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It may have a small footprint, but the Hardinge Inc., Workholding Division, GD5C2 rotary indexer packs a big punch. It weighs only 55 pounds so that you can place it without a hoist.
Inside this small body are dynamic mechanics that deliver precision parts 24-hours per day in a thoroughly-sealed system that keeps coolant out and lubricant" 1) A robust, dual-bearing spindle accommodates heavy radial and axial loads increasing overall indexing capabilities. 50-lb (23kg) part weight and 500-lb (2224N) tailstock thrust per spindle is not a problem even on a quad unit with tailstocks. The 2) spindle, 3) worm drive shaft and 4) cross-axis helical gear are machined on a Hardinge super-precision lathe and then finish-ground for high accuracy and repeatability. 5) Double eccentrics provide fine gear mesh adjustment for extended life and improved accuracy over time.
The Hardinge GD5C2 rotary indexer seems to combine all the right ingredients to make precision parts – speed, flexibility and ruggedness. Maximum runout of two-tenths total indicator reading is standard. Final inspection is performed using a Heidenhain encoder mounted directly on the spindle nose to assure final positioning accuracy and repeatability. To back up the inspection, a printout of accuracy is shipped with each product.
The list of indexing applications is long. This indexer can be used to position parts for milling, drilling, tapping, contouring, engraving, grinding, welding, assembly and automation. It takes so little space that you can leave it mounted along with other clamping devices on your machine bed. Looking at the spindle, we see that the extended spindle nose, curved front casting and removable handle provides good tooling clearance. The standard indexer package uses the Hardinge all-digital servo control. Features include infrared program upload capability and storage capacity for up to 50 programs (with up to 1000 steps each). The multiple-line display will show large amounts of data without scrolling.
The two cables on the indexer connect to the servo control and the servo control plugs into a grounded AC receptacle. Other servo control options include the use of an RS-232 interface, a CNC interface cable using M-codes or a combination of both. The indexer is most productive as a true fourth-axis. In this case, the indexer is directly connected to the machine, fully operating with the other axes without the use of the servo control.
The Hardinge GD5C2 rotary indexer is industry compatible for drop-in replacement with fast 360 degree per second indexing speed. The Hardinge design incorporates their high-precision collet-ready spindle that adds gripping flexibility to the package. Collets, step chucks, expanding collets and manual jaw chucks can be used with a collet closer. This allows a wide variety of gripping options to handle most part sizes, shapes and materials. And the tooling can be borrowed from or shared with a lathe. Unlike other rotary vendors, Hardinge manufactures both the rotary indexer and the workholding products for a complete ready-to-use package.
Choose from single, dual, triple and quad spindle configurations. For larger, heavier parts take a look at the 16C/3J models. The GD5C2 rotary indexer with a collet closer and servo control starts at $7800.00.
Related Glossary Terms
- clearance
clearance
Space provided behind a tool’s land or relief to prevent rubbing and subsequent premature deterioration of the tool. See land; relief.
- collet
collet
Flexible-sided device that secures a tool or workpiece. Similar in function to a chuck, but can accommodate only a narrow size range. Typically provides greater gripping force and precision than a chuck. See chuck.
- computer numerical control ( CNC)
computer numerical control ( CNC)
Microprocessor-based controller dedicated to a machine tool that permits the creation or modification of parts. Programmed numerical control activates the machine’s servos and spindle drives and controls the various machining operations. See DNC, direct numerical control; NC, numerical control.
- coolant
coolant
Fluid that reduces temperature buildup at the tool/workpiece interface during machining. Normally takes the form of a liquid such as soluble or chemical mixtures (semisynthetic, synthetic) but can be pressurized air or other gas. Because of water’s ability to absorb great quantities of heat, it is widely used as a coolant and vehicle for various cutting compounds, with the water-to-compound ratio varying with the machining task. See cutting fluid; semisynthetic cutting fluid; soluble-oil cutting fluid; synthetic cutting fluid.
- gang cutting ( milling)
gang cutting ( milling)
Machining with several cutters mounted on a single arbor, generally for simultaneous cutting.
- grinding
grinding
Machining operation in which material is removed from the workpiece by a powered abrasive wheel, stone, belt, paste, sheet, compound, slurry, etc. Takes various forms: surface grinding (creates flat and/or squared surfaces); cylindrical grinding (for external cylindrical and tapered shapes, fillets, undercuts, etc.); centerless grinding; chamfering; thread and form grinding; tool and cutter grinding; offhand grinding; lapping and polishing (grinding with extremely fine grits to create ultrasmooth surfaces); honing; and disc grinding.
- lathe
lathe
Turning machine capable of sawing, milling, grinding, gear-cutting, drilling, reaming, boring, threading, facing, chamfering, grooving, knurling, spinning, parting, necking, taper-cutting, and cam- and eccentric-cutting, as well as step- and straight-turning. Comes in a variety of forms, ranging from manual to semiautomatic to fully automatic, with major types being engine lathes, turning and contouring lathes, turret lathes and numerical-control lathes. The engine lathe consists of a headstock and spindle, tailstock, bed, carriage (complete with apron) and cross slides. Features include gear- (speed) and feed-selector levers, toolpost, compound rest, lead screw and reversing lead screw, threading dial and rapid-traverse lever. Special lathe types include through-the-spindle, camshaft and crankshaft, brake drum and rotor, spinning and gun-barrel machines. Toolroom and bench lathes are used for precision work; the former for tool-and-die work and similar tasks, the latter for small workpieces (instruments, watches), normally without a power feed. Models are typically designated according to their “swing,” or the largest-diameter workpiece that can be rotated; bed length, or the distance between centers; and horsepower generated. See turning machine.
- milling
milling
Machining operation in which metal or other material is removed by applying power to a rotating cutter. In vertical milling, the cutting tool is mounted vertically on the spindle. In horizontal milling, the cutting tool is mounted horizontally, either directly on the spindle or on an arbor. Horizontal milling is further broken down into conventional milling, where the cutter rotates opposite the direction of feed, or “up” into the workpiece; and climb milling, where the cutter rotates in the direction of feed, or “down” into the workpiece. Milling operations include plane or surface milling, endmilling, facemilling, angle milling, form milling and profiling.
- tapping
tapping
Machining operation in which a tap, with teeth on its periphery, cuts internal threads in a predrilled hole having a smaller diameter than the tap diameter. Threads are formed by a combined rotary and axial-relative motion between tap and workpiece. See tap.
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