Pillar Drills FAQs

 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about drill presses:

What is a Pillar Drill Press?

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.

What are the different types of drill presses?

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.

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What are the benefits of using a pillar dress?

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.

What Options are available a pillar drill press?

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.

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

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

• Always the appropriate PPE, especially safety glasses, when using a drill press.
• The operator must be certain that the workpiece is secure before drilling.
• The correct drill bit for the material you are drilling is an important precaution.  Example: do not use a drill bit design for drilling wood for drilling holes in metal.
• Do not overload the drill press.  Overloading and machine tool creates a dangerous working situation and environment.
• Be certain to turn off the pillar drill press and to isolate the power supply before changing bits or removing the workpiece.

By following these safety precautions, you can help to prevent injuries and ensure a safe working environment when using a drill press.

 

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

A drill tap is a tool used to create threads in a hole. It can be made from a variety of materials but is typically made of hardened steel and has two cutting edges that spiral inward. The drill tap is inserted into the hole and rotated by hand or with a power tool and the rotating action cuts the threads in the hole.

There are a wide variety of types of drill taps available, but the two common types of drill taps are single-flute and multi-flute with single-flute drill taps being the most common type. Single-flute taps are simple to use and can be used for an array of different materials. Multi-flute drill taps are more complex than single-flute drill taps and can cut threads faster.

Drill taps are available in a variety of sizes and pitches. The size of the drill tap to use is determined by the diameter of the hole that it must cut threads in. The pitch of the drill tap is determined by the number of threads per inch that it is required.

Drill taps are a valuable tool for any DIYer or industrial professional. They can be used to create threads in a variety of materials besides metal including wood and plastic.

Here are some tips for using drill taps:

• Use the correct type of drill tap for the material you are working with. As with drill bits never use a tap on a material it is not designed for.
• The use of Cutting Oil lubricates the drill tap and helps it cut through the material.
• Never for the drill tap. Apply only light pressure to the drill tap and let the tool do its work. If you force it you could damage the tap or the hole.
• Do not stop the tapping process midway; Continue tapping until the tap reaches the desired depth.

By following these tips, you can use drill taps safely and effectively creating clean and accurate results.

 

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

Auto-tapping is a feature on some Pillar Drill Presses that allows the operator to tap pre-drilled holes to allow for the insertion of screws without having to do it manually. Such a feature saves time, effort and money, and it can also help you to get more accurate results.

To use auto-tapping, simply select the correct tap tool size for your hole.  Then set the tapping depth on the drill press with the depth stop.  Then insert the tapping tool into the chuck. Once the tapping tool is in place, turn on the drill press and it will start to rotate.  If you pillar drill has auto-advance engage the auto-advance mechanism and it will automatically feed the tap into the hole in the workpiece until it reaches the desired depth.  If you drilling machine does not have auto-advance, you then need to use the handwheel on the side of the press to advance the tapping tool into the hole.  Make sure to set the depth stop before proceeding otherwise you could damage your tapping tool and break it off in the drilled hole.

Auto-tapping is a great feature for anyone who needs to tap a lot of holes. It can be especially helpful for professional machinists and sometimes DIYers who need to tap holes quickly and accurately.

Here are some of the benefits of using an Auto-Tapping feature on a Pillar Drill:

• Saves time and effort
• Helps to get more accurate results
• Simplifies the tapping process making it easy to use

If you are looking for a way to save time and effort when tapping holes, then auto-tapping is a great option. It is a simple and effective way to get more accurate results. Keep in mind that not all pillar drill machines have the auto-tapping feature, so make sure to do your research or contact our sales team and they will help you find the correct drill to suit your tapping needs.

|Like any other machine offered in the marketplace, Pillar Drills can have a variety of features and there is an abundance of accessories available that go with a drilling machine.

 

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

An auto-feed feature on a drill press is a mechanism that automatically feeds the drill bit into the workpiece at a controlled and consistent advance rate. This controlled advance rate is be helpful for drilling accurate holes in an efficient manner.

To use an auto-feed feature, the operator will needs to select the desired feed rate. Selecting the feed rate is done by choosing the speed in the control area of the drill press. Once the feed rate is set the operator initiates the rotation of the drill and then press a start button to start the advance of the drill bit with it automatically feeding into the workpiece at the set rate. Once the drill bit reaches the pre-set depth, it will automatically stop and the drill will return to its set start position.

Auto-feed features can be found on many but not all pillar drill presses; they are not always standard equipment. If you require an auto-feed make sure that you select the correct drill press because adding an auto-feed feature at a later date can be difficult and expensive in comparison to buying a pillar drill that has auto-feed already incorporated into the drilling system.

Some of the benefits of using an auto-feed feature on a drill press are:

• Accuracy: Auto-feed features can help you to drill holes more accurately. This is because the drill bit is steadily fed into the workpiece at a controlled rate.
• Speed: Auto-feed features can help you to drill holes more quickly. It may appear that the drill is advancing at a slow rate, but the steady and consistent advance of the drill bit will actually create a shorter cycle time with more accurate results versus manually feeding the drill bit into the workpiece.
• Safety: Auto-feed features can help to prevent accidents because the drill bit is consistently and automatically fed into the working material and the process is not subject to human impatience. If an error is encountered during the auto-feed drilling process  the machine can be automatically stopped if it encounters resistance.

If you are looking for a way to drill holes more accurately, quickly, and safely, then you should consider using a drill press with an auto-feed feature.

 

How is the Speed or the RPMs of a Pillar Drill Controlled?

There are several ways to control the speed of a drill press:

• Variable speed: Variable speed drill presses have a dial or knob that you can turn to adjust the speed of the drill press. Some models of pillar drills have infintitely adjustable speed that have a corresponding digital readout to display the RPMs of the pillar drill machine.
• Belt-driven: Belt-driven drill presses have a belt that connects the motor to the drill spindle. The speed of the drill press is controlled by adjusting the belt onto various pulleys in the gear housing.
• Gears: Some drill presses have gears that operate like a transmission.  Certain gear combinations can be chosen through turning a variety of knobs on the casing of the pillar drill creating various gear ratios and corresponding spindle speeds.

The best way to control the speed of a drill press depends on the type of drill press you have and the task you are trying to complete. If you are not sure which method to use, it is always best to consult our sales staff to assist you in choosing the correct machine.

Here are some tips for choosing the right speed for your drill press:

• The type of material you are drilling: The type of material you are drilling will affect the speed you need to use. For example, you will need to use a slower speed for drilling metal than you would for drilling wood.
• The size and type of the drill bit: The size and type of drill bit to be used will affect the spindle speed you need to use. For example, you will need to use a slower speed for drilling a large hole than you would for drilling a small hole.
• The depth of the hole: The depth of the hole will also affect the speed you need to use. For example, you will need to use a slower speed for drilling a deep hole than you would for drilling a shallow hole.

By following these tips, you can choose the right speed for your drill press and avoid damaging the drill bit or the workpiece.

 

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

Pillar Drill presses typically have a Morse Taper:

• Morse tapers: Morse tapers are a type of self-locking taper that is used to secure drill chucks and other tooling in the spindle of a machine tool. They are named after their inventor, Stephen A. Morse. Morse tapers come in eight sizes, identified by whole numbers between 0 and 7, and one half-size, 4 ½, and isvery rarely found. The designations used for Morse Tapers is MT (MK in Germany) followed by a digit. For example a Morse taper number 4 would be MT4. The MT2 or MT3 taper is the taper size most often found in drill presses up to 13 mm capacity.
• Jacobs tapers: Jacobs tapers are sometimes seen and is a type of self-locking taper that is similar to Morse tapers, but they have a different taper angle. Jacobs tapers come in seven sizes, identified by whole numbers between 0 and 6. The Jacobs taper size most commonly found in drill presses is #3.

The type of machine taper that a drill press has will depend on the manufacturer and the model of the drill press. If you are not sure what type of machine taper your drill press has, you can consult the owner’s manual or talk to our knowledgeable sales staff.