Air driven optical drilling machines,


The Air Driven Optical Drilling Machines have been designed to provide all the advantages of accurate Optical Drilling at a relatively low cost, which has been achieved without compromising precision or ease of use. The machine is Electro-Pneumatically controlled, with a large screen optical unit, high intensity illumination and clear definition, thus minimising operator fatigue. The projector unit consists of a long working distance lens; two special quartz and aluminium coated mirrors and a circular pattern target screen giving a balanced magnification of 7:1. The two high intensity illumination lamps are readily replaced and are easily adjusted by viewing through the anti glare visor for maximum surface illumination. The mirrors are uniquely adjusted to allow accurate alignment of the drill point to the centre of the screen.

Depression of the two position foot switch firstly clamps the circuit board which then allows the operator to check the accuracy of alignment of the circuit board to screen centre; further depression of the foot switch in initiates the drilling cycle which drills the circuit board and on completion releases the clamp for the next operation. The automatic drilling spindle has an adjustable feed rate for all sizes of drilled holes. A retractable bellows unit surrounds the chuck and is connected to an outlet pipe at the rear of the machine, which has an adapter for fitting to the Fortex Swarf Extractor Unit, or most other types of extraction.

The collet/drill chuck is easily accessible for drill changing by pivoting the counter balanced projector head backwards thus exposing the chuck for easy drill changing. The matt finish steel base plate incorporates a drill bush adapter which accepts most standard drill bushes. The unit is mounted on a rigid cantilever type stand with a large laminated plastic work top and a drawer providing ample working and storage space for p.c.b.'s, tools and accessories.

Standard Specification  
For All Optical Drilling Machines  
Projector Magnification 7:1
Screen Size 51/2 inches (l40mm)
Throat Depth [Standard] 6 inches (l50mm)
Throat Depth [Optional] 8inches (200mm)
Field of view of lens 0.8 inches (20mm)
Front focus of lens l 3/4 inches (45mm)
Maximum stack height 1/2 inch (l2mm)
Screen height from table 15 inches (375mm)
Surface illumination Two inclined quartz halogen projector
lamps giving a total minimum illumination
time of l50 hours
Lamps 15 volts 150 watts
Input Voltage 220/250 volts
Power 400 Watts
Air Pressure 90psi.
CleanAir 7Bars
Consumption 7-lOcu ft/min 200/300 Litre/min
Air Connection 1/2 reinforced pipe
Working area
of steel base
10 inches x 8 inches
(250mm x 200mm)
Plastic laminated table 42 inches x 28 inches
(l065mm x 700mm)
Stand Height 31 inches (780mm)
Air Freight Weight 2751bs 125 Kg
Air Freight Dimensions 1150mm x 800mm x 1600mm


Picture shows a fixed speed units chuck
The drill chuck is easily accessible for drill changing by pivoting the counter balanced optical head backwards and releasing the retractable bellows unit.

Fixed spindle speed machines
  • 1. REF AOD 4.4 ATE
    ( For the drilling of automatic test equipment in-circuit test jigs.)
    SpindleSpeed 4,400r.p.m.
    DRILL HOLDING ---- Chuck 0 - 6 mm
  • 2. REF AOD 19
    ( For mainly drilling tooling holes )
    Spindle speed 19,000 r.p.m.
    DRILL HOLDING ---- Chuck 0 - 6 mm
  • 3.REF AOD 40
    ( For general purpose drilling )
    Spindle Speed 40,000 r.p.m
    DRILL HOLDING ---- Collet 1/8 inch 3.175 mm

Picture shows the head of a veriable speed drilling unit
The high intensity illumination of the large screen optical unit gives a magnified image with clear definition. The screen display shows ether the hole count or spindle revolutions. Both variable speed machines have a digital display that will either display the number of holes drilled with a zero reset or the spindle revolution setting of the optical drilling machine. Both machines use 1 1/2 inch OAL [ 32 mm] turbo shark drills.

Variable Spindle Speed Machines
  • 1. REF AOO 2040
    Spindle Speed Variable 20,000 to 40,000 r.p.m.
    This variable speed air motor machine has high motor power and can cycle from zero revolutions to set speed immediately and back to zero after the cycle.
    Stroke length 1 inch [25mm] collet 1/8 inch [ 3.1 75mm ]
  • 2. REF AOD 3060
    Spindle Speed Variable 30,000 to 80,000 r.p.m.
    This variable speed air turbine with a built in optical sensor allows the machine to operate with a close loop system for speed control thus giving accuracy and power during the drilling cycle. The machine when not used for 30 seconds will shut down speed to 30.000 r.p.m. and wait until the foot switch is activated, the original speed automatically being re-set: thus saving air.
    Stroke length 1 inch [25 mm] collet 1/8 inch [3.175 mm]



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Fortex, 15-17 Fleetwood Rd, Leicester, LE2 1YA, England
Tel: +44 (0) 116 2708 937 - Fax: +44 (0) 116 2700 532 - Email: sales@fortex.co.uk

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Printed circuit boards production equipment for small and large producers of PCB’s. Produce chemically engraved metal plates, chemical milled components and printed circuit boards with the production equipment manufactured by Fortex. For three decades Fortex has manufactured equipment and have been continuously working to improve our own very high standards to meet your needs of reliable and value for money equipment to produce both PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARDS, CHEMICAL MILLED and METAL ETCH COMPONENTS. If you require equipment to produce Chemically Engraved metal plates, printed circuit boards, and chemically milled components then please browse the Fortex range of products.