Line boring is a machining process used to create or repair cylindrical holes and bearing surfaces. The goal is to ensure that the holes are of the correct dimension and are in a straight line over a given distance.
This process requires high precision and is essential for industries that operate with heavy machinery, such as shipping, offshore and construction. Typical applications include everything from bearing housings and mounting points to propeller sleeves and articulated joints in heavy structures, such as on excavators and cranes.
Why does the need arise?
During operation, machine components are exposed to vibration, wear and corrosion. This often causes bearing surfaces to become oval or expanded, creating play.
By using line drilling you can:
- Drill out worn surfaces to a precise oversize.
- Straighten centerlines that have become crooked over time.
- Prepare holes for installation of new bushings or bearings.
How does mobile machining solve the problem?
Large structures are often impossible or very expensive to move. TS Site Services specializes in field machining , where we perform the machining with mobile equipment directly at the customer's location.
By bringing advanced line drilling equipment to where the problem is – whether it's at a shipyard, an offshore installation or a construction site – the need for complicated logistics and extensive dismantling of fixed structures is eliminated.
This is how the process works:
- Clamping and alignment: A drill rod is mounted through the holes and supported with special brackets. We use a dial gauge and possibly a laser to ensure that the rod is exactly in the center line.
- Precision drilling: The holes are drilled to the specified diameter tolerance. We can drill one or more holes simultaneously along the same centerline.
- Control and documentation: The achieved tolerance on hole diameter and straightness of the center axis through the holes are measured and documented.
An investment in operational reliability and extended service life
Incorrectly performed line drilling can, in the worst case scenario, shorten the life of the equipment. Even small deviations in the centerline lead to unnecessary friction and accelerated degradation of both bearings and contact surfaces. By choosing a precise design from TS Site Services, you ensure the integrity of the machine through:
- Maximum uptime: Since the repair is carried out where the machine is, the time spent on logistics, transport and unnecessary disassembly is eliminated.
- Optimized operation: Correct geometry reduces vibrations and wear. This not only results in a more stable machine, but also contributes to more energy-efficient operation over time.
Do you need assistance with maintenance?
TS Site Services delivers specialized on-site maintenance solutions to the on- and offshore, refining and petrochemical industries, as well as a number of other sectors in Norway and abroad. Our experienced technicians are always ready to mobilize.
We offer, among other things, leak sealing during operation, mobile machining, corrosion monitoring, hot tap and line stop, as well as controlled bolt pre-tensioning - performed efficiently and with high precision.
