A high throughput drilling system for printed circuit board hole formation. Two
spindles are disposed at each spindle station, doubling the number of holes produced
in a given time period. Each spindle in connected to an overhead linear drive by
a mini slide. A first set of the spindles, one for each spindle station, is driven
by a first X axis linear drive. A second set is driven by a second X axis linear
drive. The work piece table is elongated to support work pieces for all stations,
and is supported by a set of bearing guides, with outrigger bearings coupled to
the table by flexure mounts that relieve stress due to differential temperature
expansion rates between the work piece table and the base table. High speed spindles
are employed to obtain higher productivity, with larger holes routed by router
tools, eliminating the need for stocking large drill sizes on the system tool changer.