New Britain Model 52

Best economic fit for the Model 52 at 52 mm bar: (1) Hydraulic hose fittings and couplings in steel and brass - NPT and BSP thread bodies, swage ferrules, and connector bodies in 35-52 mm bar at high volumes; (2) Plumbing fittings in brass - larger pipe nipples, union bodies, and valve stems in 40-52 mm bar; (3) Industrial shafting components - spacers, bushings, and collar components in steel 30-52 mm bar; (4) Agricultural and heavy equipment hardware - clevis ends, rod ends, and heavy fasteners in 40-52 mm. The 8-spindle Model 52 is most cost-effective at production volumes of 500,000-5,000,000 pieces/year where the cam setup amortizes and the throughput advantage over single-spindle alternatives is largest.

New Britain parts availability: the company closed decades ago, so parts are entirely dependent on secondary market and specialty suppliers. Commonly replaced wear items (cross-slide ways, spindle components, cam followers) are available from screw machine rebuilders and specialty suppliers (National Machinery Exchange, Janda Company). Less common parts may require reverse engineering and custom fabrication from drawings. New Britain parts availability is generally considered slightly lower than Davenport (which still produces machines and parts) but better than some other discontinued brands due to the large installed base. Davenport parts availability: actively manufactured new machines and parts through Davenport Machine in Rochester, NY - clearly superior parts situation.

New Britain Model 52 vs Acme-Gridley RB-8: both are 8-spindle cam multi-spindle automatics in similar bar capacity ranges. Key differences: (1) Bar capacity: Model 52 is 52 mm (2 in); RB-8 standard is approximately 52 mm but varies by model variant - capacities are comparable. (2) Mechanical design: different gear and cam systems with machine-specific tooling that is not interchangeable. (3) End-working: both have back-working capability but the specific end-working head design differs, affecting accessory compatibility. (4) Parts availability: both are discontinued brands in similar situations. In practice, a shop acquires whichever machine they find available in good condition from the secondary market, since both provide similar production capability for the bar size range.

Used New Britain Model 52 inspection: (1) Run all 8 spindles and verify consistent rotation without vibration or noise; (2) Check spindle carrier indexing mechanism for smooth operation and minimal backlash; (3) Inspect all 8 cross-slide ways for excessive wear (should feel smooth without wobble or binding); (4) Check camshaft and cam followers for wear patterns - worn cam followers cause speed variation and part inconsistency; (5) Verify end-working head operation on all 8 positions; (6) Check bar feed mechanism for smooth operation; (7) Run a test part on each station to verify dimensional consistency; (8) Review maintenance records if available; (9) Verify availability of any specific cam profiles already on the machine (existing cams for current jobs have significant value); (10) Verify spindle speeds available in the gearbox match planned production requirements.

Unlike the Davenport CNC which has an integrated factory upgrade program, the New Britain Model 52 does not have an OEM-supported CNC conversion. Custom CNC conversion is technically possible: replacing the cam cross-slides with CNC servo linear axes, adding servo drives and a modern CNC, and retaining the mechanical spindle drive and indexing. This type of conversion has been done by specialty retrofitters (companies like SMW and Merkle who specialize in screw machine CNC retrofits). Cost of a full CNC conversion: $80,000-$200,000 depending on scope, which may exceed the cost of a new CNC multi-spindle from Index or Tornos. For most shops, the CNC conversion economics do not favor retrofit; buying a new CNC multi-spindle is the preferred path to CNC capability at this capacity level.