Nova Voyager DVR 18 Variable Speed Drill Press (SKU 58000): A Serious Look
The Nova Voyager DVR 18 variable speed drill press (SKU 58000) is not a drill press you buy because it was the next step up on a shelf. It’s a deliberate purchase: a direct-drive, belt-free machine with electronic speed control from 50 RPM all the way to 3,000 RPM (and up to 5,500 in extended mode), a 6-inch quill stroke, and a control panel that reads more like a precision instrument than a shop tool. It also has a known mechanical flaw tied to its round column that you need to understand before you commit.
What DVR Technology Actually Means
DVR stands for Digital Variable Reluctance. Here’s what that means in practical terms.
A standard induction motor runs at a fixed RPM determined by the electrical frequency and motor design. To change drill speed, you move belts between pulley steps. The motor itself never changes speed.
A DVR motor is fundamentally different. It’s a brushless direct-drive motor where the control electronics vary the frequency of the current to change the motor speed directly. There are no belts, no pulleys, and no mechanical intermediaries. The motor runs at whatever speed you dial in. Torque is maintained electronically across the speed range. At 50 RPM, the motor is actually turning at 50 RPM, with full control authority from the electronics.
This is why the Voyager is particularly valued for work at very low RPM: drilling glass with diamond bits, threading operations, large-diameter Forstner bits in dense hardwood, and similar applications where standard drill presses struggle to go slow enough without losing torque.
Confirmed Nova Voyager DVR Specs
From teknatool.com (Nova’s official site) and the Teknatool Voyager spec sheet:
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Swing | 18 inches |
| Motor | 1.75 HP at 110V / 2 HP at 220V |
| Speed range | 50 to 3,000 RPM (default); up to 5,500 RPM maximum |
| Drive | Direct drive (no belts or pulleys) |
| Quill travel | 6 inches |
| Spindle taper | MT2 |
| Column type | Round column |
| Digital readout | Yes (speed, depth) |
| Work light | Yes (built-in LEDs) |
| Chip blower | Yes |
| Electronic depth stop | Yes, with auto-reverse |
| Load readout | Yes |
| Vibration sensing | Yes, with electronic braking |
| Slow-start pilot hole function | Yes |
| Tapping assist | Yes (forward/reverse) |
| Firmware | Updateable via USB thumb drive |
The 6-inch quill travel is class-leading. Most floor presses in the 14 to 17-inch swing range offer 3-1/4 to 4-1/2 inches of quill stroke.
The Known Flaw: Round Column and Table Rotation
The Nova Voyager uses a round column. On a round column, the table can rotate around the column as you adjust its height. There’s a set screw system to lock position, but owners consistently report that even with care, the table can shift slightly when you loosen the clamp to adjust height, and that re-aligning the table to the spindle requires a deliberate re-squaring step every time you move it.
This is a real workflow interruption. If you’re doing repetitive drilling at a fixed table height, it’s a non-issue once you’re set. But if you regularly raise and lower the table between operations and need repeatable alignment, the round column is an annoyance you’ll deal with on every session.
Owners on Sawmill Creek and the Festool Owners Group forums have noted this as the primary practical frustration with the machine.
Nova Voyager DVR vs. JET JDP-17 and WEN 4214T
| Feature | Nova Voyager DVR (58000) | JET JDP-17 | WEN 4214T |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swing | 18 inches | 17 inches | 14 inches |
| Drive | Direct-drive DVR | Belt | Belt |
| Speed | 50-3,000 RPM (dial) | ~200-3,630 RPM (16 steps) | ~250-3,000 RPM (12 steps) |
| Lowest speed | 50 RPM | ~200 RPM | ~250 RPM |
| Quill travel | 6 inches | 4-1/2 inches | 3-1/4 inches |
| Column | Round | Keyed/round | Round |
| Load readout | Yes | No | No |
| Tapping assist | Yes | No | No |
The JET JDP-17 and WEN 4214T are conventional belt-drive presses. They’re competent for standard drilling, but they don’t offer variable-speed continuous control, and their low-end RPM doesn’t come close to the Voyager’s 50 RPM floor. For anyone who doesn’t specifically need low-speed torque control, a JET JDP-17 does the job at significantly lower investment with a keyed column that won’t rotate on you.
Where to Buy
The Nova Voyager DVR (SKU 58000) is available at woodcraft.com and teknatool.com. No confirmed live Amazon listing for the Voyager was found at time of writing.
Who Should Skip the Nova Voyager
Skip it if you don’t need variable speed. The Voyager’s entire value proposition is the DVR drive. If you’re drilling wood at three standard RPM settings, a belt-drive press handles standard drilling tasks just as accurately.
Skip it if table alignment repeatability is critical to your production workflow. The round column is a real limitation. And skip it if you want a machine in stock and ready to ship: the Voyager operates on backorder cycles.
Safety Notes
The Nova Voyager includes vibration sensing with electronic braking. That said, OSHA and CCOHS both make clear that electronic safety features don’t substitute for clamping your workpiece. Clamp everything.
Conclusion
- The Nova Voyager DVR (SKU 58000) is the right machine for operators who specifically need low-RPM torque control: glass drilling, large Forstner bits in hardwood, threading operations.
- Confirmed specs: 18-inch swing, 1.75 HP DVR motor, 50 to 3,000 RPM, 6-inch quill travel, MT2 taper.
- The round column is a documented flaw: table rotation on height adjustment requires deliberate re-squaring every time you move the table.
- If you don’t need variable-speed precision or very low RPM operation, the JET JDP-17 delivers standard drilling capability on a conventional belt-drive platform with wider availability.
FAQ
What does DVR mean on the Nova Voyager? Digital Variable Reluctance. It’s a direct-drive brushless motor system that varies motor speed electronically, with no belts or pulleys, giving you continuous speed control from 50 to 3,000 RPM.
What is the quill travel on the Nova Voyager? 6 inches. This is class-leading for a floor drill press at this swing size.
What spindle taper does the Voyager use? MT2 (Morse Taper #2).
What is the round column problem on the Nova Voyager? When you loosen the table clamp to adjust height on a round column, the table can rotate around the column, losing its alignment to the spindle. You need to re-square the table after every height adjustment.
Does the Nova Voyager drill metal? Yes. The DVR motor maintains torque at low RPM, which is an advantage for drilling steel and other hard metals.
What is the motor power on the Nova Voyager? 1.75 HP at 110V, or 2 HP at 220V.
Does the Nova Voyager have a tapping function? Yes. It includes a tapping assist mode with forward and reverse control.
Where can I buy the Nova Voyager DVR (SKU 58000)? Through woodcraft.com and teknatool.com.
References
- Nova Voyager DVR product page: teknatool.com
- Sawmill Creek Woodworking Community: Nova Voyager DVR discussion
- WEN Products Drill Press FAQ: wenproducts.com
- OSHA Safety and Health Topics: osha.gov
- CCOHS: Drill Press Safety: ccohs.ca
