A drill press is a drilling machine suitable for quick and easy drilling of straight holes, countersinking or counterboring that are perpendicular to both directions of a table surface. In comparison, it is more difficult and less repeatable to drill perpendicularly with a hand-held drill.
Two common variants are the benchtop drill press for mounting to a workbench and the larger floor-standing drill press for mounting to the floor, and they should preferable be securely mounted to prevent them from tipping over. A special variant is the magnetic drilling machine, which is a mobile drilling machine intended to be magnetically clamped during use, and is used to some extent for field repairs and production in industry.
Drill presses can be divided into two main types depending on their construction:
- Column drill press is a common type characterized by the fact that the drill spindle can be moved up and down axially ("along a column"), and has a height-adjustable table, usually adjustable via a rack and pinion. They often used with a vise holding the workpiece, and the vice is again clamped to the table. The vice has to be moved in order to drill several holes.
- Radial drill press is a special variant where the spindle also is attached to a slide so that the drill can also be moved radially between each drilling. This makes it possible to drill several holes without moving the workpiece. Some radial drilling machines also have the option of rotating the spindle around the radial axis in order to drill at an angle.[1]
Drill presses are available from small sizes for hobby workshops to heavy-duty versions for industrial use. They can be operated manually with a handle to raise or lower the drill, and/or can be computer numerically controlled (CNC).
Often they have an adjustable depth stop[2] and the ability to lock the handle at a given height. Most have adjustable speeds, and different speeds should be used for different materials and drill types, for example from 100-3600 r/min. Small drill diameters require higher speeds, and soft materials require higher speeds.[3]
- ^ boremaskiner (in Norwegian). 2024-06-18.
- ^ UYUSTOOLS (2023-07-19). "The Ultimate Guide to Mastering the Drill Press - China Power Tools, Hand Tools And Hardware Tools Manufacturer". Retrieved 2024-11-03.
- ^ "Søyleboremaskin del 2: Brukerguide". smaskin.no (in Norwegian Nynorsk). Retrieved 2024-11-03.