NOVA Voyager impressions/questions

[rvieceli]

When the NOVA Voyager first came out, there was kind of a feeding frenzy and folks were pretty excited over the machine. Pretty sure there were a few members that got one.

Anyone have an impression of the drill after having it for a while. Good, Bad or indifferent? I occasionally see them come up on the secondary market and was wondering if they panned out to be as great as everyone was anticipating.

Thanks in advance.

Ron

 

[luvmytoolz]

I have the Viking and it is hands down the best drill press I've ever had or used, period!

The super quiet power and features, including auto start/stop, depth setting, etc are just unbelievably useful and make it worth every cent.

I can only imagine how much better the Voyager is, but if it's half as good as the Viking, it's awesome!

 

[festal]

I had Voyager before and ended up selling it, regretted it and then bought refurb Viking.  I prefer viking interface and LED/Lasers built in.  I did like the built in table of speeds on the voyager.  No issues with either though.  Works when needed. I did end up getting keyless chuck

 

[nclemmons]

I've had one for maybe 6 or 7 years.  Really like it.  Best drill press I've seen or used for sure.  Love the variable speed and depth cut-off features.

 

[cider]

I have the Viking, and I like it a lot--I'd do it all over again.  I wish it had a quill lock, but otherwise it checks every box for me.

 

[thudchkr]

Another happy user here.  Like many others I replaced the factory offering with a keyless chuck. Favorite features are the ease of speed changes, depth stop function, auto-start, depth of stroke, and the "HUGE" range of speeds available.

I see where many of the naysayers don't trust the electronics to hold up over time, but I've had a Nova DVR wood lathe that has the same motor arrangement, for a lot longer than I've had the Voyager and have yet to encounter any issues with it.

 

[FrankJP302]

Another happy user here.  Like many others I replaced the factory offering with a keyless chuck. Favorite features are the ease of speed changes, depth stop function, auto-start, depth of stroke, and the "HUGE" range of speeds available.

I see where many of the naysayers don't trust the electronics to hold up over time, but I've had a Nova DVR wood lathe that has the same motor arrangement, for a lot longer than I've had the Voyager and have yet to encounter any issues with it.

Hi,

I also have a Viking I am happy with.  I'm interested if you can share the chuck you went with?  I've been thinking about it.

Thanks!

 

[rvieceli]

[member=75396]FrankJP302[/member] the industry leader in keyless chucks is probably Albrecht. They are a thing of beauty and a great addition to a drill press. And priced similarly  [eek] [eek]
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn?searchterm=albrecht keyless drill chucks

They routinely come up on eBay in various conditions for cheaper.

They come in several capacities and have various different integrated tapers/mounts or without and you furnish your own appropriate taper.

Many folks go with the 1/32-1/2 inch size. I have one. But l am a bit partial to the 1/8 -5/8 chuck. That’s what has been on the press for a while.

Ron

 

[FrankJP302]

[member=75396]FrankJP302[/member] the industry leader in keyless chucks is probably Albrecht. They are a thing of beauty and a great addition to a drill press. And priced similarly  [eek] [eek]
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn?searchterm=albrecht keyless drill chucks

They routinely come up on eBay in various conditions for cheaper.

They come in several capacities and have various different integrated tapers/mounts or without and you furnish your own appropriate taper.

Many folks go with the 1/32-1/2 inch size. I have one. But l am a bit partial to the 1/8 -5/8 chuck. That’s what has been on the press for a while.

Ron

Hi,

Thanks for the details and the tip, hopefully can find something a bit cheaper.

 

[Lbob131]

"Other  Tool  Reviews"  section  in FOG  has a  very  long  discussion  on  Nova  DVR's.
Looking  at a few  of their  manuals  the  parts  list  includes  PCB's  and  control  circuitry  boards  and I expect  these  would  be  subject  to "availability"  by  the  agents  who sell these  machines.
Not sure  if a woodworker  could  swap  the  like  of this  out  or  even  take  it on  without  an  electronics  degree  and  might  then  need  some  one  suitably  qualified  who  is  expensive.
No doubt  the  end  user  would  have  all  the grief.

I watched a  guy last  week  trying  to get an  auto  levelling    concrete  screeder  up and  running  and  my mind  frazzeled  when  I seen  the  large  array  of  electronic  components.
The  concrete  was  cancelled  5  days  ago  and  the machine  is  still  not  up  and  running.

If  you  are  depending  on  Nova DVR  machines  in a production facility  or  any  machine  of  that  nature  in fact,  then  you need a  second  one on standby  when  the  first  one  breaks  down.
Waiting  for  parts  to  be  flown  around  the  world  is  frightening. [unsure]
Or  just  wipe  the dust  off  the belt  drive. [blink]

Just  looking  at the  parts  diagram  the  Viking  looks  the  simplest  machine  to  work  on.

 

[thudchkr]

Another happy user here.  Like many others I replaced the factory offering with a keyless chuck. Favorite features are the ease of speed changes, depth stop function, auto-start, depth of stroke, and the "HUGE" range of speeds available.

I see where many of the naysayers don't trust the electronics to hold up over time, but I've had a Nova DVR wood lathe that has the same motor arrangement, for a lot longer than I've had the Voyager and have yet to encounter any issues with it.

Hi,

I also have a Viking I am happy with.  I'm interested if you can share the chuck you went with?  I've been thinking about it.

Thanks!

I purchased a C130-J22 Albrecht drill chuck for mine. When I did a check for runout, it was barely detectible on the dial indicator I was using. Much less than than the -001 increment.