How are drill presses measured?
Tools and Tips

How are drill presses measured?

In this article, I will teach you how drill presses are measured.

Using the wrong size drill press can undermine your work in many ways, so you need to know what size is best before starting a project.

Quick overview: To measure the drill press before use:

  • Measure the throat size to determine the dimensions of the drill press.
  • Chuck measurement
  • Full measurement

I'll go into more detail below.

Critical Requirements for Measuring Drilling Machines

Measuring a drill press is not difficult if you follow the correct procedure and understand the requirements.

It is very important to understand that there are different types of drilling machines available on the market. As a result, different drill presses require different specifications to measure.

In addition to different sizes and types of drill presses, when measuring a drill press, the chuck size and mechanical requirements must also be taken into account. You can use a measuring tape to determine the size and function of each component.

Another important factor is the distance between the chuck and work table. 

Step-by-step procedure for measuring a drill press

Step 1: Determine the machine size

The most important step in measuring a drill press is determining its throat size. First, measure the throat size to get the dimensions of the drill press.

This machine size is obtained from the neck measurement. The throat is the space between the center of the spindle and the nearest point of the support post. 

Turning a drill press is nothing more than measuring the throat - the distance between the focus of the spindle and the adjacent support system. The machine is twice the size of the swing. The 12" drill press has a 6" turn.

Step 2: Chuck measurement

Now determine the cartridge size. After you measure it, you can increase the amount of ammo a little. The chuck size indicates the widest bit that can be inserted into the chuck. Most chuck sizes are 1/2″ or 5/8″.

Use a caliper as shown below.

Step 3: Determine the vertical capacity

The distance between the chuck and the table is the vertical power of your machine. It determines how long the drill bit can be and how high the substance it drills can be.

Summing up

Experts and novices alike need to understand how drill presses are measured. Once you know your measurements, you can achieve much more. Once you learn this process, your overall performance will improve dramatically.

Take a look at some of our articles below.

  • What is drilling machine rocking
  • How to bore a cylinder on a drilling machine
  • What is a step drill used for?

Video links

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