The second-generation Index G200 turn-mill centre is now available in the UK and Ireland through Gosport-based Geo Kingsbury Ltd, the UK’s sole sales and service agent for the German manufacturer.

This twin-spindle machine, which has a compact footprint similar to that of its predecessor, has been extensively improved. The distance between centres is up from 400 to 660mm, a second tool carrier has been added below the spindle centre line (allowing cycle times to be reduced by up to 30%), and the speed of the B-axis milling spindle has been increased from 2,000 to 7,200rev/min (www.geokingsbury.com).

The result is a three-turret lathe for the complete machining of bar stock up to 65mm in diameter and chuck parts up to 165mm in diameter.

A significant change compared with the first-generation G200 is that the heavily ribbed low-vibration cast machine bed is arranged vertically — a design that Index now uses for almost all its new products.

Although such machines tend to be slightly taller, they have a smaller footprint and provide extra space in the working area, allowing all three tool carriers to work simultaneously at either the main spindle or counter-spindle without interference.

The fluid-cooled spindles are identical, rated at 32kW 6,000rev/ min (170Nm of torque). The two lower turrets are arranged in mirror-image format, and each has a ±45mm Y axis. They contain 14 tool stations, all of which can be equipped with live tools driven at up to 7,200rev/min by a 16kW motor.

Moreover, the turrets can be ‘parked’ outside the machining area, giving the top tool carrier unrestricted access to the workpiece, thereby allowing collision-free machining — without stopping — along the entire length of a shaft, for example. The upper tool carrier features a 14-station turret and an integrated HSK-A40 milling
spindle.

It has ±65mm of Y-axis movement and a 360deg swivelling B axis. Furthermore, the 845mm horizontal travel covers the complete turning length of 660mm without having to rotate the B axis, as is often the case on other lathes.

With Industry 4.0 in mind, the Index Xpanel i4.0 focuses on productivity and ease of use, says Index. Building on the Siemens S840D sl, it reduces the complexity of control operation.

For example, many elements of the control panel have been integrated into the 18.5in wide-screen display, which uses the latest capacitive touch technology.

It is possible, at the push of a button, to toggle between the control screen and a second screen displaying, for example, Index Virtual Machine for cycle simulation and crash detection.

An optional PC installed in the control cabinet allows the NX CAM system, supported by an Index post-processor, to run directly on the machine. Using the control panel, the machine operator can also obtain information from a network, such as component drawings and tool data, to assist set-up.