INDEX will demonstrate its MS22C-8, a modular 8-spindle automatic CNC turning machine, producing brass connector parts at PMTS 2015, booth 400. According to the company, the MS22-8 is designed for fast parts machining capability, especially highly complex parts.
"The INDEX MS22C-8 has many applications, from automotive to medical technology," said a company spokesperson. "It also produces small batches efficiently. The versatile INDEX MS22C-8 can be bar-fed or loaded with chucked parts."
The machine can be configured to operate as an 8-spindle machine, a double 4-spindle machine, dropping two complete parts at a time or a machine with double rear-end machining. The MS22C-8 in double four-spindle mode runs as two machines working with one another simultaneously on a single base. "Every second tool station always has simultaneous access to the same tools," said the spokesperson.
According to the company, the MS22C-8 can accomplish turning, off-center drilling and thread cutting, inclined and cross-drilling, milling, multi-edge turning, hobbing, tooth milling, deep-hole drilling or slotting. Another feature is that all standard toolholders and toolholder system interfaces can be used with a range of adapters (Capto, HSK, VDI, INDEX systems).
Each of the eight spindles, arranged in the INDEX spindle drum, are assigned two cross-slides which can travel both on the X- and the Z-axis. Each cross-slide can be additionally equipped with a Y-axis.
Up to two swiveling synchronous spindles permit simultaneous rear-end machining. "Combined with a total of up to 16 cross-slides, the eight-spindle machine is therefore a true multi-talent even for highly complex machining," said the spokesperson.
The speed of each of the eight liquid-cooled spindles can be controlled separately. The fluid-cooled spindle drum is designed to keep the thermal growth in the spindle carrier to a minimum. "The advantage compared to the previous air-cooling approach is the higher power density in the spindle drum and the capability of energy recovery from the heated cooling fluid," said the spokesperson. "In addition, the spindle bearing temperature can be kept at a low level, which prolongs its service life and improves thermal stability."
The cross slides with integrated drive have a low-mass design with hydrostatic bearing support. Their low moment of inertia and resulting high dynamics are designed to facilitate acceleration in operation.
When operated as an eight-spindle machine, the drum indexing angle from spindle to spindle is 45°; if the machine operates with two times four spindles, the drum indexing angle is 90°. "Results from double four-spindle machining: two finished parts are produced by the machine per work cycle," said the spokesperson.
In double rear-end machining, there are six spindle positions available for front machining the workpiece and two spindle positions for rear-end machining, and they all work simultaneously, according to the company. "With this approach, it is possible to machine the rear-end of a workpiece during two drum indexing cycles," said the spokesperson. "After front machining, for which six spindle positions are available, workpieces are picked up by two rear machining units and machined simultaneously on the rear end."
According to the company, because rear-end machining is done during two drum indexing cycles, up to six tools can be used for this simultaneously with the other spindles. "In addition, because all cross slides are located at the same travel angle to one another, free chip flow is guaranteed in each position," said the spokesperson.
The advantage of hydrostatic sliding guide in the feed axis (Z) is its damping characteristic that prevents the transfer of the machining vibrations to the adjacent slide via the headstock. "This helps to mitigate vibration and rattling while workpieces are being machined, even when the most diverse machining processes are being performed concurrently by the eight spindles," said the spokesperson. "For example, one spindle can be used for heavy-duty roughing while high-precision finishing takes place on another spindle without sacrificing surface quality. In addition, the hydrostatic bearing is wear-free - there is neither friction nor a stick-slip effect."
The swiveling synchronous spindles are locked into the end positions by three-part Hirth couplings. The high level of stiffness that this achieves is also designed to guarantee that even with bar diameters up to 24 mm, rear-end machining operations with high cutting volumes and simultaneously high-machining precision can be performed.
"The Hirth coupling also means it is no longer necessary to electronically compensate at the end position," said the spokesperson. "The mechanical lock ensures optimal stiffness and increases the positioning accuracy. This allows even highly complex components to be produced that require complex cut-off side machining. The swivel movement to the rear-end position occurs in less than 0.3 seconds."
According to the company, the advantage of the front-opening design for the operator is the accessibility during set-up and tooling. "Moreover, there is the free chip flow down into the chip discharge chute," said the spokesperson.
To save space, the INDEX engineers placed the control cabinet on the machine. "This principle of integrating the control cabinet into the machine roof has been applied to INDEX multi-spindle machines for almost 15 years and has been well received in the market," said the spokesperson.
Discharging workpieces damage-free from the work area and placed on pallets in the right position for later treatment, the MS22C-8 can include optional handling solutions: machine-integrated handling with external stacking unit that is designed to ensure both destruction-free removal of parts from the machine, including measuring operations for the workpieces if needed. Workpiece data can be fed back directly to the machine control so that it can automatically correct its machining parameters.
For more information contact:
INDEX Corporation
14700 North Pointe Blvd.
Noblesville, IN 46060
317-770-6300
sales@index-usa.com
www.indextraub.com
www.pmts.com
PMTS Booth 400