A special purpose machine does one job very well. We start from the process (what is cut, welded, tested, assembled or handled) and work backward to cycle time, layout, drives and controls interface.
Our experience includes deep-hole gun drilling, deburring, pipe welding positioners, leak testing, floor boring and feeding systems. We design the mechanical side and coordinate with your controls and electrical team.
What We Do
Concept and layout
Two or three layouts compared on cost, footprint and risk before detail design starts.
Machine frame design
Welded or cast bases sized for stiffness, thermal stability and transport.
Motion and drive sizing
Servo, ballscrew, linear guide and gearbox selection by calculation.
Tooling and fixtures
Workholding that locates repeatably and loads quickly.
Safety-conscious design
Guarding, access and interlock points planned with the machine.
Prototype support
Answers to shop-floor questions during build and commissioning.
Typical Deliverables
- Concept layout and process description
- 3D model with motion study
- Frame and structure calculations
- Fabrication and assembly drawings
- Purchased-parts list with vendor data
- Operator and maintenance access notes
SPM design that starts from your process
A special purpose machine earns its cost only if it hits the cycle time, holds the quality and keeps running with ordinary maintenance. LTM designs SPMs by starting with the process itself: the operation, the part, the tolerance and the required output per shift. From there we work back to the layout, the motion sequence, the drives and the frame, and compare two or three concepts before committing to detail design.
This approach suits SPM builders who need extra design capacity, manufacturers who want a dedicated machine for one product, and companies replacing a manual operation that has become a bottleneck.
Special purpose machines we design
- Machining SPMs: gun drilling and deep-hole drilling, multi-spindle drilling and tapping, deburring and floor boring machines.
- Welding SPMs: internal pipe welding machines, positioners, rotators and welding fixtures.
- Test and inspection machines: water and air leak testing, pressure testing, dimensional inspection and reject stations.
- Assembly and process machines: pressing, taping, winding, feeding and indexing machines.
- Handling SPMs: loaders, unloaders, tilters, stoppers and transfer units for long or heavy parts.
From brief to a machine on your floor
A typical SPM project moves through four stages. First, a process study: we review the part, the operation and the target output, and agree the acceptance criteria. Second, concept: two or three layout options with a cycle time chart, main drive sizes and an indicative bill of materials, so you can compare cost and risk before detail design. Third, detail design: the full 3D model, calculations and drawings, reviewed with you at agreed checkpoints. Fourth, release and support: native files, PDFs and a parts list go to your fabricator, and we answer vendor and assembly questions until the machine runs.
Because the concept stage includes real calculations, the approved layout rarely changes during detail design, which keeps cost and schedule predictable.
What makes an SPM design reliable
Most SPM problems trace back to a few decisions made early: an undersized drive, a frame that flexes under cutting or clamping load, a fixture that cannot locate parts repeatably, or a layout that makes tool changes and maintenance slow. Each LTM design includes a cycle time study, motion and drive sizing with margin, frame stiffness checks, fixture location analysis and a review of guarding and operator access. These checks are written into the calculation report so they can be audited before fabrication starts.
Examples from past SPM work
Machines designed include a two-spindle gun drilling machine for medical shafts up to 500 mm long, an auto-feed CNC upgrade for a manual gun drilling machine, a two-spindle deburring machine, an internal pipe welding machine with 360° weld coverage for 12 to 14 inch pipe, coil taping machines with a 6-axis coil support, and a water leakage testing machine that accepts more than 13 pump casing types.
Deliverables and pricing
You receive a concept layout with process description, a 3D model with motion study, frame and drive calculations, fabrication and assembly drawings, a parts list with vendor data and notes for maintenance access. SPM concept designs are quoted at a fixed price, usually within 24 hours of receiving a brief. Mechanical design is coordinated with your controls and electrical team so the machine arrives ready for PLC and sensor integration.
Size the main components yourself with the free servo motor, pneumatic cylinder and cutting speed and power calculators.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information do you need to quote an SPM design?
A part drawing or sample, the operation to be performed, required output per hour or shift, available floor space and any preferred brands for drives, pneumatics and controls.
Do you build the machine as well as design it?
LTM provides the complete mechanical design and drawings, and supports your chosen fabricator or machine builder during manufacture, assembly and commissioning.
Can you upgrade an existing manual machine?
Yes. Retrofits such as adding CNC feed axes, automatic loading or new fixtures are designed around the existing machine with minimal downtime.
How long does an SPM design take?
Most concept-to-drawing deliveries take two to four weeks. Larger machines take longer, and the timeline is agreed in the fixed quote before work starts.
Can the SPM be built near our plant outside India?
Yes. Drawings are prepared to ISO or ASME practice with standard components available internationally, so a workshop near your plant can build the machine.
How an Engagement Works
Brief
You share the function, loads, space, cycle time and any drawings you already have.
Concept
We propose a concept with a layout sketch and the key calculations, so you can approve direction early.
Detail design
3D model, calculations, GD&T drawings and BOM, reviewed with you at agreed checkpoints.
Release and support
Native files and PDFs handed over, with support during fabrication and assembly.
Have a project in mind?
Send a short brief with sketches or specifications. You get a clear scope and a fixed quote, usually within one business day.