A homemade XY table can make repetitive drill-press work easier by moving a clamped workpiece in two directions instead of requiring you to lay out and reposition each hole by hand. A build documented by Danie Conradie for Hackaday uses a welded steel frame, ground rods, linear bearings and handwheel-driven lead screws. It demonstrates a practical positioning aid, but the article reports no measured accuracy, repeatability, load rating, cost or dimensioned plan—so it does not establish that the table is suitable for precision work.
What an XY table does
An XY table, also called a cross table, lets an operator translate a workpiece along two perpendicular axes. On a drill press, that makes it possible to move a secured part from one hole location to the next without repeatedly unclamping and repositioning it. The same basic arrangement can position work on a milling machine.
In the build described by Danie Conradie’s Hackaday report, published October 6, 2020, hand wheels turn lead screws to move the table in X and Y. Ground steel rods and linear bearings guide the sliding motion. The builder fabricated most of the structure from steel flat bar.
How the scratch-built table was made
Keep opposing plates aligned
The builder spot-welded matching plates together and drilled them as a pair. Making corresponding features in one operation helps keep the parts aligned when they are assembled into the table.
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- FEATURES: The drill press table vise is made of high-quality aluminum alloy, lightweight and sturdy. Detachable silicone pads on jaws effectively shield workpieces from scratches and damage during machining
- PRECISION DESIGN: The drill press vice for milling machine is composed of several adjustable dovetail slot aluminum alloy compositions that can guarantee the minimum space and ensure accuracy
- ROTATABLE ADJUSTMENT: The mini drill press vise offers 90° rotation with an integrated angle scale; features 2 rotatable handles for smooth front/back vise positioning, along with bolt-fixing slots to enable secure and stable operation
- WIDELY USED: The bench drill press vise works well with drill presses for a variety of applications, including milling, drilling, woodworking, metalworking. A great addition to garage work, mini lathe, and drill press
- SPECIFICATION: Milling vise X-Travel: 3.15 in (80mm), Y-Travel: 2.64 in (67mm), Max Jaw opening: 3.15 in (80mm), Jaw width:2.95 in (75mm), Weight 5 lb
Build the sliding axes
Ground steel rods and linear bearings provide guidance for the moving sections. Lead screws connected to hand wheels move each axis, giving the operator manual control over the workpiece position.
Make a T-slot work surface
The top surface uses a welded T-slot arrangement: wide steel flat bar sits over narrower flat bar. The resulting slots provide places to secure workholding hardware and the workpiece.
Rank #2
- Cross Slide Drill Press Vise X-Travel: 3.15 in (80mm), Y-Travel: 2.64 in (67mm), Jaw opening: 3.15 in (80mm), Jaw width:2.95 in (75mm)
- Cross Slide Drill Press Vise offers 90° rotation with an integrated angle scale, enabling precise positioning and easy access to workpieces from any angle
- Benchtop Drill Press Clamp is made from high-quality aluminum alloy, lightweight and sturdy, with rubber pads covered on the jaw to protect delicate surfaces during clamping
- Benchtop Drill Press Clamp is designed with smooth guide rails for precise movement and alignment, ensuring accurate drilling and milling operations
- Portable Table Drill Press Vise works well with drill presses for a variety of applications, including milling, drilling, woodworking, metalworking and other precision tasks
Where this design is useful
The clearest application is repetitive drilling on a drill press. Once a workpiece is held in place, the operator can move it between hole locations along two axes, reducing repeated layout and manual repositioning. A cross table can also help position work on a milling machine, although the report does not evaluate the table under milling loads.
That distinction matters: a mechanism that moves a workpiece is not automatically a rigid or precise machine-tool fixture. The Hackaday report describes the construction and intended use, not a controlled performance test.
Rank #3
- HIGH QUALITY MATERIAL - The milling table is composed of several adjustable dovetail slot aluminum alloy compositions, the base is made out of cast iron. The workbench is designed to work with bench drills and do the milling precise milling work, which is precise and durable.
- PERFECT DESIGN AND SIZE - This multifunction worktable is 12.2 x 3.5 x 3 inches, with three T shaped grooves. The X axis travel is 200mm/8inches, the Y axis travel is 50mm/2inches. Zero adjustment handwheel rotates a circle of 1.25mm. A lattice is equal to 0.05mm. The Distance between grooves is 34mm.
- EASY TO USE - The package includes 1 pack milling drill worktable, 1 accessories bag, and 1 piece manual, it is easy to fix it on a mini bench drill with fixing screws and nuts. There is also a movable ruler, which can adjust X axis. The table reads in both inches and millimeters. After a long time of use, you can use the screw to reset the gap.
- GREAT MULTI-PURPOSE APPLICATION - The compound slide table is suitable for electric drill brackets, bench drills, and so on. It can also be applied to other suitable machines. It can be used for light duty machining, milling steel, plastics, aluminum, and wood. It would be an excellent little mill table for your work.
- BUY WITH TOTAL CONFIDENCE -We strive to provide you with premium milling working cross table.
What the report does—and does not—establish
The build has no dials, and Conradie questions whether its lead-screw positioning would be repeatable enough for precision work. No measured accuracy or repeatability result is supplied, nor are a load rating, travel dimensions, cost or dimensioned plans. Treat it as an example of a workable homemade positioning concept, not a verified specification or ready-to-copy plan.
Without measured performance data, suitability depends on the job. For simple repeated hole placement, the two-axis movement may be useful. For work where exact coordinates, consistent return-to-position or substantial rigidity are essential, the report does not provide evidence that this particular design meets those needs.
Rank #4
- Mini multifunctional working table 6350,The table is suitable for mini drill and drill bracket series. It can also be applied to other suitable machines.
- The work table is composed of several adjustable dovetail slot aluminum alloy composition, can guarantee the minimum space and ensure the accuracy.
- Adjustment in X direction: 180 mm. Adjustment in Y direction: 50 mm，Distance between grooves : 34mm
- Hand wheel with adjustable scale: A ring = 3 mm.
- Ideal for all drill stands, drilling and milling machines.
Build one or buy a manual XY table?
A homemade table offers a way to fabricate a fixture around available materials and the work you need to hold. A purchased manual XY table may be a better fit when you need documented travel, specified rigidity, backlash information, a readout or a defined workholding surface. Those details vary by product and cannot be inferred from this build.
Before choosing either route, compare the requirements that matter for your work:
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Best Value
- [𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥]: The workbench is composed of several adjustable dovetail aluminum alloys, which can ensure the smallest space and accuracy and can be used in conjunction with bench drills
- [𝐀𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞]: Zero adjustment handwheel rotates a circle of 1.50mm(0.059in) and a grid of 0.05mm(0.002in); Slightly tighten the lock nut to remove any looseness in the cross-slide
- [𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐔𝐬𝐞]: It is easy to fix it on a mini bench drill with fixing screws and nuts; There is a movable ruler, which can adjust X axis; After a long time of use, you can use the screw to reset the gap
- [𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐤 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐳𝐞]: 13 x 3.7 x 3.2 inches(33 x 9.5 x 8.1 cm); X stroke (transverse) 190mm(7.5in), Y stroke (longitudinal) 67mm(2.6in); Base hole distance: 102mm(4in); The table reads in both inches and millimeters
- [𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧]: This workbench is suitable for mini drill and drill holder series; It can also be suitable for other suitable machines
- Rigidity: Will the table resist movement under the drilling or cutting forces involved?
- Travel: Does its usable movement cover the workpiece and hole pattern?
- Backlash: How much lost motion occurs when reversing a handwheel, and is that acceptable?
- Position readout: Do you need dials or another way to track movement, or is visual positioning enough?
- Workholding: Can the surface and slots secure your parts safely and conveniently?
- Time and cost: Can you fabricate and align the frame for less effort and expense than buying a suitable table?
The Hackaday account documents a steel-flat-bar construction approach and the absence of dials; it does not provide values for the other comparison points. A builder should establish those requirements and verify fit and safe workholding for the intended machine before relying on a homemade table.
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