Milling Machines + Drill Presses

Milling Machines + Drill Presses

Choose between a line of heavy-duty bench top or floor mount drill presses from Northern Tool. Expect nothing less than power, accuracy and versatility from these machines. Floor press head tilts 70° left and 90° right allowing you to maneuver hard-to-move work pieces. Add versatility to your workshop with drill presses!

In looking for a first milling machine, starting with the basics is a good idea. Manual milling machines use a technology that’s been around a long time, so it’s well understood, easy to use and easy to maintain and repair.

Horizontal and Vertical Manual Milling Machines Horizontal units use relatively shorter and thicker cutting tools than vertical units and are ideal for making deep, heavy grooves in a workpiece. Vertical milling machines, on the other hand, use longer, thinner cutting tools and are ideal for creating more detail on a workpiece.

Horizontal milling machines come in a couple of different configurations: plain horizontal or universal. A plain horizontal milling machine includes a table that cannot be set at an angle for helical milling whereas the table on a universal horizontal milling machine can be set at an angle for such milling. Plain horizontal milling machines are designed for processing planes and grooves using angle cutters, disc cutters, forming cutters, end mills and other cutters. Universal horizontal milling machines feature a housing, between the table and the saddle, that swivels, permitting you to swing the table up 45° in either direction for angular or helical milling. Universal horizontal machines are used for cutting grooves and slots into workpieces such as gear surfaces.

Vertical milling machines also come in a couple basic configurations: bed mills and turret mills. A bed milling machine features a spindle on a pendant that moves up and down, perpendicular to the machine’s axis, moving the cutter into a workpiece. The bed mill table sits on a sturdy bed that rests on the floor. A bed mill machine is often used to make large parts for aerospace, automotive and construction industries.

Be sure to check out the Fabricators Must-Have Tool List which highlights a collection of reviews and product recommendations from real-world fabricators. If you need a little more help in deciding, check out Choosing a Drill Press.