a method of , and apparatus for automatically machining work pieces , wherein a plurality of single spindle units are fixedly attached to a support , and the work pieces are maneuvered in front of the work units by a translatable table . the number of single spindle work units is determined by the formula 2n - 1 , wherein n is the number of machining operations to be performed on each work piece . as such , there is an odd number of work units thereby creating a central unit which carrys out the last machining operation to be performed in the work piece . the axes of the work units are precisely equally spaced from one another , and this spacing equals the spacing between the work pieces . the apparatus is cyclically operated so that a plurality of work pieces can be worked on simultaneously by individual work units and a new work piece can be loaded when the machining operation is completed on a previously loaded work piece .