A drive motor connected to a drill bit serves to actuate the drill bit. An electric current is allowed to flow through the drive motor to activate the drive motor. A mechanism serves to feed the drill bit with respect to a workpiece. The current flowing through the drive motor is sensed. A device stores a value of the current which is sensed when the drill bit is out of engagement with the workpiece. A determination is made as to whether or not a drilling process is completed in accordance with a value of the present sensed current and the stored value of the sensed current.