What is this drill press used for?

[dbonne]

Found this on my local Craigslist for $1500. Haven't seen anything quite like this before, Any idea's what it is used for?

Sorry the pic's are so small, that is all the guy posted.

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Looks like a coolant table, I cannot determine if it is magnetic or not.

 

[k p]

I really have no clue but I would guess it's some kind of production table where each DP would have a specific sized bit so you can sort of "work down the line" and drill different holes one at a time without changing bits.

That table is super cool too, that alone would make an amazing work surface (but not for $1500).

 

[uniballer]

http://twinfalls.craigslist.org/tls/4149592941.html

I believe it is used for faster production, each drill press has different bits in them.

 

[A_Pmech]

That's a gang drill. In a production environment each drill station will be set up to drill, ream or tap a different hole in the same part. Often, a drill jig will be used to locate the part relative to the spindle, which is why the table is large and flat.

 

[Neverfly]

What is this drill press used for?

It is used for drilling.

 

[BFBOB]

It's a po'boy gang drill. In a true gang drill (in the books I've read) The spindles share a common power source and are in a single housing. This looks like it was shop-built out of four ordinary drill presses bolted down to a steel table (coolant trough around edges?)
So, yes, it's a production piece as others have pointed out. Probably not worth it unless you have a use for it as is. To make the drill presses usable (that is, saleable) you'd need to get bases and tables for them, and good luck with that! You'd have a hard time keeping the table and one DP and selling the rest for enough to make it a good deal. Now, if you could get it for $500...
And, as a bargaining chip, not everyone has a way to move such a beast.
..of cours, I do

 

[PugetDude]

Production gang drill- each drill is set up with a specific size drill, reamer, tapping head, etc to facilatate repetitive production tasks without having to change tooling. Still in use in a lot of smaller job shops; mostly replaced by CNC equipment with auto tool change in larger production shops.

 

[jakemac]

This set-up has been around for some time. Here is a page from the 1945 Atlas catalog.

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[Steinmetz]

Found this on my local Craigslist for $1500. Haven't seen anything quite like this before, Any idea's what it is used for?

Sorry the pic's are so small, that is all the guy posted.

View media item 35072
View media item 35073
Looks like a coolant table, I cannot determine if it is magnetic or not.

Production. Each station was manned by a different operator who performed a predetermined step. For example, the first station might drill, while the second reamed the hole drilled at the first station, etc.

 

[G_P]

Since that is industrial equipment watch out that it does not have 3 phase motors.

 

[dbonne]

It does have 3 phase motors. I am not interested in buying it, unless it was under $500.

 

[justanengineer]

Those setups make dam nice welding tables. As drills go however theyre not really desireable, industry usually has better/faster modern equipment and the home hobbyists dont have the room. $1500 is hopeful to say the least, the last one I saw sell was $150 for a 3-headed Buffalo.

 

[zkling]

Since everything else was answered, no the table is not magnetic. Those are Delta 17" heads, probably slow speed and MT2 tapers. That is not going to be fun to move.

Figure $250 per head and $500 for the table. IMHO that is quite a bit over price for what it is. VERY limited market for that.

 

[ken w.]

Those come up often on Ebay and CL. Most that I have watched have sold pretty cheap.Less than $500.00. I almost bought a larger set up off Ebay for the $9.99 starting bid , but I would have had to pick it in NJ.This was a few years ago.

 

[Exceller8]

That is just about perfect for knife making.

 

[zkling]

That is just about perfect for knife making.

Ha ha, yep, about the only two crowds that those really appeal to are knife makers and gun smiths.

 

[BFBOB]

OK, I stand corrected. Did a quick search on the web and found that what I had seen was multi-spindle attachments to go on a regular drill press - or mill, I expect. So, I'm kinda right, but wrong about the OP setup being shopmade. The things ya learn!
Now that we know it's 3 phase, I'd say even $500 is high unless you have an actual use for it as-is.

 

[Reitwagen]

Common older machine shop item, like some people said it's a production drill. The trough is for coolant recovery. Most if not all of the major drill manufactures offered them in their catalogs.

I have a three head Walker Turner set that I love. Once you get used to having them it's hard to go back to a regular drill with a small table. Having 48 inches of table is a blessing with longer or bulky items? I usually keep a corner sink in one head so I can just slide the vice over to break the burr when doing smaller stuff.

Like other posters said the tables are cool. Use some set screws to close the mounting holes for the columns and you have a great teardown table for small engine stuff, motorcycle shocks, forks etc..

 

[CJCar]

Two of these just sold locally on Craigslist. $275 for a 4 spindle and $200 for a two spindle (asking price), both single phase (Atlas I think). Wasn't listed long...

 

[Steinmetz]

"...industry usually has better/faster modern equipment..." The Burgmaster, for example.