Magnetic drilling machines: which model suits the job?

Capacity is always given as diameter × depth. A machine rated at Ø40 × 50 mm can drill a 40 mm hole through 50 mm of material, and nothing larger in either dimension.

Mains-powered machines, by capacity

• Element 30 — Ø32 × 35 mm, 850 W, 600 rpm, 410 mm high
• Adder K — Ø35 × 25 mm, 1100 W, 650 rpm, 11.2 kg. Low overall height of 210 mm
• Lynx K — Ø35 × 50 mm with manual feed, Ø35 × 45 mm automatic. Semi-automatic, 1100 W
• Element 40 — Ø40 × 50 mm, 1200 W, two gears (300 and 600 rpm)
• Commando — Ø40 × 50 mm, 1100 W, six speeds 270–610 rpm, 85 mm stroke
• Panther CS K — Ø40 × 50 mm, 1100 W, 350–600 rpm, 14.6 kg
• Falcon — Ø50 × 50 mm, 1250 W, two gears. Tapping capacity up to M20
• Cobra — Ø65 × 50 mm, 1400 W, two gears, 17.9 kg
• Scorpion — Ø100 × 100 mm, 1900 W, four gears with variable speed control, from 45 to 600 rpm. Tapping up to M30

When there is no power on the track

Rotabroach has four machines that do not need mains power:

• Raven — compressed-air driven, Atlas Copco motor, 5.5–6.9 bar working pressure, Ø52 × 50 mm
• Eagle — compressed-air driven, same capacity, in non-sparking ZA12 alloy
• Gator — hydraulic, 140 bar, 2.4 kW continuous, 630 rpm, Ø52 × 50 mm
• Rhino 4 (RD074) — rail drilling machine without a magnet, petrol-driven with a Honda four-stroke engine, 57 cm³

Speed should match the diameter

Note that the most powerful machines have the lowest speeds: the Scorpion goes down to 45 rpm, while the Element 30 runs at 600 rpm. That is not a weakness — large annular cutters should run slowly. A machine with only one speed therefore limits which cutter diameters it can be used with in practice, even if the magnetic base holds.

Approval for work on the track

The Rhino 4 (RD074) is listed with approval from Network Rail and SNCF. If the equipment is to be used on infrastructure with similar requirements, this is a point to clarify before purchase, not after.

The cutter is half the job

The machine is worthless without the right annular cutter. Check which diameter and shank you need before you decide on a machine — the catalogue has carbide-tipped annular cutters for rails from 18 to 36 mm.