Rotary Indexing Spindle For EDM

Hirschmann Engineering has combined the H80R.MNCM high speed rotary indexing spindle with the H1625.AC3 fully programmable, variable speed AC control to produce miniature, round parts with small diameters and fine finishes. The spindle incorporates special bearings with minimal radial runout, an AC variable-speed motor and a Heidenhain encoder for direct measurement positioning of ±5 arcseconds. The control allows programming of continuous variable high speed rotation and indexing, which can be initiated to the machine control for automatic operation via M code.

The spindle can also be integrated directly to certain machine controls, allowing high speed rotation, indexing and turn-while-burn applications. It is fully submersible and does not require air purging, the company says.

Unlike grinding, there are no side forces from wheel contact. Smaller diameters without deflection are possible. In addition, contoured shapes or flats are programmed into the EDM control, eliminating contoured wheels and reducing setup times. Some of the product uses are core and ejector pins for micro-molds; medical applications; miniature valve slides; electrodes for sink EDM; and micro-pump parts.

The spindle, along with the wire EDM’s refined generator settings, allows turning and machining of diameters as small as 0.002" (0.05 mm) with surfaces to Ra 0.2.