Drill Press Guards

Drill Press Guards

Drill press guards, which are a subcategory of machine guards, protect the hands and eyes of operators from cutting tools, cutting blades, grease, hot chips, oil and splash coolants. According to the OSHA list, drill presses require guarding where work is performed when the material is being processed. Drill presses are usually large machines that are mounted to a workbench or the floor and made up of a few basic parts; the drill table, the drill itself, which is attached to a spindle, a base, a column and a motor. Drill presses work faster while putting less strain on the operator of the press then old fashioned hand drills. The drill heads may be switched out, and often are depending on the specifications of the product being drilled, and the guard must therefore be adjustable as well as clear. Drill presses are used to produce holes of precise depths and widths for construction workers, woodworkers, carpenters and machinists in a variety of industries. Metal, wood and plastic may all be drilled; varieties of these three materials may also make up the substance of the drill press guard, although it is commonly made out of a clear plastic.

There are four main styles of machine guards, which apply to drill press guards as well as other models, such as milling machine guards and chuck guards. Fixed machine guards have been permanently applied to the machine itself, while interlocked safety guards are attached to a major part of the machinery, such as the power source, and cause automatic shutdown if removed. Adjustable and self-adjustable are the other two major styles of machine guards, which are both able to conform to the workers needs while continuing to provide a safe machining environment. There are also many types of drill press guards. One of the most common, tiered guards actually covers the rotating parts of the press by fastening to the quill of the drill press. With the use of this type of guard, operators have complete visibility while drilling, which means the product will not suffer because of safety measures. Although they usually do not get in the way, sometimes the use of drill press guards interferes with the task. After assessing all possible safety hazards, a protocol should be developed for the task. Once implemented, the guard can be removed and the task can be completed.

Drill Press Guards Image Provided by Flexbar Machine Corporation