Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Drill Presses

Q: What is a Pillar Drill Press?

A: Introduction to Pillar Drill Presses

A Pillar Drill Press is a machine tool that has a motor driving a rotating drill bit to make holes in a variety of materials. It is a versatile metal fabrication machine tool that can be used for a wide variety of tasks, including drilling holes in wood, metal, plastic, and other materials.

Q: What are the different types of drill presses?

A: There are two main types of drill presses:

Benchtop and floor-standing. Benchtop drill presses are the smallest and most portable type of drill press. They are typically used for light-duty tasks, such as drilling holes in wood or plastic. Floor-standing drill presses are larger and more powerful than benchtop drill presses. They are typically used for heavy-duty tasks, such as drilling holes in metal.

View our complete Pillar Drill Offering by clicking HERE.

Q: What are the benefits of using a pillar drill?

A: There are many benefits to using a drill press, including:

• Accuracy: Used to drill holes with a high degree of accuracy.
• Speed: Drill holes quickly and easily.
• Versatility: Can be used for a variety of tasks.
• Durability: Quality materials, components, and craftsmanship means our Pillar Drills are built to last.

Q: What options are available for a pillar drill press?

A: There are many options available for Pillar Drill Presses:

• Floor / Bench: Options available for both floor and bench models.
• Drilling Feed: Manual or automatic drilling feed options.
• Tapping Feed: Manual or automatic tapping feed options.
• Drive: Drive systems include V-Belt, Gear, or Direct options.
• Table: Fixed or variable rotating table configurations.
• Headstock: Rotating headstock available.
• Weight (Kg): Weight varies depending on model and configuration.
• Lighting: Equipped with lighting for improved visibility.
• Coolant: Some models feature coolant systems for tool lubrication and cooling.
• Drilling (Ø mm): Drilling capacity ranges provided in diameter (Ø mm).
• Tapping: Tapping capacity specified for each model.
• Speeds: Variable speed control or preset speed options available.
• Motor (kW): Motor power output listed in kilowatts (kW).
• Taper: Taper options include MT3, MT4, or MT5.

View our Accessories and Options for Pillar Drills.

Q: What is the difference between an industrial production drill and a professional pillar drill?

A: The principal difference is the intended type and frequency of work.

Industrial production drilling machines are intended for repetitive drilling operations where productivity, consistent feed, machine capacity and prolonged use are important. Depending on the machine, production features can include automatic drilling feeds, automatic tapping, geared transmissions and mechanical or electromagnetic feed engagement.

Professional and medium-duty pillar drills are better suited to toolrooms, maintenance departments, fabrication workshops, educational environments and general engineering. These machines may be used regularly, but the work is generally more varied rather than a dedicated repetitive production process.

Within our range, ERLO provides machines specifically suited to industrial and production drilling applications, while Scantool and HM provide machines particularly suited to professional workshops, maintenance and toolroom applications.

Q: There are so many different drills available. How do I get into the right range before choosing a specific machine?

A: Start with the application rather than trying to compare every individual drill.

The first decision is whether your work requires a production drilling machine or a professional / medium-duty workshop and toolroom drill. Once this is established, the number of relevant machines becomes considerably easier to manage.

• Production and repetitive drilling: Start with the ERLO range.
• Toolroom and maintenance work: Consider Scantool and HM.
• General fabrication: Consider the frequency of use and required drilling capacity before deciding between the ranges.
• Automatic drilling feed: Consider whether controlled automatic feed would improve a repetitive drilling process.
• Tapping: Determine whether tapping is occasional or forms a regular part of production.

Production and industrial drilling: View the ERLO Drilling Machine Selection & Comparison Chart.

Professional, medium-duty and toolroom drilling: View the Scantool & HM Pillar Drill Selection Chart.

Q: Once I have chosen the correct type of drill, how do I select the individual machine?

A: Compare the machine specifications against the actual drilling application.

Several factors are critical when selecting the individual machine:

• Drilling Capacity: Determine the maximum hole diameter and material being drilled.
• Tapping Capacity: Determine the maximum thread size if tapping is required.
• Drilling Feed: Decide whether manual or automatic spindle feed is appropriate.
• Table Size: Ensure the workpiece can be correctly supported and positioned.
• Throat Depth: Check that the spindle can reach the required hole position on the component.
• Spindle Stroke: Ensure sufficient travel for the drilling operation.
• Speed Range: The available spindle speeds must suit the tooling, hole diameter and material.
• Drive System: Consider belt, variable-speed or geared drive according to the application.
• Production Volume: Repetitive drilling may justify automatic feed and other production features.

For ERLO machines, these specifications can be compared directly using our ERLO Drilling Machine Selection & Comparison Chart.

Q: What are the safety precautions to take when using a drill press?

A: There are a number of safety precautions to take when using a drill press, including:

• Always use the appropriate PPE, especially safety glasses, when using a drill press.
• Ensure the workpiece is secure before drilling.
• Use the correct drill bit for the material you are drilling. For example, do not use a wood drill bit for drilling holes in metal.
• Do not overload the drill press.
• Turn off the pillar drill press and isolate the power supply before changing bits or removing the workpiece.

Q: What is a Drill Tap and what is it used for?

A: A drill tap is a tool used to create threads in a hole.

A drill tap is typically made of hardened steel and has cutting edges that form the thread as the tap rotates through the prepared hole. Taps are available in different diameters and thread pitches according to the thread required.

Some important considerations when tapping include:

• Use the correct tap for the material and required thread.
• Use appropriate cutting lubricant where required.
• Use the correct spindle speed for the tap and material.
• Ensure the machine has sufficient tapping capacity for the required thread.

Q: What is an Auto-Tapping Feature on a Pillar Drill?

A: Auto-tapping is available on certain pillar drilling machines.

The tapping cycle controls the spindle movement and reversal required to produce a thread in a previously drilled hole. This can be particularly useful where tapping forms a regular part of the production process.

Benefits can include:

• Reduced operator intervention.
• Improved consistency during repetitive tapping.
• Faster processing where multiple threaded holes are required.

Q: What does an Auto-Feed Feature do on a Pillar Drill?

A: Automatic feed advances the spindle at a controlled feed rate.

Rather than the operator manually feeding the drill into the workpiece, an automatic feed mechanism advances the spindle at a selected rate. This is particularly useful for repetitive and production drilling.

Benefits of automatic feed include:

• Consistency: Provides a controlled spindle feed rate.
• Production: Reduces operator involvement during repetitive drilling.
• Tool Control: Allows feed to be selected according to the drilling operation.

Q: How is the Speed or RPM of a Pillar Drill Controlled?

A: Pillar drills use several different methods of spindle-speed control.

• Electronic Variable Speed: Allows spindle speed to be adjusted without manually repositioning belts.
• Belt Drive: Spindle speed is changed by positioning the drive belt on different pulley combinations.
• Geared Drive: Different gear combinations provide defined spindle-speed ranges and are commonly found on heavier industrial drilling machines.

The correct spindle speed depends principally on the material, cutting-tool diameter and type of cutting operation.

Q: What is a Machine Taper and what type of taper do pillar drills have?

A: Industrial pillar drills commonly use a Morse Taper spindle.

A Morse Taper provides a standard tapered interface for mounting drill chucks, taper-shank drills and other tooling in the machine spindle. The taper size varies according to the machine and its capacity, with larger machines generally using larger spindle tapers.

Always check the individual machine specification to determine the spindle taper provided.

Q: What are the advantages of using a Pillar Drill for Metal?

A: A pillar drill provides controlled and repeatable drilling from a fixed machine platform.

• Accuracy: Provides controlled positioning of the cutting tool and workpiece.
• Capacity: Industrial machines can accommodate considerably larger tooling than portable drilling equipment.
• Repeatability: Suitable for repeated drilling operations.
• Versatility: Depending on the machine, operations can include drilling, tapping, countersinking and related machining processes.
• Automatic Feed: Available on selected machines for production drilling.
• Speed Control: Different drive and speed-control arrangements allow the cutting conditions to be matched to the application.
• Workholding: Machine tables allow appropriate vices, fixtures and workholding equipment to be used.

Q: What are the disadvantages of using an Industrial Pillar Drill?

A: Industrial drilling machines require more space, investment and appropriate machine selection.

• Size and Space: Floor-standing industrial machines require dedicated workshop space.
• Cost: Industrial and production machines cost more than light-duty drill presses.
• Machine Selection: Capacity, spindle speed, feed, throat depth and tooling interface need to be correctly matched to the application.
• Setup: Fixtures, vices and tooling may need to be changed between different components.
• Weight: Larger machines require appropriate handling equipment when being positioned or relocated.
• Maintenance: Routine inspection, lubrication and maintenance are required.

The additional size and cost become justified where the drilling application requires the capacity, rigidity, repeatability or production features provided by an industrial machine.

Need Help Choosing the Correct Pillar Drill?

Production & Industrial Drilling:
ERLO Drilling Machine Selection & Comparison Chart

Professional, Toolroom & Medium-Duty Drilling:
Scantool & HM Pillar Drill Selection Chart – Coming Soon