Hydromat HT-32

$500,000 - $800,000 (new); $150,000 - $350,000 (reconditioned) Updated 2026-03-17

Key Specifications

max bar diameter

32 mm (1.26 in)

number of stations

8 machining stations + 1 load/unload

indexing type

Hydraulic rotary table, precision-ground

index repeatability

< 3 arcseconds

spindle power per station

1 – 5 kW (configurable)

max spindle speed

Up to 6,000 RPM (drilling/tapping units)

Overview

The Hydromat HT-32 is a CNC rotary transfer machining system from Hydromat Inc., a St. Louis, Missouri-based manufacturer that pioneered the rotary transfer machining concept for high-volume precision part production. The HT-32 is the smallest model in the HT (Horizontal Transfer) series, built around a rotary indexing table with 8 stations, each capable of holding a horizontal spindle unit — drill heads, tapping units, milling heads, or boring modules. The 32 in the model designation refers to the maximum bar stock diameter capacity of 32 mm (1.26 in). Rotary transfer machines occupy a unique niche between single-spindle CNC lathes and multi-spindle screw machines: they process multiple workpieces simultaneously at multiple stations, completing all machining operations in one cycle time equal to the longest single station's cycle.

The HT-32 is built on a rigid, precision-ground cast iron base with a hydraulically-indexed rotary table providing sub-arcsecond repeatability between stations. Each station can be equipped with independent spindle units rated from 1 to 5 kW depending on the operation required. Typical HT-32 configurations include 8 active machining stations plus one load/unload position, enabling complex prismatic or rotational parts to receive drilling, reaming, tapping, milling, and boring operations in a single clamping. This one-chuck manufacturing approach eliminates the accumulated error from re-fixturing that degrades precision in multi-operation sequential machining.

Hydromat's HT series machines are particularly well-suited to components in the automotive, hydraulic, pneumatic, and fluid power industries where prismatic aluminum or steel housings require numerous precisely located cross-holes, threaded ports, milled faces, and bored bores. Typical HT-32 components include hydraulic manifolds, pneumatic valve bodies, fuel system fittings, and connector housings. Cycle times for these part types typically run 8-20 seconds on a fully-loaded HT-32, yielding 180-450 parts per hour from a machine that requires only one operator for loading and unloading.

New HT-32 systems price in the $500,000 to $800,000 range depending on the number and type of spindle units configured. This investment is justified at production volumes typically above 50,000 parts per year, where the combined cycle time advantage, labor reduction, and quality improvement over multi-operation CNC machining centers delivers payback within 2-4 years. The used HT-32 market is active — Hydromat machines are well-maintained by production shops and trade in the $150,000-$350,000 range for reconditioned units.

Full Specifications

Parameter	Value
Max Bar Diameter	32 mm (1.26 in)
Number Of Stations	8 machining stations + 1 load/unload
Indexing Type	Hydraulic rotary table, precision-ground
Index Repeatability	< 3 arcseconds
Spindle Power Per Station	1 – 5 kW (configurable)
Max Spindle Speed	Up to 6,000 RPM (drilling/tapping units)
Max Drilling Diameter	20 mm (0.79 in) in steel
Max Tapping Capacity	M16 in steel
Cycle Time Reference	8 – 20 seconds (application-dependent)
Workpiece Material	Aluminum, brass, steel, stainless steel
CNC Control	Siemens 840D sl or Allen-Bradley PLC with CNC axes
Machine Weight	Approx. 12,000 kg (26,455 lbs)
Floor Space Required	Approx. 3.5 x 3.2 m

Strengths & Limitations

Strengths

Simultaneous machining at 8 stations means cycle time equals only the longest single station — delivering throughput impossible with sequential CNC machining
One-clamping manufacturing eliminates fixture-to-fixture positional error, achieving ±0.010 mm inter-feature positioning accuracy on complex prismatic parts
Compact rotary layout puts 8 machining operations in roughly the same floor space as one horizontal machining center
Modular spindle units allow reconfiguration of station assignments when part designs change — protecting capital investment across product generations
Proven Hydromat rotary transfer platform with strong resale value and active used machine market

Limitations

High minimum production volume required — ROI typically requires 50,000+ parts/year to justify the $500,000+ investment over CNC machining centers
Long setup and changeover times — reconfiguring spindle units, tooling, and fixtures between very different part families can take 4-8 hours
Limited to shorter prismatic components — parts longer than approximately 150 mm require specialized fixturing or are not suitable for rotary transfer

Best For

Automotive fluid power component manufacturers producing hydraulic manifolds, pneumatic valve bodies, and fuel fittings at 100,000+ annual volumes Precision turned parts producers who need cross-drilling, tapping, and milling operations completed in the same cycle as the primary turning operation Defense and aerospace parts suppliers machining small aluminum or steel housings with multiple precision-located drilled and tapped ports High-volume connector and fitting manufacturers where consistent cycle times and minimal labor content per part are operational requirements

Frequently Asked Questions

01 What is the difference between a Hydromat rotary transfer machine and a multi-spindle screw machine?

A multi-spindle screw machine (Davenport, New Britain, Wickman) is designed for turned parts from bar stock — the workpiece rotates against fixed or driven tools. A Hydromat rotary transfer machine holds the workpiece stationary in a fixture on the indexing table and brings rotating tool spindles to it at each station. This makes rotary transfer ideal for prismatic parts (housings, manifolds, blocks) that need operations on multiple faces, while screw machines excel at high-volume turned components (screws, pins, fittings) from bar stock.

02 How does Hydromat HT-32 cycle time compare to a machining center?

For a typical 8-operation part requiring drilling, reaming, tapping, and milling on multiple faces, a machining center might take 90-180 seconds with tool changes and repositioning. The HT-32 completes the same part in 8-20 seconds because all operations run simultaneously at different stations — only the longest single station's time determines the cycle. At 10-second cycles, the HT-32 produces 360 parts per hour versus 20-40 parts per hour from a machining center.

03 What size parts does the HT-32 accommodate?

The HT-32 handles prismatic parts up to approximately 100 mm cube and bar or rotational stock up to 32 mm diameter. The 8 fixturing stations on the rotary table can be configured for part families within this size envelope. Parts significantly larger than the 100 mm cube, or those requiring deep pocket milling, are better suited to the larger HT-45 or HT-57 models.

04 Does Hydromat offer automation for the HT-32?

Yes. Hydromat offers robotic load/unload integration, vibratory bowl feeders, hopper systems, and part transport conveyors for the HT-32. Automating the load/unload station converts the machine to fully unattended operation for the machining cycle. For high-volume production, automated HT-32 systems are often configured to run with a single operator monitoring multiple machines rather than loading one.

05 What industries use Hydromat HT-32 machines most frequently?

The HT-32 is most common in automotive fluid power (hydraulic and pneumatic component suppliers), automotive fuel systems, industrial valves and fittings, defense hardware, and precision connector manufacturing. The 32 mm maximum diameter is well-matched to the typical size range of fittings, valve bodies, and connectors in these industries.