PURPOSE: To facilitate calculation processes in the above-captioned apparatus by utilizing the shift of a movable vice to measure the wave width of shape steel, put the measured value in a controller and calculate for indexing rivet hole positions to be drilled.

CONSTITUTION: A shape steel drilling machine is provided with a fixed vice 2 for fixing the shape steel 50 to a base bed 1, movable vice 3 and drill units 16, 29, 39 to move on a base bed 1 for drilling rivet holes in the shape steel 50. To figure out rivet hole positions on the wave of shape steel, the position of the movable vice 3 spaced from the fixed vice 2 is first measured as the wave width of the shape steel 50. A distance between the flange of the shape steel 50 and the rivet hole position to be drilled in the wave nearest said flange is calculated from the measures value, preset number of holes to be drilled widthwise of the wave and drilling pitch. The position of rivet hole to be drilled is indexed from the calculated value and preset drilling pitch.