INDEX has announced that IMTS 2022 will host the North American debut of the company's next generations of its G220 turn mill center, MS32-6 CNC multispindle and TNL12 sliding headstock lathe. The company will also be presenting information on the latest additions to its iX4.0 Industry 4.0 platform, as well as providing space for the demonstration of a metal 3D printer by its subsidiary One Click Metal.
The new G220 incorporates and refines the design principles introduced via the larger G320, G420 and G520 machines. With twin spindles, dual tool turrets, a 5-axis milling spindle and high-capacity tool magazine, the machine can produce a wide variety of parts in a single set-up.
"The design concept of INDEX's G Series machines begins with a rigid, vibration damping machine bed in a mineral cast block design. Each machine in the series combines optimal stability and damping properties with high dynamics and generously dimensioned linear guides in the X and Z axes," said a company spokesperson.
The G220's powerful milling spindle offers a hydrodynamically mounted Y/B axis arranged above the axis of rotation. Each of the machine's turrets provides movement along the XYZ axes, and each of the turrets' stations can be equipped with live tooling. Additionally, the G220's large workspace and internal layout enables simultaneous machining with the milling spindle and both turrets. "Combined, these features allow incredible flexibility to cut varied part features and geometries with high efficiency," said the spokesperson.
The MS32-6 CNC multispindle features a modular design that is engineered to achieve high flexibility and fast, user-friendly set-ups, bringing the benefits of multispindle production to a broader range of applications.
Accommodating up to 32 mm bar stock, the MS32-6 handles a variety of complex parts since the machine is equipped with two V-shaped cross slides at each spindle position. Each cross slide offers X and Z axes as standard, and C and Y axes, together with live tools, can be implemented to allow for a broad range of machining processes, including off-center drilling, threading, contouring, hobbing and polygonal turning. Each of the machines' slides can also be alternatively configured with a single NC axis for grooving or drilling.
Each cross slide in the MS32-6 now incorporates INDEX's patented W-serration locating system that provides µm-accurate alignment of the tool holder. "Coupled with the company's newly developed quick clamping device, tools can be set up off of the machine and then quickly installed, reducing tool change times by 50%. Additionally, the machine incorporates the same W-serration system on its live units for drilling, milling and polygonal turning. By presetting tooling for these operations off of the machine, set-up times can be reduced by up to 92%," said the spokesperson.
The MS32-6 allows users to apply twin turrets with rigid tools in up to five spindle positions. These hydraulically controlled units can alternate between tools in less than half a second. This enables the efficient use of separate tools for roughing and finishing in the same position. The twin turrets can also be used to reduce tool changes by incorporating duplicate tools, an option that is especially attractive when working with difficult-to-machine materials.
"Comprehensively redesigned from its previous iteration, the new TNL12 sliding headstock lathe offers an exceptional value proposition to manufacturers of small parts, especially those serving the medical industry," said the spokesperson.
Like its predecessor, the new TNL12 features four tool carriers that can be applied to a workpiece simultaneously, albeit with significant changes to the machine's kinematics. While the front-working attachment and counter spindle were previously arranged on a single slide, they are now housed on separate slides. This eliminates potential interdependence between front-end and counter spindle machining, allowing for greater flexibility in programming. Additionally, this design reduces the mass of both elements, allowing for faster and more dynamic machine response.
The features enabling rear-end machining also have undergone substantial changes. While the former model of the machine offered X-axis machining on the counter spindle, the new TNL12 provides full 3-axis machining in this position. A new back-working attachment offer six tool stations, with up to four allowing live tooling, as well as a flushing unit.
Overall tooling capacity has also been increased, with the capability to house up to 40 tools with the use of double and triple holders. This allows operators a greater degree of freedom to optimize machining of highly complex parts. Each of two 6-station tool turrets has its own servomotor and interpolated Y-axis, with chip-to-chip tool change times reduced to just 0.3 seconds.
INDEX will also be demonstrating the expanded capabilities of iX4.0, the company's Industry 4.0/IoT platform. A variety of new apps have been added to the platform, giving manufacturers the tools needed to monitor, gather and analyze data on machine performance. Each INDEX machine includes 12 months of access to iX4.0.
INDEX's booth will also feature a metal 3D printer from One Click Metal. A subsidiary of INDEX, One Click Metal is an additive manufacturing solutions provider dedicated to the vision of making the technology user friendly and accessible to all manufacturers.
For more information contact:
INDEX Corporation
14700 North Pointe Blvd.
Noblesville, IN 46060
317-770-6300
sales@index-usa.com
us.index-traub.com
IMTS South Building, Level 3
Booth 339119