Importance

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Abstract

A multiple station drilling apparatus is used for performing a large number of repetitive but variable machining operations, and includes a turntable having a plurality of workpiece holding fixtures distributed in spaced relation around its periphery, a plurality of tool supports mounted around and outward of the periphery to provide a sequence of machining stations, a load/unload station for the mounting of workpieces on the fixtures and their removal therefrom, and a motor for driving the turntable in an indexing fashion to bring workpieces held in the fixtures successively into registry with the machining stations. Each tool support includes at least one X-Y positioner which in turn supports a machining tool such as a reciprocating drill. Each machining tool, its associated X-Y positioner, and the turntable are actuated by a control such that the turntables index the workpieces to successive machining stations, and at each station, the X-Y positioners repeatedly position their respective machining tools independently of each other such that each machining tool performs a series of repetitive machining operations within a separate predetermined area on the workpiece.

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First Claim