therein;
• an intelligent control system coupled for receiving said instantaneous measurements from said signal processor, said accumulated measurements from said accumulator and said preselected data from said drill life function module and for comparing said measurements and data and for responsively generating instructions to said motor control means.