Described as the company's nextgeneration 5C indexer, the 5C^sup 2^ rotary indexer from Hardinge Inc. (Utica, NY) reportedly offers more accuracy, spindle clearance, axial load, and radial load than their previous 5C indexers. Design of the Hardinge SC^sup 2^ rotary indexer incorporates a collet-ready spindle for total gripping flexibility.

The company has streamlined the indexer body to a curved front casting over the spindle, and has made the handle removable for increased spindle clearance and tool access. A robust, dual-bearing spindle accommodates heavier radial and axial loads than older indexers, increasing overall indexing capabilities. Handling a 100- lb (50-kg) part weight and 1000-lb (4448-N) tailstock thrust per spindle is reportedly not a problem-even on a quad unit with tailstocks.

A hardened and ground steel wormgear with cross-axis helical gears and a hardened and ground steel worm drive shaft provide high accuracy and reduced wear. Double eccentrics provide fine gear-mesh adjustment. The customer can perform future gear wear compensation for extended life and improved accuracy over time.

Repeatability is +-4 arc-sec, accuracy is +-25 arc-sec, and the unit features a maximum runout of 0.0002'' (0.005 mm) TIR. Each unit shipped contains a printout of accuracy-final inspection is performed using a Heidenhain encoder mounted directly on the spindle nose to ensure final positioning accuracy and repeatability.

Hardinge offers three collet closer options: the pneumatic fail- safe closer provides 1760 lb (798 kg) of drawbar force and features a 27-mm throughhole. The pneumatic high-force closer allows reduction of gripping force for delicate parts, and the manual closer is lever-operated with 950 lb (431 kg) of drawbar force.

The 5C^sup 2^ rotary indexer can be integrated into your CNC manufacturing application for true fourth-axis interpolation. It's compatible with Fanuc, Siemens, Heidenhain, Hurco, Milltronics, Fadal, Haas, Yaskawa and other CNC systems, and industry-compatible for drop-in replacement with 360[degrees] per sec indexing speed. The design, incorporates a collet-ready spindle for total gripping flexibility. Collets, step chucks, expanding collets, and manual jaw chucks can be used without the use of an adapter, which allows a wide variety of gripping options to handle most part sizes, shapes and materials. These indexers come in single, dual, triple, and quad configurations, with or without tailstocks.

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