To Mill or to Drill? That is the Question

Two machines sometimes mistaken for the same thing are benchtop mills and drill presses. They look similar but are significantly different. The most noticeable difference is the movement of the table. However, both machines have specific benefits that can speed up your processes and bring value to your shop.

The benchtop mill is the lightweight alternative to the typical Bridgeport-style milling machine. Sometimes known as mill drills, the versatile benchtop mill combines the capabilities of a drill press and milling machine all in one. If you are looking for a lighter-weight option, a benchtop mill is just the machine for you.

The Benefits of Owning a Benchtop Milling Machine:

1. Versatility

The benchtop milling machine gives you the ability to drill and mill on one machine. The table of a benchtop mill can be moved left and right, back and forth, which is great for milling slots and other light machining work.

2. Lightweight

A typical full-sized vertical milling machine weighs between 2,000 to 4,000 pounds depending on when it was made. Getting it into the right spot in your shop can be a big job. In contrast, you can easily pick up and move your benchtop mill around your shop without the help of bulky lifting equipment.

3.Compact size

The benchtop mill has a small footprint and is easier to position on the shop floor or mount directly onto a workbench. Benchtop mills can also come with a base for better vibration reduction and increased accuracy.

Drill presses have similar capabilities to the benchtop mill but are more specialized in hole-making operations. There are some definite advantages to using a drill press over other hole-making methods.

The Benefits of Owning a Drill Press:

1. Accuracy

Drilling holes to an exact depth, width, and angle is much easier on a drill press. Features such as adjustable tables and depth-stops come with most modern drill presses. It is even possible to find drill presses with variable speed control.

2.Efficiency

The ability to pre-set hole depth and the table angle allows you to work faster and minimizes the chance of making an error.

3.Power

Drill presses have more powerful motors than the standard hand drill. This gives you the ability to use larger drill bits and drill through tougher material.

When considering buying a benchtop mill or a drill press, ask yourself what process you need to do. If you don’t do a lot of milling, then a drill press is the machine for you. If you need a machine with more machining ability, go with the benchtop mill.

Lucky for you, here at Penn Tool Co. we have both for you to look at and compare from the top name brands in the industry.