Hardinge Inc. (www.hardingetooling.com) has introduced bearing spindle indexers for applications involving heavy parts, heavy cutting forces and high tailstock thrusts. The Hardinge Robust Indexers have dual bearing units at the front and middle of the spindle, to support up to 500-lb parts and handle axial tailstock thrust to 1000 lb. The heavy-duty 5C indexers have low-profile spindle noses and removable handles for increased tool clearance.
As many as four indexers with tailstocks mount for multipart processing. Bearing spindle indexers are available in single, dual, triple and quad units. Options include manual or pneumatic tailstocks and a choice of collet closers including a fail-safe, through-hole model with a 1.080-in. through-hole for bar feeding, through-coolant and long parts. The air-open, spring-close failsafe design keeps parts clamped if air is lost. Drawbar travel of 0.0625 in. allows 0.015-in. loading clearance without adjustment.
The bearing spindle indexer integrates with CNC applications as a fourth axis using a Hardinge all-digital servo control and a CNC interface cable, or by connecting via the RS-232 port and interface cable or by using the capabilities of the machine's CNC control and motor amplifier.
