{"id":3669,"date":"2026-06-22T16:47:12","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T16:47:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/?p=3669"},"modified":"2026-06-22T16:47:15","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T16:47:15","slug":"how-multi-station-machine-tools-increase-production-efficiency-yato-machine","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/how-multi-station-machine-tools-increase-production-efficiency-yato-machine\/","title":{"rendered":"How Multi-Station Machine Tools Increase Production Efficiency | YATO Machine"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Introduction<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By the time 2026 rolls around, manufacturers lining up on the brass valve production, brass fittings machining, plumbing hardware manufacturing side of the ledger, are no longer arguing about whether automation results in higher output. Enough experience exists throughout the industry to have the debate switch to which machine does the least-expensive job of making a valve and robotically transferring it to the next machine at the required tolerances thousands of times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From steel valve body production to the machining of ball valves and transfer machine integration projects, to manufacturers who crank out plumbing fittings at enormous rates, we take away one answer: a properly designed Multi-Station Machine Tool often turns in 2 to 8 times the work of a conventional CNC machining center in the same floor space and with fewer operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For the factory making the same run-of-the-mill valve body and other plumbing work in medium to large quantities, a properly designed Multi-Station Machine Tool gives a lower cost per part than using CNC Machining Machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Single CNC Machines Start Getting Slow<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A major attraction of the CNC Machine Tool is its flexibility. But the flexibility comes with a penalty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A brass valve that we are machining in the first of several CNC Machines has to be:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>face milled<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>drilled<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>cross drilled<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>tapped<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>slotted<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Fungus treatment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>deburred<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since the machine is a vertical machining center, it gets run through sequentially:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Operation Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Operation<\/th><th>Time<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>tool changes<\/td><td>10-20 seconds<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>positioning movements<\/td><td>8-15 seconds<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>actual cutting<\/td><td>20-40 seconds<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>loading\/unloading<\/td><td>8-12 seconds<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total cycle<\/td><td>50-85 seconds<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not significantly, our new tool removes actual metal in less than half the seconds of the total cycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Where does the engineer go, then, in his attack on achieving big production shots? Not to increasing spindle speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He lands right in the groove of asking, \u201cWhere are idle seconds wasted?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because in idling is the worm that eats at the production apple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Multi-Station Tools Work<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Types of Multi-Station Machine Tools<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Multi-Station Machine Tool takes the entire sequence of machining operations and provides a dedicated station for each of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Typical layout<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Station 1<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Loading<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Face of part machined<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Station 2<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Main drilling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Station 3<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cross drilling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Station 4<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tapping<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Station 5<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Threaded joint machined<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Station 6<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Unloading<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A Servo Rotary Table or Rotary Indexing Machine of some sort, moves the part from station to station.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Instead of doing a series of machining operations sequentially, in a series of steps, several of them are done at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After indexing, every station performs its operation at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The format changes the kind of production from this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>one part, after another<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">to this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>one part each index cycle, or fast.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cycle Time Comparisons<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Actual production data from jobs machining brass valve bodies. 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Machine type, total number of ops to make complete part, cycle time, number of parts per hour on each machine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Putting the numbers into column form, we save on description:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Machine Type<\/th><th>Operations<\/th><th>Cycle Time<\/th><th>Output<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Vertical CNC<\/td><td>6 ops<\/td><td>70 sec<\/td><td>51 pcs.\/hr.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Two C.N.C.s<\/td><td>6 ops<\/td><td>40 sec<\/td><td>90 pcs.\/hr.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Vertical rotary transfer machine<\/td><td>6 ops<\/td><td>14 sec<\/td><td>257 pcs.\/hr.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Multi-Station tool<\/td><td>8 ops<\/td><td>10 sec<\/td><td>360 pcs.\/hr.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is not a misprint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The simple difference:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>70 sec. for a cycle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>10 sec. for a cycle<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">is a gain in productivity greater than 600 per cent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With brass ball valves, produced also in million piece quantities, there is no economy you can ignore!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Does Simultaneous Machining Bring Such Big Gains?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Elimination of Repeated Clamping<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you are going to run a number of parts on the same machine, there will be more than one position on any part that will have to be brought into position again to make a certain operation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every time you do this, several things can go wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There can be slight shifting, or mis-chucking<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the fixturing can be slightly different<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>the operator going back to this position may not remember the precise place he started from anyhow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A dedicated machining machine does all the work needed with only one reference point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Typical geometric improvements<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Position tolerance: \u00b10.05 mm \u2192 \u00b10.015 mm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Concentricity: 0.08 mm \u2192 0.02 mm<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thread alignment consistency: Improvement of about 60%<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Reduced Tool Change Time<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On conventional CNC Production Machines, Tool changing occupies from 15 to 25 percent of total cycle time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Multi-spindle heads, also called Multi-spindle Drilling Heads, drill several holes at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For instance, a brass valve body requiring six threaded ports:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Method<\/th><th>Drilling Time<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Single spindle<\/td><td>12 sec<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Multi-spindle head<\/td><td>3 sec<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">reduction of cycle time is about 75 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Parallel Machining instead of Faster Cutting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many neophyte machinists assume higher spindle speed is answer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But experienced process engineers know different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In fact increasing cutting speed of a tool 20 percent rarely means a 20 percent gain in output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tool life usually diminishes.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Heat is excessive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dimensional variation difficult to control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, since they breaker up the process into several stations, sometimes doubling or tripling output using conservative cutting values.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Biggest dividends accrue in machine architecture rather than a cavalier approach to machining parameters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Servo Rotary Tables Changed the Design Mindset in 2026<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier Rotary Transfer Machines used mechanical indexing in large part.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Servo Rotary Tables provide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Indexing Accuracy \u00b1 3-5 arc seconds<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Faster Acceleration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Programmable Points<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Electronic Synchronization<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Easier Recipe Changing<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Because of servo control Special Purpose Machine Tool can now run several product families rather than just one fixed component.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This has closed the gap that existed between tried and true Transfer Machines and flexible CNC Machining Machines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Manufacturers of:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ball Valves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Angle Valves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Gate Valves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plumbing Fittings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brass Manifolds<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">can frequently run several models on one machine platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Multi-Spindle Technology Delivers More Than Speed<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is easy to think the only benefit from multi-spindle heads is increased output.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The real benefit, however, is consistency.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you drill six holes at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tool wear is even.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The hole positions remain on center.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thermal distortion is more uniform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For brass valve bodies for example, that can improve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Thread engagement.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Leakage.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Part yield on assembly.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of our customers in the valve body assembly business claims they can reduce rejects in assembly by from 30% to 50% just by controlling dimensional accuracy with the machine (rather than allowing parts to wander squarely outside specs).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where Multi-Station Machine Tools Provide the Most Value<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Brass Valve Production<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Typical volume<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">200,000-3,000,000 parts<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recommended equipment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Brass Valve Machining Machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brass Valve Manufacturing Machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rotary Transfer Machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valve Machining Center<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ball Valve Production<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What\u2019s being machined<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cross holes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Internal threads<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sealing surfaces on faces<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recommended solutions<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Ball Valve Manufacturing Machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ball Valve Machining Machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Multi-Station Machine Tool<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valve CNC Machine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Plumbing Fittings Production<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Items include<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Elbows<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Couplings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Connectors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tee fittings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recommended equipment<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Brass Parts Machining Machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plumbing Fittings Machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brass Components Manufacturing Machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automatic Machining Machine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Water Valve Production Lines<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Items include<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Gate valves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Check valves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Angle valves<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Recommended machinery<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Valve Production Equipment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valve Automation Equipment<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valve Assembly Machine<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Automatic Valve Processing Machine<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Some Situations Where A Multi-Station Machines Is Not Your Best Move<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of course there are situations where a CNC Machining Machine makes more sense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Small Batch Production<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Annual production below 30,000 parts usually doesn\u2019t ramp up to warrant dedicated tooling up front.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Frequent Design Changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modifying a fixture more than 10 times a year can turn into a nasty expense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Highly Complex Geometry<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Components calling for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Five-axis interpolation<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Free-form surfaces<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tolerance finer than Aerospace standards<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">are best given soft-cutting CNC Machine Tools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Prototype Development<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Transfer Machines are built to repeat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Prototype work needs versatility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To try to squeeze a Rotary Indexing Machine into prototype work usually gives you a longer lead time rather than a shorter one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Practical Selection Matrix<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Production Volume<\/th><th>Equipment Recommended<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>&lt;30,000 pcs\/year<\/td><td>CNC Machining Machine<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>30,000-100,000 pcs\/year<\/td><td>CNC Machining Center<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>100,000-300,000 pcs\/year<\/td><td>Combined Machine Tool<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>300,000-1,000,000 pcs\/year<\/td><td>Multi-Station Machine Tool<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>&gt;1,000,000 pcs\/year<\/td><td>Rotary Transfer Machine<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This selection method has worked handily in brass valve work and plumbing hardware projects throughout 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How We\u2019re Changing Our Valve Manufacturing Equipment Design: Integrating the Digital Twin in Valve Manufacturing Equipment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Not every new trend affects the design of equipment manufacturers for the production of valves and fittings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Digital Twin Process Verification<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Machine builders are modeling:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Tool paths<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Thermals<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collision avoidance<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Production rhythm<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">before they cut steel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re talking about commissioning times reduced about 25-40 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">AI-Based Tool Wear Monitoring<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These days we can monitor:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Spindle load<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vibration<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Acoustic signals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">to allow predicting wear so we can replace the tool as needed rather than on a fixed schedule.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We\u2019re seeing unexpected reductions in \u201cdown time\u201d of as much as 20-35 percent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adaptive Servo Synchronization<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That Multi-Axis Machining Unit?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The one with the:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Multi-axis<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rotary table<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Spindle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Feed system<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Those elements, and others, are synchronized with real-time motion control that continuously adjusts positioning and speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here we\u2019re going sub-0.8 seconds on index times in our high-speed lines for brass valve production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Experienced Engineers Begin with Production \u201cRhythm.\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s true, old timer, that we have to decide how much spindle horsepower, and the maxi-speed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But after fifteen years spending the money on Machinery for Wall valves and elsewhere in the plant for the manufacturer of valves, I keep learning the same striking lesson.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A factory doesn\u2019t lose its edge because the spindle is too slow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It loses its edge because parts bump in the flow from hand to hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It appears we achieve more if we count output, quality, labor, and life of equipment, by knowing there is a rut everyone falls into when machining rhythm is set.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQ<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are Multi-station Machine Tools faster than a CNC machining center?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In high-volume production of valves and fittings, average cycle times can drop from the more normal reside of 60-80 seconds to 10-20 seconds, increasing hourly output by factor of two or three.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">From what production volume on should a factory \u201cwork in\u201d a Multi-station Machine Tool?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most manufacturers of brass valves and plumbing components, the annual output of 100,000 pieces is the \u201cstarting point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Above that number, and toward the more \u201cstock blowup\u201d high-side of 300K, we\u2019ve found results good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can one Multi-station Machine do all valve models?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most manufacturers tell us \u201cyes\u201d for production of multiple product families on a single thousand-station platform.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Too many different models does foul it up a bit, of course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is a Rotary transfer Machine putting the CNC Machining Machine out to pasture?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For prototypes, small batches, and highly complex components, the CNC Machine Tools still rate high.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For production run, we\u2019re looking to the Rotary Transfer Machine, naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who stands to lose the most in a hurry?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The typical Vertical of the line is still protecting every legal angle in pitches like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Brass Valve<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ball Valve<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Plumbing Fittings<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Water Valves<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Brass Components<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Metal Parts Prone to Warpage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Valve Automation Equipment lines.<\/li>\n<\/ul>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Introduction By the time 2026 rolls around, manufacturers lining up on the brass valve production, brass fittings machining, plumbing hardware manufacturing side of the ledger, are no longer arguing about whether automation results in higher output. Enough experience exists throughout the industry to have the debate switch to which machine does the least-expensive job of making a valve and robotically transferring it to the next machine at the required tolerances thousands of times. From steel valve body production to the machining of ball valves and transfer machine integration projects, to manufacturers who crank out plumbing fittings at enormous rates, we take away one answer: a properly designed Multi-Station Machine Tool often turns in 2 to 8 times the work of a conventional CNC machining center in the same floor space and with fewer operators. For the factory making the same run-of-the-mill valve body and other plumbing work in medium to large quantities, a properly designed Multi-Station Machine Tool gives a lower cost per part than using CNC Machining Machines. Why Single CNC Machines Start Getting Slow A major attraction of the CNC Machine Tool is its flexibility. But the flexibility comes with a penalty. A brass valve that we are machining in the first of several CNC Machines has to be: Since the machine is a vertical machining center, it gets run through sequentially: Operation Time Operation Time tool changes 10-20 seconds positioning movements 8-15 seconds actual cutting 20-40 seconds loading\/unloading 8-12 seconds Total cycle 50-85 seconds Not significantly, our new tool removes actual metal in less than half the seconds of the total cycle. Where does the engineer go, then, in his attack on achieving big production shots? Not to increasing spindle speed. He lands right in the groove of asking, \u201cWhere are idle seconds wasted?\u201d Because in idling is the worm that eats at the production apple. How Multi-Station Tools Work Types of Multi-Station Machine Tools A Multi-Station Machine Tool takes the entire sequence of machining operations and provides a dedicated station for each of them. Typical layout Station 1 Station 2 Station 3 Station 4 Station 5 Station 6 A Servo Rotary Table or Rotary Indexing Machine of some sort, moves the part from station to station. Instead of doing a series of machining operations sequentially, in a series of steps, several of them are done at once. After indexing, every station performs its operation at the same time. The format changes the kind of production from this: to this: Cycle Time Comparisons Actual production data from jobs machining brass valve bodies. 2026. Machine type, total number of ops to make complete part, cycle time, number of parts per hour on each machine. Putting the numbers into column form, we save on description: Machine Type Operations Cycle Time Output Vertical CNC 6 ops 70 sec 51 pcs.\/hr. Two C.N.C.s 6 ops 40 sec 90 pcs.\/hr. Vertical rotary transfer machine 6 ops 14 sec 257 pcs.\/hr. Multi-Station tool 8 ops 10 sec 360 pcs.\/hr. That is not a misprint. The simple difference: is a gain in productivity greater than 600 per cent. With brass ball valves, produced also in million piece quantities, there is no economy you can ignore! Why Does Simultaneous Machining Bring Such Big Gains? Elimination of Repeated Clamping When you are going to run a number of parts on the same machine, there will be more than one position on any part that will have to be brought into position again to make a certain operation. Every time you do this, several things can go wrong. A dedicated machining machine does all the work needed with only one reference point. Typical geometric improvements Reduced Tool Change Time On conventional CNC Production Machines, Tool changing occupies from 15 to 25 percent of total cycle time. Multi-spindle heads, also called Multi-spindle Drilling Heads, drill several holes at once. For instance, a brass valve body requiring six threaded ports: Method Drilling Time Single spindle 12 sec Multi-spindle head 3 sec reduction of cycle time is about 75 percent. Parallel Machining instead of Faster Cutting Many neophyte machinists assume higher spindle speed is answer. But experienced process engineers know different. In fact increasing cutting speed of a tool 20 percent rarely means a 20 percent gain in output. However, since they breaker up the process into several stations, sometimes doubling or tripling output using conservative cutting values. Biggest dividends accrue in machine architecture rather than a cavalier approach to machining parameters. Servo Rotary Tables Changed the Design Mindset in 2026 Earlier Rotary Transfer Machines used mechanical indexing in large part. Servo Rotary Tables provide Because of servo control Special Purpose Machine Tool can now run several product families rather than just one fixed component. This has closed the gap that existed between tried and true Transfer Machines and flexible CNC Machining Machines. Manufacturers of: can frequently run several models on one machine platform. Multi-Spindle Technology Delivers More Than Speed It is easy to think the only benefit from multi-spindle heads is increased output. The real benefit, however, is consistency. When you drill six holes at once. For brass valve bodies for example, that can improve. One of our customers in the valve body assembly business claims they can reduce rejects in assembly by from 30% to 50% just by controlling dimensional accuracy with the machine (rather than allowing parts to wander squarely outside specs). Where Multi-Station Machine Tools Provide the Most Value Brass Valve Production Typical volume 200,000-3,000,000 parts Recommended equipment Ball Valve Production What\u2019s being machined Recommended solutions Plumbing Fittings Production Items include Recommended equipment Water Valve Production Lines Items include Recommended machinery Some Situations Where A Multi-Station Machines Is Not Your Best Move Of course there are situations where a CNC Machining Machine makes more sense. Small Batch Production Annual production below 30,000 parts usually doesn\u2019t ramp up to warrant dedicated tooling up front. Frequent Design Changes Modifying a fixture more than 10 times a year can turn into a nasty expense. Highly Complex Geometry Components<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-service-support"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3669","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3669"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3669\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3670,"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3669\/revisions\/3670"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3669"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3669"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/yatomachine.com\/it\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3669"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}