The Bernardo SBM 16 Vario / 400 V pillar drill is the SBM Vario pillar model with a three-phase motor and a working height of 690 mm, with a drilling capacity in steel up to Ø 16 mm and continuously adjustable spindle speed from 400-1,950 rpm. Technical features: MT 2 Morse taper chuck, max spindle-table distance 690 mm and spindle-base distance 1,170 mm (significantly higher than BM Vario bench drills), integrated digital display for speed and spindle travel, cross-laser device for hole centering, cast iron table 285 × 285 mm with 16 mm T-slots inclinable from -45° to +45° and height-adjustable with rack, cast iron base with polished T-slots, 1-16 mm keyless chuck with B18 shank included. IP 54 compliant aluminum motor: 0.60 kW (S1) / 0.85 kW (S6) at 400V three-phase, spindle travel 80 mm, weight 57 kg. Distributed in Italy by Krollit as an official Bernardo distributor since 2007.
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Drilling capacity in steel: Ø 16 mm
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Chuck: 1-16 mm / B 18
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Morse taper chuck: MT 2
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Spindle speed: continuous 400-1,950 rpm
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Spindle travel: 80 mm
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Table: 285 × 285 mm with 16 mm T-slots inclinable ±45°
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Max spindle-table distance: 690 mm
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Spindle-base distance: 1,170 mm
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Column diameter: 72 mm
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Digital display: speed + spindle travel
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Cross-laser device: for hole centering
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Motor: 0.60 kW (S1) / 0.85 kW (S6) at 400V three-phase
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Weight: 57 kg
Who uses the SBM 16 Vario / 400 V and for what
The Bernardo SBM 16 Vario / 400 V is a medium-sized pillar drill with continuously adjustable speed, dimensioned for professional workshops requiring drilling on tall or bulky workpieces. Key design feature: the max spindle-table distance of 690 mm and spindle-base distance of 1,170 mm are significantly higher than BM Vario bench drills (440 / 630 mm respectively): the SBM is dimensioned for workpieces up to 690 mm high placed on the table, or workpieces up to 1,170 mm placed directly on the base. Continuously adjustable speed from 400-1,950 rpm: for applications with variable diameter tools, the Vario system is functionally superior to stepped systems. The digital speed and spindle travel display + cross-laser device for centering are included as standard, as in BM Vario models. The SBM is preferable to the BM Vario for: large workpieces that cannot be placed on the table of a compact bench drill, applications with tall welded structures or bulky frames, drilling large diameter cylindrical workpieces that require greater vertical space. Typical application sectors: metalworking with medium welded structures, mechanical assembly workshops with large frames, prototyping laboratories for bulky workpieces.
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 taper or MT 2 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 adjustable speed + centering laser; SBM Vario (SBM 16/20 Vario) pillar drill with greater height than BM Vario; 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 SBM 16 Vario / 400 V is the SBM Vario model with identical features to the BM Vario but with a pillar structure of greater height: max spindle-table distance 690 mm vs 440 mm for the BM Vario, spindle-base distance 1,170 mm vs 630 mm. For tall workpieces that cannot be placed on the BM Vario table, the SBM is the correct choice. For standard workpieces (height below 440 mm), the BM Vario is economically preferable (weight 46-57 kg vs 57-68 kg for the SBM). For higher capacities (Ø 25 mm), the B 430 Vario or SB 30 Profi models from the heavy pillar range are correctly dimensioned.
Logistics and Krollit support
Bernardo shipping in 5-9 working days (7 days for Southern Italy). Weight manageable with two people with care. HSS drill bits, milling chucks, tapping devices, LED lamps, original Bernardo spare parts (belts, motors, keyless chucks, taper shafts, T-nuts) available from stock with shipping in 3-5 working days. Customer support available in Italian.
Who the SBM 16 Vario / 400 V is for
| Profile |
Compatibility |
Reason |
| Workshop with drilling on tall workpieces up to 690 mm |
Recommended |
Spindle-table distance 690 mm and spindle-base 1,170 mm: dimensions higher than BM Vario bench drills (440/630 mm). |
| Precision workshop with adjustable speed |
Recommended |
Vario speed 400-1,950 rpm, digital speed + spindle travel display, centering laser included. |
| Workshop with standard workpieces under 440 mm height |
Adequate |
For standard workpieces, the corresponding BM Vario is economically preferable with similar performance and a more compact structure. |
Not suitable for: drilling diameters over Ø 16 mm (for Ø 25 mm B 430 Vario needed, for Ø 32 mm SB 30 Profi); heavy industrial applications requiring higher stability (KBM fixed column models needed).
Working capacity
| Specification |
Value |
| Drilling capacity in steel |
Ø 16 mm |
| Chuck |
1-16 mm / B 18 |
| Morse taper chuck |
MT 2 |
Speed and travel
| Specification |
Value |
| Spindle speed (continuous) |
400-1,950 rpm |
| Spindle travel |
80 mm |
Table and working dimensions
| Specification |
Value |
| Table dimensions |
285 × 285 mm |
| Table T-slots |
16 mm |
| Table tilt |
-45° to +45° |
| Spindle-column distance |
160 mm |
| Max spindle-table distance |
690 mm |
| Spindle-base distance |
1,170 mm |
| Column diameter |
72 mm |
| Base plate surface |
200 × 190 mm |
Motor and power supply
| Specification |
Value |
| Motor power S1 100% |
0.60 kW |
| Motor power S6 40% |
0.85 kW |
| Voltage |
400V three-phase / 50 Hz |
| Protection standard |
IP 54 |
Dimensions and weight
| Specification |
Value |
| Machine dimensions (L × W × H) |
420 × 600 × 1,560 mm |
| Weight |
57 kg |
Compliance
| Specification |
Value |
| Marking |
CE |
| Directive |
Machinery 2006/42/CE |
Standard equipment
- Bernardo SBM 16 Vario / 400 V drill
- Keyless chuck 1-16 mm / B 18
- Taper arbor MT 2 / B 18
- Digital display: speed + spindle travel
- Cross-laser device for centering
- Set of T-nuts for workpiece clamping
- Height-adjustable protection with microswitch
- Separate emergency switch
- Set of wrenches and service tools
- User manual in Italian
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between SBM Vario and BM Vario?
The SBM has a spindle-table distance of 690 mm and a spindle-base distance of 1,170 mm, vs 440/630 mm for the BM Vario. For tall workpieces that cannot be placed on the BM Vario table, the SBM is the correct choice. Same electronics (Vario display, centering laser).
The SBM is structured as a pillar drill (tall vertical structure) vs the bench-mounted BM (compact structure). Other technical characteristics (drilling capacity, motor, chuck, table) are comparable between models of similar capacity. For workshops primarily drilling standard workpieces under 440 mm, the corresponding BM Vario is economically preferable with similar performance and a more compact structure (weight 46-57 kg vs 57-68 kg, lower price). For workshops with tall workpieces, the SBM is correctly dimensioned.
Is the pillar structure more stable than the bench drill?
Yes, marginally. The Ø 72 mm vertical column and weight of 57-68 kg offer slightly higher stability than the bench-mounted BM (weight 46-57 kg). For applications with heavy drilling (Ø 18-20 mm on steel), higher stability reduces spindle vibrations.
For standard applications (drilling Ø below 12 mm on mild steel), the difference in stability is marginal. For heavy industrial applications requiring higher stability, the B 430 Vario (column Ø 80 mm, weight 100 kg) or SB 30 Profi (column Ø 100 mm, weight 245 kg) models are correctly dimensioned. For series production with heavy workpieces, structural stability is a decisive characteristic for hole quality and tool life.
Does the Vario system require special maintenance?
Yes, periodic. The electronic variator requires annual contact inspection, and the variable diameter pulleys (Reeves system) require lubrication of the opening mechanism every 500 operating hours. Typical Vario belt replacement every 2-4 years in normal use.
Lubrication procedure: open the transmission cover, apply specific lithium grease for pulleys to the opening/closing mechanisms of the pulleys, manually rotate the speed adjustment knob to distribute the grease. Vario belts are of a special type (wider and more flexible than standard belts) to allow for variable diameter: original Bernardo spare parts available from stock with shipping in 3-5 working days.
Can I use the SBM Vario for tapping?
Only if it has R/L rotation (some models). The SBM 20 Vario 400V has dedicated right/left rotation; the standard SBM 16 Vario does not. For tapping with a tap, R/L rotation is necessary for automatic tap ejection from the hole.
For occasional tapping on SBM Vario without R/L, it is possible to use hand taps (only require stationary spindle guidance): less precise but sufficient for occasional applications. For precision tapping on steel, R/L rotation is a decisive characteristic: manual rotation of the stationary spindle causes uneven tap torsion (risk of thread breakage). For frequent M tapping, the SB 30 Profi is correctly dimensioned with R/L rotation and higher capacity.
Does the SBM have a 360° swiveling table?
No. The SBM table is only inclinable ±45° (like BM/TB). For a table that swivels 360° around the column, the B 430 Vario is correctly dimensioned.
A 360° swiveling table allows workpiece positioning at any angle: a decisive characteristic for angled drilling on cylindrical workpieces, radial holes on flanges, prototyping operations with non-standard angles. For standard applications with vertical or ±45° angled holes, inclinable-only tables are sufficient. For applications with complex angles, the B 430 Vario is the correct choice.
