Drill Press Maintenance Check

To ensure that your expensive floor drill press keeps on operating as it should, you will need to carry out some routine maintenance every now and then. Nothing overtly complicated, just some occasional tender, love and care to keep your machine running smoothly and accurately. The fact is, there are a few things that left unchecked can end up compromising the drill’s performance. The pulley and drive belt, chuck, spindle and table platform are all components that will have a detrimental impact on your work if they are not configured correctly.

Create a schedule to maintain these key wear parts:

Transmission/gearbox: Every 30 days or after 40 hours of use, verify the transmission oil level offers adequate lubrication. Low oil can cause motor lockup.

Flexible Drive Shaft: Examine, clean and grease the flexible drive shaft after every 50 hours of operation. Apply sufficient grease so that it’s not gumming up the flex shaft but not so little that it’s dry because that can cause the cable to break.

Clutch: Check the clutch every 30 days or when you lubricate the flexible drive shaft. Clean the shoes and drums and replace if any clutch padding is missing. A worn clutch can slip or cause the drill to jerk and worn springs might result in the auger spinning at idle or overheating.

Lubrication: It is essential to lubricate our drilling machines because moving parts from the drill generates heat and friction. Make sure to check the guide given by the manufacturer in terms of proper lubrication. Make sure to clean the drill after every usage to prevent dirt build up that causes the machine to slow down. Clean the T-slots, groves, belts and pulleys. Also remember to remove the chips to avoid unnecessary damage to the drill. Put a light coat on the unpainted parts of the drill to prevent rust.

Belt and Vibration: Worn out or bent belt can be a source of a very annoying noise and vibration for the drilling machine. Remove the head of the drill and rotate the belt manually, if it has cracks or lumpy section better to replace it right away. If the belt looks normal, check if the tension is normal; if it is too loose or too tight.