Drill Press Laser Centering Device

thingiverse

This is a gadget that lets you position objects correctly and pinpoint the drill center on your drill press using lasers. The inspiration for this device came from Dan Gelbart's enlightening YouTube videos, in which he shares his insights on precision engineering, and similarly-minded individuals who have shared their ideas online. Note that you can fine-tune your laser to achieve high accuracy by following some expert tips shared by Dan Gelbart himself. The general principle is straightforward: as the drill chuck rotates, a beam of light emanates from the angled laser, creating both a precise point where the drill will land and an expanded circular pattern when the chuck reaches its optimal height. By superimposing the outer edges of this circular mark on any reference object, you can confidently predict that the drill bit will strike at its exact center. This functionality extends beyond cylindrical objects; it also empowers users to pinpoint centers in pipes, rectangles, or whatever oddly-shaped pieces they work with. If you have access to OnShape, you're welcome to explore a more detailed parametric model of this concept online, allowing you to modify, remix, and improve upon its features.