Pressure foot offset nose piece

An automated drilling system for structural assemblies having a closed angle comprising:

• a drilling station having a drill spindle;
• a bucking station reaction of drill forces imposed by the drill spindle, said bucking station including a nose piece having
• a base;
• an engaging member;
• and
• an offset member extending between said base and said engaging member, said offset member having substantially a U-shape allowing for access by said engaging member to portions of a structural assembly behind a closed angle;
• a rotation flange extending from the base for attachment to a bucking station;
• and,
• a plurality of magnets embedded in the rotation flange for attachment to a headstone on the bucking station.

A method for automated drilling of structural assemblies having a closed angle comprising:

• attaching an offset nose piece having a rotation flange with a plurality of magnets to a headstone on a reaction station by magnetic attraction;
• positioning the offset nose piece with the reaction station to receive a blocking structural element;
• and,
• urging a nose portion of the offset nose piece into contact with a structure from which the blocking structural element extends using the reaction station to react drilling forces.