The Drill Press-The hole story

Written by admin on October 27, 2008 – 9:55 am -

THE DRILL PRESS

Not too long ago, the drill press, as we know it today, was considered a machine
strictly for drilling holes in metal.  From this limited application,the modern
versatile power tool has advanced to a point where it is now to be found in all kinds
shops performing a multitude of operations.  Besides its original job of drilling
in metal, it now is used on wood and other materials for boring,  mortising, routing,
shaping, planing, sanding and grinding.  It can also be used for spot polishing, tapping
threads, buffing, and even for some limited milling.

The four basic parts of a drill press are a polished steel column, secured to a
cast iron base, a table which can be moved up and down on the column and clamped at
any point, and a motor driven head which contains the entrie working mechanism.

The essential part of the head is a boring spindle which revolves inside a moving
sleeve called s quill.  A cone pulley that is fastened to the upper end of the spindle
is driven by a V-belt that is run from a corresponding pulley on the motor.  This
arrangement gives a speed range of about 600 to 5000 revolutions per minute.  There
are several interchangeable spindles for different types of bits used for various
operations.  Usually these are for a chuck size of 1/2 or larger.

The cast iron table has a central hole and is also slotted so that work may be clamped
securely to its surface.  It can be tilted to any angle and can be turned 360 degrees
around the column.

A drill press size is given as twice the distance from the column to the center
of a hole that can be drilled.  Therefore,a 14 inch drill press would indicate that
stock 14 inches wide could be bored through its center.  The depth of hole that can
be bored in one stroke on most machines intended for home use is somewhere around
four inches.  Greater depths are possible by using longer bits and either raising
the table or lowering the head.

The first concern when operating the drill press is the same as with any
power tool.  Safety!  Never wear loose clothing or anything that might be
caught by the moving parts of the drill press.  Things can get out of hand very
quickly and injuries will occur unless the operator of the power tool takes the
proper steps to operate it safely.  The best way to avoid injury is to step back
from the machine and ask yourself “Is everything set up properly, are all the safety
devices in place, can I be distracted by something in the shop and am I ready to
concentrate on the task at hand.”  If you are satisfied that you have completed the
setups and you are ready to work turn on the drill press and begin.

Take a look at these Drill Press Deals

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