The Bernardo TB 20 T / 230 V bench drill is the enlarged entry-level model in the TB range with a drilling capacity of Ø 20 mm, capable of drilling in steel up to Ø 20 mm. Technical specifications: Morse taper MT 2, keyless chuck 1-16 mm / B 16, 16 spindle speeds 220-2,840 rpm with belt drive, cast iron table 290 × 290 mm with 16 mm T-slots, inclinable from -45° to +45° and height-adjustable with a rack, base treated with T-slots for clamping large workpieces, column Ø 72 mm. IP 54 compliant aluminum motor: 0.55 kW (S1) / 0.80 kW (S6) at 230V, spindle travel 80 mm, weight 54 kg. Distributed in Italy by Krollit as an official Bernardo distributor since 2007.
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Drilling capacity in steel: Ø 20 mm
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Chuck: 1-16 mm / B 16
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Morse taper: MT 2
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Spindle speeds: 16 speeds 220-2,840 rpm
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Spindle travel: 80 mm
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Table: 290 × 290 mm with 16 mm T-slots, inclinable ±45°
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Max. spindle-table distance: 415 mm
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Spindle-base distance: 605 mm
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Column diameter: 72 mm
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Motor: 0.55 kW (S1) / 0.80 kW (S6) at 230V
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Weight: 54 kg
Who uses the TB 20 T / 230 V and for what
The Bernardo TB 20 T / 230 V is a compact bench drill from the TB range (professional entry-level), sized for craft workshops, advanced hobbyists, and small laboratories requiring precision drilling in steel up to Ø 20 mm. Key construction feature: the TB model is a simplified version of the BM range, with a significantly lower price while maintaining Bernardo's build quality. Differences compared to the corresponding BM: no digital display, standard belt drive without additional components, simplified ergonomics. The 16 step speeds of 220-2,840 rpm allow adaptation to standard materials. The IP 54 compliant aluminum motor (0.55 kW S1 / 0.80 kW S6) at 230V develops the necessary power for normal daily use. The 290 × 290 mm cast iron table, inclinable ±45° with T-slots, allows for angled drilling. Typical areas of use: metal hobbyists with standard precision requirements, craft workshops with occasional use, model makers for building small frames and mechanisms, basic educational laboratories for technical schools.
Its place in the Bernardo range
The Bernardo range of bench and pillar drills is organized into 6 main sub-families: TB (TB 14/16/20 T) entry-level with fixed B16 or MT 2 taper and stepped speeds; BM T (BM 20/25 T) intermediate with digital spindle travel display and stepped speeds; BM Vario (BM 16/20 Vario) intermediate with continuously variable speed + centering laser; SBM Vario (SBM 16/20 Vario) pillar drill with greater height than BM Vario models; B 430 Vario medium-heavy pillar drill with 360° swiveling table and MT 3 spindle; SB 30 Profi heavy pillar drill with 2-stage power motor, Ø 32 mm capacity. The TB 20 T / 230 V is the entry-level model in the Bernardo bench drill range. Features: standard MT 2 taper, 1-16 mm keyless chuck with B16, stepped speeds. For daily use without the need for a digital display, the TB is economically preferable to the corresponding BM. For digital spindle travel display requirements, the corresponding BM is correctly sized.
Krollit logistics and support
Bernardo shipping in 5-9 working days (7 days to the South). Weight manageable by two people with care. HSS drill bits, milling chucks, threading devices, LED lamps, original Bernardo spare parts (belts, motors, keyless chucks, taper arbors, T-nuts) available from stock with 3-5 working days shipping. Customer support available in Italian.
Who the TB 20 T / 230 V is for
| Profile |
Compatibility |
Reason |
| Metal hobbyist with occasional use |
Recommended |
Compact machine at an affordable price, standard Bernardo construction, sufficient capacity for hobby applications. |
| Craft workshop for non-daily use |
Recommended |
Ø 20 mm capacity covers most occasional applications. 54 kg weight manageable in a compact workshop. |
| Workshop with digital display or higher precision needs |
Adequate |
For digital spindle travel display, the corresponding BM is correctly sized. The TB is economical but without advanced features. |
Not suitable for: drilling diameters larger than Ø 20 mm; daily professional use with higher precision requirements (BM/SBM/B 430 are correctly sized); applications requiring a digital display or continuous speed adjustment.
Processing Capacity
| Specification |
Value |
| Drilling capacity in steel |
Ø 20 mm |
| Chuck |
1-16 mm / B 16 |
| Morse taper |
MT 2 |
Speed and Travel
| Specification |
Value |
| Spindle speeds |
16 speeds 220-2,840 rpm |
| Spindle travel |
80 mm |
Table and Working Dimensions
| Specification |
Value |
| Table dimensions |
290 × 290 mm |
| Table T-slots |
16 mm |
| Table inclination |
-45° to +45° |
| Spindle-column distance |
180 mm |
| Max. spindle-table distance |
415 mm |
| Spindle-base distance |
605 mm |
| Column diameter |
72 mm |
| Base plate surface |
205 × 205 mm |
Motor and Power Supply
| Specification |
Value |
| Motor power S1 100% |
0.55 kW |
| Motor power S6 40% |
0.80 kW |
| Voltage |
230V / 50 Hz |
| Protection standard |
IP 54 |
Dimensions and Weight
| Specification |
Value |
| Machine dimensions (L × W × H) |
380 × 620 × 1,000 mm |
| Weight |
54 kg |
Compliance
| Specification |
Value |
| Marking |
CE |
| Directive |
Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC |
Standard Equipment
- Bernardo TB 20 T / 230 V drill press
- Keyless chuck 1-16 mm / B 16
- Taper arbor MT 2 / B 16
- Set of T-nuts for workpiece clamping
- Height-adjustable protection with microswitch
- Separate emergency stop switch
- Set of wrenches and service tools
- User manual in Italian
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between TB and the corresponding BM?
The TB is the entry-level version: no digital display, simplified ergonomics, significantly lower price than the corresponding BM.
For occasional hobby or craft workshop use without higher precision requirements, the TB is economically preferable. For daily professional use with digital spindle travel display requirements, the corresponding BM is correctly sized. The basic construction quality (cast iron frame, bearings, IP 54 motor) is the same for both lines: the TB only eliminates advanced features (display, laser, ergonomics).
Is the nominal drilling capacity realistic?
Yes, for soft and standard steels. The Ø 20 mm capacity is sized for structural steels (S235, S275, S355) and soft engineering steels (C45, 11SMnPb30): for these materials, the machine can perform drilling at the nominal diameter with adequate quality.
For hard alloy steels (42CrMo4, 39NiCrMo3), the effective capacity is reduced by 20-30%: for the TB 20, the real capacity on hard steels is Ø 14 mm. For stainless steels (304, 316), the rotational speed must be reduced to 60-70% of the standard value to avoid material work hardening and tool degradation. For applications with tough materials, the BM/SBM models with higher S1 motor power are correctly sized.
Are the stepped speeds sufficient for standard use?
Yes. The 16 stepped speeds of 220-2,840 rpm cover standard materials: hard steels 220-500 rpm, soft steels 1,000-1,500 rpm, aluminum and brass 1,500-2,840 rpm. For each tool and material, there is an adequate stepped speed.
Changing speeds: open the transmission cover, move the belt to different pulleys, close the cover. Typical time: 30-60 seconds. For workshops with frequent speed changes (more than 5 changes/hour), the Vario system is preferable to reduce time. For workshops with predominant use of a standard material, the stepped speeds are completely adequate.
Can I thread with the TB?
Only with hand taps: the standard TB does not have dedicated R/L rotation. For precision threading using a mechanical tap, the BM 25 T 400V or SB 30 Profi is correctly sized.
Threading with a hand tap (no machine rotation): the operator mounts the tap in the chuck, aligns it to the hole, rotates manually with a threading wrench. Procedure suitable for occasional threading on soft steels, M under M10. For precision threading, M over M10, or frequent threading, mechanical R/L rotation is a decisive feature.
Is the TB truly professional or just for hobbyists?
Professional entry-level. The TB is manufactured according to the same construction standards as the BM/SBM Bernardo range (cast iron frame, IP 54 motor, quality bearings) but with simplified functionalities to reduce the price.
For craft workshops with standard daily use, the TB is completely adequate: the hole quality and machine lifespan are comparable to the corresponding BM. The differences (no digital display, basic ergonomics, stepped speeds) impact work efficiency but not the technical quality of the drilling. For advanced hobbyist use, the TB is the correct choice in terms of quality/price ratio. For intensive professional use with efficiency requirements, the BM Vario or SBM Vario are correctly sized.
