Drill Press
Clamp wood or metal securely, remove the chuck key and keep clear of the rotating bit, work and chips.
Guided holes: Category 2 in both labs
Guided holes: Category 2 in both labs
A drill press guides a rotating bit into work held on a table. Bit selection determines the hole it can make; see drill-bit choices for wood.
Category 2 in the Woods / Construction lab and Category 2 in the Metals lab. Follow category permission and supervision requirements.
Complete Equipment Operating Procedure and Personal Protective Equipment. The exposed chuck and bit are an entanglement hazard (see Machine Hazards and Housekeeping). Before you start, check the clothing and hair rules: long hair secured back, no long sleeves, hoodies or jackets near the spindle, no jewelry except a silicone wedding ring, and nothing dangling.
Before starting: secure the bit, work and vise; Checklist
Before starting: secure the bit, work and vise
- Select a bit and spindle speed suitable for the material and hole diameter. Have the instructor confirm an unfamiliar setup; a list of bit types is not approval to use every type in this press.
- With the machine isolated for setup, seat and tighten the bit using the installed chuck's procedure. The chuck key never leaves your hand. It is not released until it is out of the chuck. Do not count on a key ejecting itself (see the chuck-key rule).
- Clamp wood and metal to the table, or grip the work in a vise secured to the table. Secure small parts in a suitable vise or fixture; clamp larger parts with adequate support. Handholding is not workholding.
- Check that the bit's full travel clears the table, vise and clamps. For a through-hole, provide clearance beneath the work or suitable sacrificial backing.
- Secure the table at the required height and check that the work cannot rotate or lift when the bit catches.
Feed steadily and keep hands away from the rotating work
Feed steadily and keep hands away from the rotating work
A bit can catch and turn an unsecured part into a spinning lever. That is why a vise must be secured as well as tightened around the work.
- Start with the bit clear of the work. Feed steadily so it cuts without being forced.
- Ease the feed as the bit breaks through the underside. Keep hands clear rather than reaching underneath to support the exit.
- Withdraw the bit under control, then stop the spindle before releasing or moving the work.
- Stop before clearing chips near the bit. For metal, use the chip-handling and cleanup procedure; do not pull a stringy chip by hand.
Why larger drills usually need fewer revolutions per minute
At the same spindle speed, a larger bit's outer edge travels faster. Diameter, work material and bit material all affect the speed choice. “Larger or harder means slower” is a starting trend, not a speed setting.
If the bit breaks or the part comes loose: stand clear
If the bit breaks or the part comes loose: stand clear
Do not grab a spinning part. Step clear and stop the drill press using a safely reachable stop control. For a broken bit, use the emergency stop if safely reachable. Wait for motion to cease and notify the instructor; do not restart until the fault and workholding have been checked.
For injury, follow Lab Conduct and Emergencies. Finish normal work with shutdown and cleanup.