New application: how to remove a broken drill bit or tap using FastEDR

In any industry where things are getting made, engineers will have to grapple with the problem of broken drill bits and taps.

Companies in the aerospace sector told us that they were struggling with removing broken drill bits, so we set to work developing a new application of our FastEDR system to solve it.

As always with FastEDR, the removal process is scientific, measurable, adaptable and precise, with the risk of damage to the part virtually eliminated.

There are two stand-out features that our engineers created for this application:

1. To ensure greater comfort for the operator and precision of the process, we created a custom fixture that means FastEDR can be used to remove broken drill bits or taps hands-free.

2. The fixture attaches to the part using a vacuum, allowing it to stick to flat surfaces.

But we're not stopping there - the team already have ideas for new types of fixtures that will mean that drill bits and taps can be removed from more parts, including:

• Magnetic fixtures for steel parts

• Mechanically attached fixtures

In the video on the webpage below, our Engineering Technician James Dawson provides a demonstration of how the FastEDR system can be used to remove a broken drill bit.