Beamdrills were high powered, precision mining tools that used intense pulses of energy to mine minerals such as nova crystals and other ores. Beam drills were upgradeable, providing the drill with yet more power and precision to increase mining efficiency. Keleman Ciro used one of these tools to freeze the shield generator controls in the "off" position in Moff Kentor Sarne's headquarters during the Battle of Kal'Shebbol. This allowed New Republic forces to land and liberate the planet.