‘Exceptional quality; quiet operation; easy to set up for every type of drill imaginable; does everything you could possibly want to do on a drill; the only drill press you will ever need.’ – Jonathan Salisbury, The Woodworker & Good Woodworking Magazine
The world’s first smart drill press combines the best features of drill presses with state of the art technology to make your project work more efficient, fun and safer. The NOVA DVR Voyager 18″ Drill Press is the most versatile drill press on the market, easily able to handle wood, metal, plastics and glass. It combines the proven technology with some great new features with intelligent Striatech ADAPTIVE CONTROL software that works for you to produce optimum conditions for your specific projects. The most innovative advancement since motors were first added to drill presses almost a century ago!
Unique DVR (Digital Variable Reluctance) technology
The direct drive motor is incredibly smooth with no pulleys or belts to vibrate
Intelligent Digital Control
Easy to operate, the NOVA DVR range of machines are the only SMART machines on the market to automatically adjust the speed for the application
High Torque Power
Instant power when you need it. With its 1.75HP/2HP high torque motor, exceptional structural strength and smart design, the NOVA Voyager has the power and capacity to handle a wide variety of projects with ease.
Faster, more efficient drilling
With no belts to cause vibration, a computer that automatically adjusts performance and solid cast iron construction, the Voyager is one smooth and quiet operator. Drill faster and more efficiently.
Plug ‘n’ Play
Easy to use, with a push-button electronic variable speed with forward and reverse.
Power saving
Smart computer-controlled motor only draws as much power as it needs for the project being worked on. The Striatech DVR motor can save up to 50% energy and emissions over conventional motors.
Features
- Low Maintenance
- Intelligent Speed Selection to get the correct speed for the application
- Variable Speed 50 – 3,000 RPM (option in settings to increase to 5,500 RPM)
- No belts. Quiet and smooth operation.
- Slow Start Pilot Hole Function
- Tapping Assist Function
- Digital speed readout
- Electronic Braking
- Load Readout
- Self Starting Function
- Digital Quill Depth Readout
- Precise speed adjustment with knob
- Forward/Reverse Functionality
- 6” of quill travel in 2 revolutions of the handle
- Sensors for superior safety, use and maintenance
- Adjustable mechanical stop coupled with digital readout for accurate and repeatable actions
Warranty
- 2 Year Full Replacement Motor and Controller
- 5 Year Full Replacement on all other parts
Bill (verified owner) –
Without a doubt this is a fantastic drill press and, barring a few minor niggles which I will mention later, is exactly what I’ve wanted for a long time. I bought this to replace a pulley wheel drill press which did the job but was noisy & never really got set to the right speed. The Nova Voyager is by comparison a Rolls Royce of a drill press. It is powerful, strong, stable, accurate and runs beautifully smoothly and quietly. The major feature of being able to set speed with a rotary control is brilliant and allows quick change of speed from e.g. pilot hole drilling to following up with a larger bit. The electronic and physical depth stops work well and the quill depth stop lock is useful and effective. Certainly top marks for all these features.
As for minor niggles, these are simply things that I’d change if I could wave a majic wand but don’t honestly cause great difficulties: Firstly the nanny state safety guard is irritating and as it is electronically interlocked with the drill software, cannot simply be discarded.The chuck key supplied has a stupidly strong ejector spring & I found it unusable, fortunately a standard Jacobs K3B fits. To my mind the drill software is over-featured and I feel there are many aspects that I will never use. Fortunately at switch on the drill wakes up in a simple mode of operation, so the extra features are no hindrance to normal use. I would prefer it if the ON & OFF buttons had a distinctive tactile feel, this would make it easier not to have to look up to hit the right button.
Nevertheless, I’m very happy with my purchase and would certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a top end drilling machine.
Bob (verified owner) –
This is an outstanding pillar drill, the direct drive is silky smooth, powerful, very quiet and so easy to vary the speed.
The menu virtually removes the thinking with suggested speeds for type of bit & size being used on what material, digital depth guage along with traditional phyisical depth stop is also very precise.
Went together very well and certainly has a decent weight to it, though not as heavy as older more traditional pillar drills.
One niggle was the drill table is not dead flat, like my old meddings, but is concave to at least 1mm in the middle. For now as I have overlaid my larger table for woodwork this is not such a problem, but I might consider getting the table milled flat in the future if a flat one cannot be exchanged
DavidHelmer (verified owner) –
After a very straightforward assembly the pedestal drill has been easy to use and has performed well. I am very pleased with this product and would highly recommend it.