12mm ID x 18mm OD x 16mm L Fixed and slip renewable drill bushes

What is a drill bush/location bush?

A drill or location bush is a specialised tool used in manufacturing and assembly processes. It serves as a guide for drill bits or other cutting tools as well as location devices to ensure precision and accuracy. Here are the main functions and characteristics of a drill/location bush:

1) Guiding Tools: The bushing provides a precise guide for a drill bit, reamer, or other tool, ensuring that the tool aligns correctly with the workpiece. This is especially important in industries requiring high precision, like aerospace or automotive manufacturing.

2) Wear Resistance: By absorbing the friction that would otherwise be exerted directly on the component, the bush helps prolong the life of both the cutting tool and the workpiece.

3) Enhanced Accuracy: They help maintain dimensional accuracy and repeatability in drilled holes, which is crucial for components that must adhere to strict specifications.

4) Material Protection: The bush protects the surface and integrity of the material being worked on by minimising direct contact with the cutting tool. These are commonly used in aluminium fixture plates to create a hardened location point.

These components are integral in settings where precision is paramount and are used across various industries, from small machine shops to large-scale manufacturing plants. Drill bushes are also called location bushes, liner bushes, or master bushings.

Renewable Drill Bushes

Renewable drill bushes, often referred to as replaceable drill bushes, are a type of tooling component used in manufacturing and engineering applications, particularly in jig and fixture setups. These bushes serve to guide, position, and support cutting tools like drills or reamers during the machining process. Here are the key features of renewable drill bushes:

1) Replaceability: Unlike fixed drill bushes, renewable ones can be replaced when they wear out or when a different size is needed for a new job. This makes them versatile and cost-effective, as the bushing component can be swapped without replacing the entire jig or fixture.

2) Construction: They are typically made from hardened steel to withstand the rigors of repeated use and to maintain precise alignment under the stress of drilling operations.

3) Design Variations: WDS renewable drill bushes have a fixed and a slip side, which can be removed and replaced easily from a jig plate, or screw-renewable, which are screwed into place and offer more stability.

4) Applications: They are used in production environments where drilling operations are frequent and precision is critical. Renewable bushes help maintain the longevity of jigs and fixtures by allowing only the bushing, which faces the most wear, to be replaced.

These components are essential in settings where maintaining drilling accuracy and extending the life of drilling equipment are important. They provide a practical and efficient solution for managing wear and tool alignment in repetitive manufacturing tasks.