diff --git a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/circuitboards/machinery/mining_drill.dm b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/circuitboards/machinery/mining_drill.dm
index c24b296412..3f97fad2f7 100644
--- a/code/game/objects/items/weapons/circuitboards/machinery/mining_drill.dm
+++ b/code/game/objects/items/weapons/circuitboards/machinery/mining_drill.dm
@@ -17,4 +17,6 @@
 	build_path = /obj/machinery/mining/brace
 	board_type = new /datum/frame/frame_types/machine
 	origin_tech = list(TECH_DATA = 1, TECH_ENGINEERING = 1)
-	req_components = list()
+	req_components = list(
+							/obj/item/weapon/stock_parts/manipulator = 1
+						)
diff --git a/code/modules/mining/drilling/drill.dm b/code/modules/mining/drilling/drill.dm
index b8618ccf86..e1874f1a93 100644
--- a/code/modules/mining/drilling/drill.dm
+++ b/code/modules/mining/drilling/drill.dm
@@ -11,11 +11,13 @@
 	icon_state = "mining_drill"
 	circuit = /obj/item/weapon/circuitboard/miningdrill
 	var/braces_needed = 2
-	var/list/supports = list()
+	var/list/obj/machinery/mining/brace/supports = list()
 	var/supported = 0
 	var/active = 0
 	var/list/resource_field = list()
 	var/obj/item/device/radio/intercom/faultreporter
+	var/drill_range = 5
+	var/offset = 2
 
 	var/list/ore_types = list(
 		"hematite" = /obj/item/weapon/ore/iron,
@@ -242,10 +244,14 @@
 	harvest_speed = 0
 	capacity = 0
 	charge_use = 50
+	drill_range = 5
+	offset = 2
 
 	for(var/obj/item/weapon/stock_parts/P in component_parts)
 		if(istype(P, /obj/item/weapon/stock_parts/micro_laser))
 			harvest_speed = P.rating
+			if(P.rating >= 5)
+				harvest_speed *= 2
 			exotic_drilling = P.rating - 1
 			if(exotic_drilling >= 1)
 				ore_types |= ore_types_uncommon
@@ -254,6 +260,14 @@
 			else
 				ore_types -= ore_types_uncommon
 				ore_types -= ore_types_rare
+			if(P.rating > 3) // are we t4+?
+				// default drill range 5, offset 2
+				if(P.rating >= 5) // t5
+					drill_range = 9
+					offset = 4
+				else if(P.rating >= 4) // t4
+					drill_range = 7
+					offset = 3
 		if(istype(P, /obj/item/weapon/stock_parts/matter_bin))
 			capacity = 200 * P.rating
 		if(istype(P, /obj/item/weapon/stock_parts/capacitor))
@@ -271,8 +285,12 @@
 	else
 		anchored = TRUE
 
-	if(supports && supports.len >= braces_needed)
-		supported = 1
+	if(supports)
+		if(supports.len >= braces_needed)
+			supported = 1
+		else for(var/obj/machinery/mining/brace/check in supports)
+			if(check.brace_tier > 3)
+				supported = 1
 
 	update_icon()
 
@@ -293,11 +311,11 @@
 	var/turf/T = get_turf(src)
 	if(!istype(T)) return
 
-	var/tx = T.x - 2
-	var/ty = T.y - 2
+	var/tx = T.x - offset
+	var/ty = T.y - offset
 	var/turf/simulated/mine_turf
-	for(var/iy = 0,iy < 5, iy++)
-		for(var/ix = 0, ix < 5, ix++)
+	for(var/iy = 0,iy < drill_range, iy++)
+		for(var/ix = 0, ix < drill_range, ix++)
 			mine_turf = locate(tx + ix, ty + iy, T.z)
 			if(!istype(mine_turf, /turf/space/))
 				if(mine_turf && mine_turf.has_resources)
@@ -334,12 +352,23 @@
 	desc = "A machinery brace for an industrial drill. It looks easily two feet thick."
 	icon_state = "mining_brace"
 	circuit = /obj/item/weapon/circuitboard/miningdrillbrace
+	var/brace_tier = 1
 	var/obj/machinery/mining/drill/connected
 
-/obj/machinery/mining/brace/New()
-	..()
+/obj/machinery/mining/brace/examine(mob/user)
+	. = ..()
+	if(brace_tier > 3)
+		. += SPAN_NOTICE("The internals of the brace look resilient enough to support a drill by itself.")
 
-	component_parts = list()
+/obj/machinery/mining/brace/Initialize()
+	. = ..()
+	default_apply_parts()
+
+/obj/machinery/mining/brace/RefreshParts()
+	..()
+	brace_tier = 0
+	for(var/obj/item/weapon/stock_parts/manipulator/M in component_parts)
+		brace_tier += M.rating
 
 /obj/machinery/mining/brace/attackby(obj/item/weapon/W as obj, mob/user as mob)
 	if(connected && connected.active)
@@ -350,6 +379,8 @@
 		return
 	if(default_deconstruction_crowbar(user, W))
 		return
+	if(default_part_replacement(user,W))
+		return
 
 	if(W.is_wrench())