Comparison Pro-Craft BD-1550 vs Kraton DM-16/500

Rated power consumption of the machine. In this case, the total power consumption of the machine is indicated, which, as a rule, is equal to the power of the main engine responsible for rotating the spindle. The design may also include other motors - for example, for automatic feeding (see “Control”) or coolant pumping (see “Functions”) - they are also taken into account. The “gluttony” of such motors is relatively low for low-power machines, and the power of the main engine is one of the main characteristics for any machine: it determines the class of the unit and its general capabilities.

A more powerful motor allows you to drill at higher speeds (which reduces drilling time) and/or with higher torque (important for hard materials and large size drills/bits). Accordingly, the more powerful the machine, the more advanced, as a rule, it is, the more opportunities are available when working with it. The downside of this is that with increasing power, the dimensions, weight, price and, accordingly, energy consumption of the unit increase. Therefore, you need to choose based on this indicator taking into account the work for which the machine is purchased. So, for simple tasks (for example, a home workshop, where you plan to work only from time to time), a power of about 300 - 600 W is quite sufficient, for daily use in relatively “light” production (for example, furniture) - from 600 W to 1 kW, but for large metal parts, models fro...m 1 kW and above are recommended. We also note that, in addition to power, you should also focus on the maximum drilling size (see below).

The number of spindle speeds provided in the design of the machine.

The more speeds(with the same difference between the minimum and maximum number of revolutions, see below) — the more options the operator has to choose the operating mode and the more accurately the machine can be adjusted to the specifics of a particular task. However the specific values of fixed speeds, even for similar models, may be different; but most of the time the difference is not significant. In addition, multi-speed machines can be supplemented with smooth speed control (see "Functions"), which allows you to fine-tune the operating mode even more precisely.

Note that switching speeds can be done in different ways: in some models this is done literally at the touch of a button, in others you need to delve into the gearbox or belt drive.

The lowest spindle speed provided by the drilling machine.

Note that this parameter is indicated only for models with more than one speed (see "Number of speeds") and/or speed control (see "Functions") — that is, if the speed can be changed one way or another. See “Maximum number of revolutions"; here we note that the ability to work at low speeds in some cases is critical — for example, when threading. Accordingly, the lower the minimum speed, the better the machine is suitable for such work, other things being equal. The most "slow" modern models are able to rotate at a speed of 30 – 40 rpm.

The highest spindle speedprovided by a drilling machine; for models with only one speed, it is also indicated in this paragraph.

For the same engine power (see above), high RPM provides good performance, but torque is reduced; at lower speeds, on the contrary, the pulling force is increased, allowing you to “bite” into stubborn materials and make it easier to work with large diameter drills. Specific recommendations for optimal speeds depending on the type of material and drilling diameter can be found in special sources. At the same time, we note that a high-speed machine will not necessarily be “weak” in terms of torque — after all, many units allow you to reduce the rotation speed. However, efficient operation at high speeds still requires a fairly powerful engine, which accordingly affects the cost of the unit. Accordingly, it makes sense to look for a “fast” machine if you plan to work a lot with relatively soft materials, such as wood. But for metal, stone, etc. it is better to choose a relatively "slow" unit.

The largest spindle overhang provided in the design of the machine.

The overhang is the distance from the centre of the spindle to the supporting column. The maximum overhang corresponds to the greatest distance from the edge of the workpiece to the centre of the planned hole, at which this hole can be drilled on this machine; if this distance is greater than the overhang, the workpiece will rest against the support column and the drill simply will not reach the right place.

Note that this parameter is relevant only for vertical and radial machines (moreover, in the first case, the overhang is generally unchanged; see "Type"). But magnetic models do not have a limit on the size of the workpiece, so the overhang is not indicated for them at all.

Dimensions of the base plate installed in the machine.

The base plate is the surface on which the workpiece is placed during operation. Accordingly, the larger this surface, the better this model is suitable for working with large parts (especially since the dimensions of the vise for the workpiece installed in many models depend on the size of the plate). However, usually manufacturers choose a base plate, focus on the overall level of the unit and approximately assuming the largest size of the workpiece with which it will be used. And magnetic machines are not equipped with a base plate at all (for more details, see "Type").

Note that for base plates, dimensions are usually indicated by the greatest length and width, and regardless of the shape. This means that, for example, a plate measuring 300x300 mm can be not only square, but also round.

The type of chuck — a clamp for installing drills and other working nozzles — used in the machine.

— Key. Chuck opened and closed with a special key. Also known as "gear" or "ring gear" because the wrench works like a gear. It is used to secure drills with a cylindrical shank; for this, the design has cams (usually three) that converge when closing and diverging to remove the drill. The cam clamp itself is quite versatile and is able to work with any drill or other attachment that has a round shank (regardless of its additional features). For example, even nozzles with a Weldon shank are sometimes put in such a cartridge (see below). Specifically, the key cartridge is considered somewhat more reliable than the quick-clamping one similar in principle; its main drawback lies directly in the use of the key, which can be lost. In addition, the replacement itself takes a lot of time.

— Quick release. A chuck for cylindrical shanks, the design of the clamp is completely similar to the key (see above). The main difference is that the keyless chuck is opened and closed by hand, without the use of any special tools. Due to this, changing drills takes much less time (hence the name), and in general, working with such a cartridge is easier than with a key one. It is considered the best choice for those cases where you need to change drills frequently. The disadvan...tage of keyless chucks is considered by some to be less reliable than key chucks; however, this may turn out to be critical only at very high loads, and for normal use, the capabilities of such a fastening are quite enough.

— Morse taper. Morse taper is a specific type of shank used in drills and other similar bits. Such a shank, in accordance with the name, has a conical shape — the socket in the cartridge is designed for it. At the end of the shank, there is most often a foot — a flat ledge, which, when installed, is fixed in the groove of the cartridge and does not allow the drill to turn. However, there are other options for retainers — for example, with a thread, when a special rod is screwed into the end of the cone during installation. In order to select compatible drills, it is imperative to know the design features of a particular Morse taper chuck. Also note that such fasteners are available in several standard sizes (see "Morse Taper").

— Weldon. The Weldon clamping system features a cylindrical shank with a flat, a small flat notch on one side. The chuck has a clamping screw, which, when tightened, rests against the flat and fixes the drill in the socket. A rather exotic type of fastening, which has not received much distribution in the post-Soviet space. This is partly due to the fact that the Weldon drill can be clamped in a regular shank chuck without much difficulty (although this is not particularly recommended, as it can lead to imbalance at high speeds). This type of chuck is mainly used in magnetic machines (see "Type") — and then most often in combination with another, more common type of fastening (for example, quick-clamping).

— collet. A cartridge that uses the same working principle as an automatic pencil. The role of the clamp is played by a round sleeve, divided into several springy petals; in the working position, they are compressed and fix the drill, and to open it, you need to pull the chuck casing up, and the petals will disperse. This way of working is not reliable enough for full-size drilling machines, but it is optimally suited for high-precision units using small diameter drills (up to 4 – 5 mm).

Note that several chucks can be supplied with a drilling machine at once, including those for different types of shanks (for example, Morse taper and key). The latter significantly expands the range of working nozzles available for the unit. At the same time, a specific combination of fasteners can be practically any — except that the key and keyless chuck are not supplied in one set, because. they are designed for the same type of shanks.

The size of the Morse taper chuck (see Chuck Type) that the drill is equipped with.

Morse tapers are available in several standard sizes. The most popular standard provides marking with the letters MK and a number — for example, MK2. The larger the number in the designation, the larger the diameter of the cone and, accordingly, the thicker the drills in which it is used. In modern drilling machines, chucks with sizes from MK1 to MK4 are usually used. But in fact, this parameter is necessary primarily for the selection of compatible drills.