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Simplifying Workpiece Positioning

March 29, 2012
Bridgeport GX 1000 OSP fourth-axis rotary table options
The Bridgeporte GX 1000 OSP’s rigid spindle and C-frame fixed-column design, and fixed pre-tensioned double-nut ball screws on all axes, provide stability, accuracy, and repeatability. A new vertical machining set-up offered by Hardinge and Bridgeport simplifies the process of selecting and connecting a rotary device to the machine, for precision fourth-axis parts positioning. Hardinge indicated its fourth-axis rotary tables would increase the machine capability with rapid positioning speeds and fast job changeover. The rigid design of the machine and the quick-change spindle nose design of the rotary device offer a rugged and flexible fourth-axis machining option.

The Bridgeport GX 1000 OSP high-performance machining center incorporates the Okuma OSP P200 CNC control, encoders, motors, and drives. Hardinge indicated that the GX 1000 has gained popularity as “a true workhorse,” and with the addition of the OSP P200 control this machine’s capabilities are expanded. The advanced architecture of the OSP-P200 NC control gives operators access to numerous applications and peripheral devices, including factory management systems, and interface with bar coders, feeders, robots, probes and tool setters to help streamline production.

The sturdy and thermally stable spindle, rigid C-frame fixed column design, and fixed pre-tensioned double-nut ball screws on all axes of the machining center, provide superior rigidity, accuracy, and repeatability. Hardinge said it provides a smooth integration of its precision rotary tables into the GX 1000 OSP, to operate in a fully interpolated fashion with the other axes of the machine.

Hardinge rotary packages include the Okuma motor and cables to connect via fourth-axis to the new, pre-wired Bridgeport GX 1000 vertical machining center with an OSP control. (The new Bridgeport VMC must be prewired to accept the rotary package.) Rotary systems can also be operated using solely the Hardinge servo control if true fourth-axis is not required.

Hardinge has a large selection of rotary products that are compatible with the Bridgeport GX 1000 OSP machining center, including single and multi-spindle units. Hardinge rotary products incorporate an A2-4, A2-5 or 5C threaded-nose collet-ready spindle that will accept collets, expanding collets, step chucks and chucks (as well as the traditional faceplate) to expand part gripping capabilities and improve part accuracies. The 44.09×21.25-in. machine table provides room for a rotary table and a vise to allow maximum job flexibility.

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