Process for drilling oil-holes in crankshafts

A process for drilling oil-holes in a crankshaft at various positions lengthwise and widthwise about a longitudinal axis through the crankshaft with perpendicular and angled directions with regards to the longitudinal axis, said process comprising the following sequential steps:

• (a) placing a crankshaft in a horizontal position in a crankshaft holding unit and maintaining said crankshaft in a horizontal position through the drilling process, said crankshaft holding unit positioned adjacent to a crankshaft drilling unit, said drilling unit having four independent axes of movement, a first axis which is horizontal and along which a drill tool moves into and out of penetrating engagement with the crankshaft, a second axis which is horizontal and along which the drill tool is moved in a lengthwise direction along the crankshaft, a third axis which is vertical and along which the drill tool is moved vertically, and a fourth axis which is horizontal and along which the drill tool is moved horizontally, parallel to the first axis;
• (b) rotating said holding unit on a vertical axis until the crankshaft faces the drilling unit, said vertical axis taken through said holding unit and said vertical axis not intersecting said longitudinal axis of said crankshaft;
• (c) rotating said crankshaft along the longitudinal axis of the crankshaft to position said crankshaft in position for drilling a hole;
• (d) moving the drill tool on the second axis and the third axis until the drill tool is situated to drill the hole in the crankshaft;
• (e) moving the drill tool on the fourth axis to move the drill tool into contact with or into close contact with the crankshaft;
• (f) moving the drill tool on the first axis so as to cause said drill tool to penetrate said crankshaft and drill the hole in the crankshaft;
• (g) moving the drill tool on the first axis so as to extract the drill tool from the hole;
• (h) moving the drill tool on the fourth axis to move the drill tool out of contact with the crankshaft;
• (i) repeating steps (c) through (h) so as to drill additional holes in said crankshaft;
• (j) rotating said holding unit on said vertical axis until the crankshaft faces away from the drilling unit;
• and
• (k) unloading the crankshaft with holes drilled therein from the crankshaft holding unit.