Drilling

The basic operation when drilling is lining up your drill bit with the intended hole location, clamping the workpiece to the table, turning the mill/drill ON, and using the downfeed handles to move the spinning drill bit into the workpiece.

For safe operation and optimum results, it is very important to follow these guidelines when drilling:

CLEARING CHIPS: Raise the drill bit often to clear chips and cool the drill bit. This will ease the work of the mill/drill motor and extend the life of your drill bits.

SECURING WORKPIECE TO TABLE: Secure the workpiece to the table or in a vise that is secured to the table before drilling.

PROTECTING TABLE: Protect the table by plac- ing the workpiece on scrap wood, or center the location of the hole to be drilled over the pocket in the table when through drilling. Also, use the depth stop to ensure that the drill bit goes no deeper than necessary.

USING CORRECT SPEEDS: Use the correct speed for the diameter of the drill bit being used and the type of material being drilled. Refer to the Drill Bit Speed Chart on Page 20 to help you choose the correct speed for your application.

LARGE DIAMETER BITS: Large diameter drill bits require slower spindle speeds.

SMALL DIAMETER BITS: Smaller diameter drill bits require faster spindle speeds.

HARD MATERIAL: The harder the material, (steel vs. wood) the slower the spindle speed.

SOFT MATERIAL: The softer the material, the faster the spindle may turn. However, plastics can melt at too high of a spindle speed.

LUBRICANT: Use some form of lubricant on all materials except wood or cast iron. Refer to Lubrication Suggestions on Page 20 to find the correct lubrication for your application.

DRILLING ACCURACY: To prevent drill bit wan- dering and ensure accurate placement of holes, mark the hole location with a center punch before drilling. Also consider using a center-point drill to start the hole.

PLUG/ROSETTE CUTTERS: Plug cutters and rosette cutters are for wood only. However, car- bide-tipped bits and cutters cut at a higher speed and can cut materials other than wood, depending on the cutter type.

5-FLUTE/2-FLUTE CUTTERS: Use a 5-flute cut- ter when cutting into plastics, brass, aluminum, and mild steel. A 2-flute cutter can aggressively grab the workpiece and damage the tool if used with materials other than wood.

SPADE BITS AND PLASTIC: When drilling plas- tic with a spade bit, use a spade bit with spurs.

HOLE SAWS: When using hole saws, apply firm and even pressure, so the saw teeth contact the surface all at the same time—not at an angle. You can also flip the workpiece and finish drilling from the other side to prevent tear-out.

If the workpiece is not clamped down, the operator's hand could get pulled into the bit or the workpiece can be thrown with great force. Clamp the workpiece to the table before drilling.

Model G0517 Mill/Drill

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