Patent ID: 7198438

Claim:
A drilling system, comprising: a stationary base table for supporting a work piece under process at a fixed position at a drilling spindle station; a drilling spindle for carrying and applying rotational force to a drilling tool; a compound overhead guiding system that carries the spindle above the work piece under process, said system including a Y-axis guiding structure for guiding movement of the spindle along a Y axis in relation to the base table, an X drive system for driving the spindle along an X axis which is orthogonal to said Y axis, and a Z axis drive system for driving the drilling tool along a Z axis which is orthogonal to said X and Y axis; said guiding system comprising a lightweight crossbeam structure for carrying the spindle and X axis drive system, said crossbeam structure comprising a laminated assembly comprising a first hollow structural element having high torsional strength and a second hollow structural element having high bending strength.