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Historically, single- and multi-spindle automatics and rotary transfer machines have been tooled to run specific jobs for extended periods of time. These might drop complete parts such as automotive, hydraulic or pneumatic fittings every few seconds. That said, builders of these machines are building flexibility into their designs to enable faster changeovers to new jobs. While still well-suited for high-volume production, new models can more readily accommodate smaller batch sizes.

Multi-spindles feature numerous machining stations having independent spindles through which barstock is fed into the workzone. The spindles are mounted in a drum that indexes them from one station to the next. Different operations are performed at each station until the part is completed. “Double drops” are also possible when only half of a machine’s stations are required to complete a part. In this case, the machine is essentially two in one, producing either two identical parts or two different parts in the same cycle. The animation below from Index demonstrates how an eight-spindle machine functions.

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Index now offers its new MS32-6 multi-spindle lathe, which is said to open the option of multi-spindle technology to a broader range of shops. This machine includes the company’s new tool slide platform that uses a W-serration interface to enable fast changeovers with precision locating. Additionally, a new quick-clamping system is said to make it easy to bring in tools that have been setup offline. Index says the combination of these features can cut setup times by more than 90%, enabling shops to achieve the high productivity multi-spindles are known for with versatility to run smaller lot sizes.

Multi-station rotary transfer machines function similarly, moving parts installed on an indexing vertical or horizontal table from machining station to station as shown in the following video from Hydromat.

Hydromat’s Eclipse is a redesign of the company’s rotary transfer platform using all electric servo spindles and slides. No hydraulics are used for tool spindle motion. The machine’s ductile iron casting is designed to use semi-permanent tool spindles each having three-axis capability. This is said to eliminate the need to change tool spindle sizes for different cutting processes or adding a three-axis flanges for that capability.

Builders such as Gnutti are similarly designing their machines with flexibility in mind. For example, the company’s Piccola machine processes coil stock in diameters as large as 13 mm. Machining from coil eliminates the need to change to new barstock sizes and enables shops to realize high material usage as there is no barstock remnant. But, in addition, the Piccola machine has a new multiple-station, tool change system that can accommodate as many as six tools. This offers versatility to run different jobs or have redundant tooling for long-running jobs.

Another model, the Double Front, produces parts from barstock. It features tool stations on either side of a vertical turret with part transfer from one side to the other. Having two independent chucks for each station is said to make it possible to better split the operations without having limits on backworking operations. Reliance Worldwide Corporation has three such machine in its Cullman, Alabama facility as part of machining and assembly cells producing its popular SharkBite push-to-connect plumbing fittings.

Similarly, with its MultiX rotary transfer platform, Mikron says it has placed the emphasis on its configurability, scalability and flexibility. These machines offer true turning capabilities and the ability to have up to three tools in the cut in one station (a machine can have 4-24 stations). All standard machining units are exchangeable and precisely repositionable. Therefore, a machine configured for one job can be re-configured for another job by exchanging machining units. In addition, different toolholders are available and multiple tools can be mounted on each unit. The zero-point workholding concept is what enables repeatable positioning and fast changeovers.

Porta’s PortaCenter concept was also developed to meet the needs of high-mix production as the company says the total volume of parts needed continues to rise, but the lot sizes are shrinking. These standard model machines have three 4-axis machining stations and one load/unload station and offer — in a single unit — an alternative to multiple, conventional 4-axis horizontal machining centers (HMCs). This is said to reduce costs related to fixturing, tooling, labor, floorspace, inspection and utilities while providing fast changeovers to new jobs. In fact, the company says the PortaCenter’s additional A and U axes enable it to machine parts in one setup that a conventional HMC cannot. The standard PortaCenter ISO40 model offers a 10” work envelope, but the company now offers its ISO50 model, which has a 20” work envelope to accommodate larger parts. Setups are made faster with quick-change pallet systems such as is demonstrated below.