Ultrasonic drill
An ultrasonic drill is a special tool originally intended for use in space travel that uses vibrations in the ultrasonic range to create a borehole.
technology
The ultrasonic drill (Ultra Sonic Driller Corer = USDC) is a tool developed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA , which does not work with rotary cutting, but uses a piezo element to set a static drilling tool in ultrasonic vibration . This significantly reduces the working pressure, the weight of the drill and the energy consumption. This tool developed for Mars missions works in a wide temperature and pressure range.
application areas
The reason for using the ultrasonic drill is to take samples on Mars and other stellar bodies. In addition, tests have already been carried out for medical applications - the removal of gallstones, for example, or in the dental field. Furthermore, materials that are unsuitable for rotary machining can also be processed using ultrasound technology, e.g. B. ceramic or glass.
Since faster advance is possible with ultrasonic drills than with milling drills, this technology is worthwhile when searching for crude oil and natural gas , exploring mineral deposits or drilling geothermal wells.
See also
Web links
- USDC website Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA (English)