A multi-spindle machine is a screw machine that is made in a way that it can cut materials into small pieces in a simultaneous manner through the use of a number of tools.

This machine possesses multiple spindles which are found on a drum that rotates in a horizontal manner. One rotation of the drum can complete the number of operations that need to be carried out for a part to be finished and the drum does this through the division of the required work among the number of spindles in the machine.

Machines

This makes this machine very efficient as a part of the operation will be completed with every rotation of the drum. Multiple spindle machines come in two types: vertical and horizontal rotation.

Multi Spindle Drill Head

The drill head of a multi-spindle machine typically consists of a number of spindles that have been mounted on ball bearings that are driven by gears. The choice of bearings that will be used in the drill head depends on the distance between the spindles.

For example, where spindles are quite close to each other, roller thrust ball bearings will be used. An induction motor is used to drive the spindles and the speed with which the motor operates the spindles is governed by a variable frequency drive.

They are used in mass production because of their high efficiency during operation and they also save on a lot of time where many holes need to be drilled at a time. They increase the productivity in a company and they drill holes on the same machinery of the same size which allows the holes to be interchangeable.

Multi Spindle Drill Head Attachments

A multi-spindle machine can have two types of attachments: fixed or adjustable. In the adjustable drilling head, you can vary the centre distance of the drilling spindle to fit your requirements whereas in the fixed drilling head, you cannot change the centre distance.

 

For both of these attachments, you stand to gain immensely as they both increase the productivity of your operations, the time taken to drill one hole will be equal to the time taken to drill a number of holes and such drilling ensures accuracy of positions of the holes.

Multi Spindle Drill Head Design

A multiple drill head consists of the following parts: gears, an adjustable transmission system, ball bearings, top plates, a drill chuck, bottom plates, a drill tool, a shank, a key and a shaft.

Multi Spindle Lathe

A lathe is a tool that is used to rotate the material being worked on its axis to allow the performance of operations such as cutting, deformation and turning through the use of tools applied on the work-piece.

For mass production, multi spindle lathes are preferred due to the fact that their production is as much as four to six times higher compared to what a single lathe machine can offer you. Their accuracy is also much higher and they save on a lot of time.

Multi Spindle Automatic Lathe

This type of machine has the ability to provide various types of operations which include boring holes, turning, chamfering, threading, grooving as well as drilling and this is done by moving the piece that is being worked on between six to eight positions in the machine.

Automatic lathes

This tool can produce a very fast cycle time by dividing a single process to six or eight times, which enables you to complete a process fast and efficiently. This machine is much better than the single spindle lathe machine as it can produce a speed that is up to five times higher than what the single lathe machine can offer you. The good thing about using this machine is that you can greatly vary the speed according to your needs for the best results.

The machine achieves a fast cycle as follows. The whole process to be carried out will be divided by the number of spindles in the machine. Supposing that the machine that you are using has six spindles, the process will be divided into six processes that will be carried out simultaneously.

The steps that take the longest time are the loading and the unloading of the material to be worked on. This long position time taken to load and unload the work-piece equates to the total cycle time taken in working on the material.

This is unlike in a single spindle lathe machine whereby the total duration taken to work on a material is the addition of all the whole period in which the material is worked on as the processes are not divided into smaller sub-processes to save on time.

The Difference Between Single Spindle And Multi Spindle Lathes

Difference between single and multi spindle lathes

  1. Productivity: you have probably heard of people praising the production levels of multi spindle lathes based on their high efficiency levels. This is because a multi spindle machine will typically have six main spindles whereas single spindle lathe machines will have one main spindle that works together with the help of a sub-spindle. This means that a sophisticated single lathe machine will be able to perform four operations simultaneously at most. Given that multi-spindle machines work under the same concept as a single lathe machine which performs two operations per spindle, you can imagine just how much more work you can get done by using a multi spindle machine. Where there are remaining operations during the process in a multi spindle machine, they can be handled by the sub-spindle, making the process even more efficient.
  2. Energy efficiency: the less the number of machines that you use to achieve the same results that can be derived from using a series of machines, the less the energy costs you will incur in your operation. It will use less energy when compared to the number of single lathe machines that you will need to get the same results.
  3. Space savings: a multi spindle machine uses up much less space as compared to a single lathe machine and for a company that is short on space, this kind of machine is the best option.

A multi spindle lathe machine not only offers you high production levels, but it also offers you savings on time and space, which will make your operations all the more efficient.

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