|
A drill press is a powerful drilling machine that is applicable for boring holes into exceptionally hard materials. This tool is useful in tasks where precision is paramount and in cases where the drilling has to be done in an angular direction. This tool is often used in the construction industry to drill holes into steel beams and plates. The drill press can also be used to deburr a previously drilled hole. To increase the accuracy of the drilled hole beyond two-thousandths of an inch in diameter, a reamer is attached to the drill press. The drill press can also be used as a mortising tool, a spindle sander, or a Pocket hole driller. This tool, though generally seen in factories and workshops, and used by skilled professionals, is user-friendly and can be used by lay persons too.
Features and working of a drill press A drill press is composed of a drill head, a spindle, a table, and a base column. This assembly is either mounted on a stand or bolted to a workbench or the floor. The material to be drilled is placed on the table, held in place either with a vice or with Clamps. The height of the table is adjustable with a table lift crank. The table can also be tilted as much as 90 degrees for angular drilling. If the height of the workpiece is large, then the table can be swiveled away so that the material to be cut can be placed on the base itself. Drilling is initiated by lowering the spindle which holds the drill chuck towards the workpiece surface with the help of a handle in the drill head. The drill bit, which is the component that actually performs the boring, is held firmly in the chuck. The chuck is around 3/4 to 1/2 inch in size. When the tool is started, the chuck begins rotating at high speed turning the bit along with it. The bit has a serrated tip that Shears away small granules from the material creating a hole. As the drilling progresses, the user increases pressure on the handle, lowering the bit and thus deepening the hole. The raising and lowering of the chuck is controlled by a lever mechanism working with a rack and pinion assembly. The rotation of the chuck is powered by an approximately 10 amp motor offering a speed of between around 150 to 3000 revolutions per minute (rpm), with a drill point pressure of more than 1000 pounds. Most drills have a variable speed feature, allowing the user to change the speed depending on the density of the material and the specific application. A three gear feature allows greater torque with lower gear stress. The maximum drilling capacity in steel is around 1-1/4 inch with the twist bit and approximately 2 inches with the annular cutter. An arbor system enhances auto-lubrication. A center finder, which fits into the chuck, is used to accurately find the required drilling point, prior to drilling. Some drills have a control panel with buttons for automatic operation. Floor-model drill presses usually have more powerful motors and can accommodate bigger workpieces as compared to the bench top models. However, the bench top models are more compact and portable. Drill bits come in different varieties and the user can choose the one most applicable to the intended task. Cobalt bits that dissipate heat fast are often used for drilling into stainless steel. Titanium coated bits offer greater staying capacity as they stay sharper longer. Steel bits are cheaper and are applicable for softwood. High-speed steel bits have a longer sharpness lifespan. Carbide tipped bits are the most versatile and the sharpness is retained the longest. What to look for in a drill press Some drill presses are magnetic to offer better reach in relatively inaccessible areas, having a magnetic adhesion of around 3000 pounds. The user can set-up the handle easily without using any tool with the push button reversible feed handle. An angle indicator depicts the slant of the table. A depth gauge with an intrinsic spindle lock helps the user control the drilling. Greater the quill travel measurement of the drill press, deeper will be the hole drilled into the material. Some reputed manufacturers of drill presses include Delta, DeWalt, Grip, Jet, Milwaukee, Performance, and TD Industrial. Discuss this article on the forums. (0 posts)
Trackback(0)
 |
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
