Laser alignment for mag drill?

This topic has 8 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 31 October 2026 at 06:50 by JasonB.

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30 October 2026 at 18:33 #872132
Adam Harris
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@adamharris13683
Using the standard pilot pin for aligning annular cutters on a mag drill can be tedious when doing a lot of holes because you need to remove the pin each time before cutting the hole. I have looked for sprung pins without success and came across a laser alignment clamp-on Wixey WL133. Amazon reviews are a bit mixed so any thoughts here on this or alternatives?
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30 October 2026 at 18:42 #872139
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
Given the usually small throat depth of mag drills you would have to check that the beams could be adjusted in close enough without being obscured by the battery box

Other option may be to make a “cup” shaped cap to fit the end of the cutter with a locating pin on the bottom. That way you slip the cup onto the cutter and lower it to locate your mark, wind it back up and remove the cup. Good to go.
30 October 2026 at 18:56 #872140
Adam Harris
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@adamharris13683
Jason the cup solution is simple and perfect, albeit making up one for each size cutter. Many thanks
30 October 2026 at 20:27 #872147
noel shelley
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@noelshelley55608
Mine has spring loaded pins, so easy ! I thought they were all like that ? Noel
30 October 2026 at 21:13 #872152
Adam Harris
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@adamharris13683
It seems my mag drill is too old for the spindle’s weldon socket to have a sprung ceiling so I always thought that some people might use pilot pins that are a telescopic sprung assembly. But if all mag drills have a sprung ceiling then perhaps mine is just stuck….!! I will revert
30 October 2026 at 21:29 #872153
Adam Harris
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@adamharris13683
Well Noel that is really embarassing – a squirt of WD40 and a shove and indeed mine does have a sprung ceiling! I would never have known. All these years I have been laboriously aligning then removing before drilling. Very many thanks Noel
30 October 2026 at 22:55 #872161
noel shelley
Participant
@noelshelley55608
Glad to be of service Adam. Don’t worry I had a Myford S7 – it took me over 10 years to find out it had a spindle lock. Noel.
31 October 2026 at 06:40 #872171
DC31k
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@dc31k
I have always believed that the spring pin has two functions: it is used both to centre the cutter on a punch mark and then to eject the slug from the cutter once the hole is drilled.

Using the cutter in a milling machine, without the pin, it is always a pain to remove that slug.

Individual cups would not be required. A single one with a conical internal recess would work for a range of cutters, a smaller cutter just bottoming out deeper into the cup. Think about how you drill a hole with (say) a #3 centre drill. Following that with a 3mm twist drill will touch the conical recess deeper than following it with an 6mm twist drill.
31 October 2026 at 06:50 #872172
JasonB
Moderator
@jasonb
My thoughts on a cup vs a conical insert is that the overall height of a cup would be a lot less so you would not need to wind the cutter as far out to fit it. The flat recess in the cup would also set the guide square to the cutters end, a conical insert may not go in straight.

Those with CAD and a 3D printer could knock out a batch to fit all the cutters they have in little time.
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