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  1. #1

    Digital depth scale for drill press

    OK folks. I need some help. Many people have asked about Wixey making a digital depth scale for drill presses and I think I have probably told everyone that we are going to make one someday. Well, we have just come up with a very slick simple idea but I am not sure it will be accurate enough. The device would be very repeatable but the absolute accuracy may only be 1/32". Maybe 1/64" but lets say 1/32" to be safe.

    My question is this: is this good enough and if not, what applications would you be doing where you would need to drill a hole and control the depth closer than 1/32" ?

    As always, thanks for your help!

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Considering that every time you change bits the scale resets I don't know how you could get anymore accurate without a lot of fuss anyway.

    I would hazard a guess that repeatability would be more useful than raw accuracy anyway but I am at a loss as to what I would use a digital readout on a drill press.

    FWIW the angle gauge is one of the more useful additions I have every purchased.

    If a depth gauge is easy to set and reset than I would say 1/32 is likely fine.

    Joe
    Last edited by Joe Chritz; 03-29-2010 at 2:13 PM. Reason: spelling
    JC Custom WoodWorks

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  3. #3

    Drill depth accuracy

    Hi Barry
    IMHO, 1/32" drill press accuracy, while working in wood, would be quite adequate. Seasonal wood variations in our neck of the woods can far exceed 1/32". Hope this is helpful.
    Regards
    Rick Cabot

  4. #4
    Would product stop the quill too, or the user uses present hardware for that?
    In wood, I agree + or - 1/64 hurts nearly nothng.

    I work in wood, metal & plastic. Often chamfers are called out.
    As such (plastic & metal) + or - 1/64 would be unacceptable for chamfers.
    On rare occasions you might bust a tap or puncture stock that was meant for blind holes.
    (Drills all day long)
    ************************************

  5. #5
    Quote Originally Posted by pat warner View Post
    Would product stop the quill too, or the user uses present hardware for that?
    In wood, I agree + or - 1/64 hurts nearly nothng.

    ************************************
    Pat;

    You would just use the readout to measure the depth but if you wanted to drill numerous holes at the same depth you would use the existing depth stop on your drill press.

  6. #6
    Absolutely. I've often thought how nice it would be to have that feature on a drill press.

    Certainly the depth stops on any drill press do not offer more than 1/32" accuracy. Likewise, measuring and putting a piece of tape on the drill bit would also be hard to get better than 1/32".

    I find that when I want that feature, it is often just for a quick and rough estimate. I don't want to take time to measure and put a piece of tape on the drill bit, and I don't want to take time to set the stop. I just want an idea of how far I'm into the wood, since I can't see the end of the bit.

    I'd buy it even if it was only good to 1/4"!

  7. #7
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    I use my DP for more than just wood working. I suppose most would also.
    If the planer DI could be made to read in reverse, I would mount one of those to the DP.

    My vote is 1/32" isn't accurate enough.
    Never, under any circumstances, consume a laxative and sleeping pill, on the same night

  8. #8
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    I often use the depth stop, for example when drilling the 35mm hole for a hinge.

    I tend to measure the depth with a digital caliper if required, so I don't think I would use the feature on the drill press.

    Regards, Rod.

  9. #9
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    1/32" for wood is just fine. I'm trying to think of any problems, I have a Craftsman DP with digital depth and when I use it, I want to know where the table is, so I don't drill it or a blind hole like a mortise and depth there is not that critical to a 1/32". Even at that I use the drill stop and it will for sure stop me. Can't think of any critical operations. I think that's what you want and can design to.

  10. #10
    Join Date
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    I believe 1/32” is plenty accurate for a drill press. This is not a precision piece of equipment we are talking about. It was not designed to be repeatable in the z-axis to .03”. One look at the depth control will tell you that depth is not a major concern. This machine was designed to drill holes in material. It does this well. Anything else you ask it to do it will not do well. It is not a Bridgeport mill. A Bridgeport was designed to be accurate in all 3 axis to .001” or better depending on the operator and condition of the machine. If you are asking a drill press to be z-axis accurate to 0.015” or better, then you are asking to be disappointed.

    Although there is at least one person who disagrees with me:
    http://www.instructables.com/id/Accu...n-Drill-Press/

  11. #11
    Stop collar vs Wixey.

    For a digital readout I'm assuming that the result is rounded so when you say 1/32" accurate you mean 1/32 +/- 1/64. I think this is plenty accurate, but it is not that useful without integrating a 'depth-stop' like a stop collar. I use it on every cut that is not through. The last graduation on my stop collar is eigths but it is easy to get ~1/32 eyeballing between graduations.

    -Brian

  12. #12
    Check out Woodsmith #183 - Some fellow used a Wixey digital height guage mounted on a drill press - looks pretty slick too.

  13. #13
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Lewis Cobb View Post
    Check out Woodsmith #183 - Some fellow used a Wixey digital height guage mounted on a drill press - looks pretty slick too.
    That fellow would be me, and thank you.

    The idea was using the Wixey remote router lift readout on the drill press. While it works well, it requires some creativity to fit to different types of drill presses. Mine was rather simple, but other DPs would not be easy to do this with. If Barry can market one specifically for drill presses that is more easily adapted to all the different ones out there, that would be a great help. It's refreshing to have someone seek feedback from actual woodworkers. Barry will do it right.

  14. #14
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    As Barry knows I am a big fan of all things digital (Hey, Barry) but I see a number of issues with a digital unit on a drill press.

    • First, as already has been mentioned you will need to recalibrate each time you change bits. That can be often if drilling thick, hard metals. Unlike end mills etc. which often mount at the same depth in a mill, it is not as easy to do the same on a drill press.

    • Second, in relation to the first point, what is the reference point you will use to calibrate the gauge/stop? The tip of the bit, or the shoulder of a twist drill, rim of a Forstner, paddle or paddle tips of a speed bore, flute of a brad point, etc. etc.- you get the point (pun intended ) How easy will it be calibrate for the various bits?

    • You will need to use a stop, or you will be unlikely to control the depth reliably or repeatably with a the readout alone, especially drilling a series of holes. Without a stop, your eyes will need to be on the readout, when they should be on your work.

    • Even if you use the digital gauge to set the stop, your depth may not be reliable to 1/32". The angle bracket on my Delta is flexible enough that when I put pressure on it when drilling tough material, I suspect that it easily flexes 1/32" or more when I first reach the stop! - and the resulting hole is likely deeper than intended. Actually, just as common and more annoying is having the speed nut type stop slip a thread or two.


    For the above reasons I question the need for just an add-on digital depth readout. To be useful it should be a combination readout and stop, that replaces the existing stop, is easy to calibrate and set, and does not slip.

  15. Quote Originally Posted by Myk Rian View Post
    I use my DP for more than just wood working. I suppose most would also.
    If the planer DI could be made to read in reverse, I would mount one of those to the DP.

    My vote is 1/32" isn't accurate enough.
    For woodworking I would say it sure is. What do you do on your drill press that would require more accuracy than that? Machining applications? If so, and it works the way Barry says it does, but just reading the depth, not stopping the bit at the desired depth, then I challenge you to have a steady enough hand to control dimensions smaller than 1/32 manually. How do you currently control your depth operations on the drill press? If you say 1/32 isn't good enough then you must have an idea in mind that will require more accuracy and you must have done it before....


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