Drilling production setup: To perform drilling, reaming, counterboring, and related operations on one workpiece efficiently, which machine arrangement is most suitable?

Introduction / Context:
In production environments, several hole-making operations—drilling, reaming, countersinking, and counterboring—are often required on the same part. Minimizing setups reduces time and improves positional accuracy. Choosing the right drilling machine arrangement is key.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Multiple sequential operations on one workpiece.
• Desire to reduce handling and fixture changes.
• Typical shop equipment options are available.

Concept / Approach:
A gang drilling machine mounts several individual drilling heads (or spindles) in a line on one table. The workpiece is clamped once and moved along the line or brought under successive spindles, each set up for a specific operation (e.g., drill → ream → counterbore). This enables quick operation changes without re-clamping.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Multiple spindle machines are ideal when many holes must be drilled simultaneously in a pattern. Radial drills suit large/heavy workpieces with flexible reach, and sensitive drills are for light, precise hand-fed drilling—not multi-operation production flow.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Sensitive drilling: great feel and accuracy for small work, but slow for multi-operation production.
• Radial drilling: flexible reach, not optimized for multiple sequential tools on one clamp.
• Multiple spindle: best for many holes at once, not for varied operations in sequence.

Common Pitfalls:
Confusing simultaneous multi-hole drilling (multiple spindle head) with sequential multi-operation processing (gang setup).

Final Answer:
Gang drilling machine