Aerospace Manufacturers Turn to DeHoff 25108 to Build Tail Rotor Drive Shafts
Aerospace manufacturers are leveraging heavy-duty drilling technology to shave critical pounds off helicopter components, a vital step in improving aircraft efficiency and payload capacity. At the center of this manufacturing push is the DeHoff 25108, a specialized BTA (Boring and Trepanning Association) drilling machine built by Kays Engineering.
The machine plays a crucial role in producing helicopter tail rotor drive shafts. These vital aerospace components start as solid, heavy bars of high-strength alloy steel. Utilizing the DeHoff 25108, technicians can drill through the center of the solid steel in a single, continuous pass. Hollowing out the core of the alloy bar results in a drastic weight reduction for the finished drive shaft without sacrificing the structural integrity required to power a helicopter's tail rotor.
Engineered for the extreme demands of the aerospace and petrochemical sectors, the Missouri-built DeHoff 25108 handles massive workloads. It boasts a BTA drilling diameter capacity of 2.5 inches and can achieve a maximum drilling depth of 108 inches. Because aerospace workpieces vary wildly in shape and size, the system utilizes custom-designed fixturing options tailored to specific manufacturing setups.
VIDEO: BTA Deep Hole Drilling Machine -- DeHoff BTA/STS 6060 w/ automation
The machine is part of a broader heavy-capacity lineup from Kays Engineering, which features four distinct models offering drilling capabilities ranging from two to six inches. To manage the immense heat and friction generated during deep-hole alloy drilling, the 25108 is equipped with a high-pressure, robust coolant system. Operators control the entire high-precision process via an integrated, Microsoft Windows ®-based software package.
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