Davenport Model B

The Davenport Model B is the CNC-upgraded evolution of the original Davenport multi-spindle automatic screw machine platform that has been a fixture in high-volume precision parts manufacturing since the early twentieth century. The Model B CNC retrofit and rebuild program transforms the proven 5-spindle Davenport mechanical architecture with modern CNC controls, servo drives, and programmable axis motion, preserving the rugged mechanical reliability that made Davenport the dominant multi-spindle platform in North American screw machine shops while adding the flexibility advantages of numerical control.

The Model B operates on the classic Davenport 5-spindle indexing drum principle: five workspindles are arranged in a rotating drum, each spindle simultaneously machining a different stage of the part operation while indexing through five positions. This fundamental architecture—unchanged in its core geometry—delivers the throughput advantage that defines multi-spindle production: cycle time equals the single longest individual operation, not the sum of all operations. For a part requiring five distinct machining operations, the Model B produces one completed part per cycle regardless of total accumulated machining content.

The CNC conversion of the Model B platform centers on replacing the original camshaft-driven cross-slide and end-working motions with servo-driven NC axes under CNC control. Where the original Davenport required physical cam profiles to be ground, timed, and adjusted to define tool motion, the Model B CNC uses programmed axis paths executed by servo motors—transforming a changeover that once required specialized cam-grinding expertise and multiple days into a part program download and tool offset adjustment that can be accomplished in a fraction of the time. This conversion fundamentally changes the economic profile of the Davenport platform, opening it to medium-run production that was previously uneconomical on cam-type machines.

The Model B CNC retains the Davenport's proven mechanical elements: the precision-ground indexing drum, the robust spindle carrier, the sturdy cast iron base, and the compact 5-spindle arrangement that fits within the footprint of a typical screw machine shop cell. Bar stock feeding, spindle drive, and coolant systems are retained and upgraded as part of the conversion package. The result is a machine that combines decades of Davenport mechanical refinement with contemporary CNC capability—a particularly compelling combination for shops with existing Davenport mechanical expertise and tooling inventories.

For North American screw machine shops producing precision components in brass, aluminum, stainless steel, and free-machining steels, the Model B CNC represents a practical modernization path that leverages existing operator knowledge while adding programmability. Typical applications include hydraulic fittings, pneumatic connectors, electronic hardware, automotive fasteners, and medical device components—parts where the 5-spindle architecture delivers optimal throughput for diameters up to approximately 5/8 inch (16mm) in the standard configuration.