Drill Press

Function

To bore holes of various sizes into wood and metal

Why we use it

The Drill Press is able to drill holes in wood far more accurately than a hand held drill. Because we clamp the wood to the table of the drill press, we are able to accurately control:

the precise location of the hole
the exact depth of the hole
the exact angle at which we will drill the hole

Clothing & PPE

The best clothing to wear when working with any machine that has moving parts are tight fitting clothes that eliminate the chances of being caught in the machine. Tighter fitting clothes will also reduce your chances of being pulled into the machine and/or severely injured.

Long sleeve shirts should also be avoided because a loose cuff could easily be pulled in by the rotating drill bit.

If you can’t avoid wearing long sleeve shirts, sleeves should be rolled-up to the elbow before using the scroll saw.

Long hair should be tied it back with a ponytail to prevent it from getting entangled with the power tool. (Ask your teacher for an elastic if you don't have one).

Avoid wearing ANY jewelry, as these items can easily become caught in the rotating drill bit and cause an injury.

NEVER wear gloves when using the drill press as they can also become easily caught in the bit and suck your hand into the rotating drill.

Always wear eye protection when using a drill press. If you are drilling metal, a face shield MUST be worn saw.

PRE-OPERATIONAL SAFETY CHECKS

Check workspace and walkways to ensure no slip-hazards are present.
Ensure the chuck key (if used) has been removed from the drill chuck.
Locate and ensure you are familiar with the operation of the ON/OFF switch and E-Stop locations.
Follow correct clamping procedures to ensure work is secure.
If the job obstructs the walkway erect a barricade.
IF needed, ask teacher to adjust spindle speed to suit drill or cutter diameter.
Faulty equipment must not be used. Immediately lock out and report suspect machinery.

Operational Safety Checks

Never leave the Drill Press while it is running.
Before making adjustments or before cleaning accumulated swarf switch off and wait for the machine to come to a stop.
Feed downwards at a sufficient rate to keep the drill cutting.
Periodically back out of a cut to ensure the drill flutes are cleared of debris
Use waste stock under the material being drilled to avoid break out.
Use a safe working posture (beware of hair catching).

Securing Drill Bit

The drill bit must be securely mounted in the drill chuck. The drill chuck is tightened using the chuck key. This must be done before operating the drill press. If the drill bit is not secure, it could come loose and damage the wood, the bit, and potentially the operator.

After tightening the drill bit, it is extremely important that you remove the chuck key. Failure to do so could be very dangerous, as the chuck key could fly out and injure someone.

Securing Stock (work piece) & Speeds

If the piece of wood clamped to the table comes loose, you must immediately turn off the drill press and take a step back. Once the wood comes loose, it could fly off the table, causing injury to the operator.

Small drill bits will generally require the Drill Press to be set at a faster speed, whereas larger drill bits will require the machine to be set at a slower speed. However, in this class only the instructor will change the speed of the Drill Press.

Mostly we will be using a drill press table to help secure and drill repeated holes on identical pieces!

General Operation

Set the Speed. The speed on most drill presses is adjusted by moving the drive belt from one pulley to another. In general, the smaller the pulley on the chuck axis, the faster it spins. A rule of thumb, as with any cutting operation, is that slower speeds are better for drilling metal, faster speeds for wood. To change the speed on the drill press, it is mandatory that students ask the teacher to change the speed based on the type of holes and drill bits being used.

Fit the Bit. Open the chuck, slide in the bit, snug the chuck by hand around the bit’s shaft, then tighten the chuck’s three jaws with the key. Make sure to remove the chuck. If you don’t, it’ll become a dangerous projectile when you turn on the drill. When drilling large holes, drill a smaller, pilot hole first.

Adjust the Table. Some models have a crank that adjusts the table height, others move freely once the clamping lever has been released. Set the table to the desired height for the operation you are to perform.

Gauge the Depth. If you are simply drilling a hole in a piece of stock, you may not need to adjust the depth gauge, the threaded rod that controls the distance the spindle travels. However, if you are concerned with a stopped hole of a fixed depth, lower the bit to the desired height, and adjust the pair of knurled nuts on the depth gauge to the proper stopping point. One of them should stop the spindle; the other locks the first nut in place.

Secure the Workpiece. Before operating your drill press, be sure that the workpiece to be drilled is fixed in place. The rotation of the drill bit may try to spin the wood or metal workpiece, so it must be clamped to the worktable, braced against the supporting column at the rear of the machine, or otherwise secured. Never operate the tool without firmly anchoring the workpiece.

Drilling. Once the drill press setup has been completed, putting it to work is easy. Make sure the drill is spinning at full speed, then present the bit to the workpiece, lowering the bit by swinging the rotating lever. Once you’ve finished drilling the hole, release the pressure on the lever and its spring-loaded return mechanism will return it to its original position.

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