A new era in CNC turning machines
The new INDEX ABC CNC turning machine features a turret revolutionized by the Galaxie® gearbox.
INDEX enhances the machine with Galaxie® for a new level of performance
INDEX is a leading manufacturer of CNC turning machines. In the new INDEX ABC turning machine, the company replaced its former Hirth coupling and hydraulic clamping system with the Galaxie® GS 190 gearbox. This upgrade unlocks new machining options, higher precision and improved productivity.
The Galaxie® GS 190 opens up new machining options
The impact of the Galaxie is remarkable: the upper turret can now be positioned steplessly with ultra‑high precision and enables interpolating machining across multiple axes—capabilities that were previously impossible with the old system.
Getting to this result, the engineers from INDEX and WITTENSTEIN approached the optimal solution step by step.
The main challenges were the repeatability of the tool positioning and the rigidity of the overall system. After trials with various Galaxie® gearboxes, the use of the Galaxie® GS 190 from the new accuracy line with optimized, integrated bearing concept finally led to the goal. The integrated bearing ultimately produced the best possible rest values, which was an important acceptance criterion. In this regard, WITTENSTEIN also benefited from the close cooperation with INDEX: it was possible to successfully adapt the rest measurements, as used by the machine manufacturer, in the WITTENSTEIN test lab. As a result, WITTENSTEIN is now in a position to measure valid rest values of precision gearboxes and also transfer them to the digital twin.
Absolute zero backlash, maximum rigidity, optimum synchronous running and the large hollow shaft result in an extremely torsionally rigid and thus highly precise gearbox solution in the upper turret.
Many new additional functions
The new turret technology offers end customers improved cycle times and higher productivity. The gearbox enables infinitely variable and highly precise positioning of the upper turret – with extensive improvements in the functionality of the CNC turning machine. It is now possible to realize an interpolated Y-axis, which enables the ABC turret to perform off-center drilling and surface milling, as well as a center height adjustment of the cutting edges. This ensures more precise machining of small bores, while the height correction allows the chip pattern to be improved.
Another advantage results from the now possible use of double tool holders. With the same turret size and number of slots, this increases the tool capacity from 7 to 14 fixed or driven tools. This larger capacity can be used for sister tools or a larger machining spectrum. Another station is permanently occupied by the synchronous spindle for backworking. All these additional functions significantly increase the range of parts that can be machined on the new INDEX ABC. Due to the gearbox ratio and the function-related high efficiency of the Galaxie® gearbox, INDEX was able to increase the energy efficiency of the turning machine. The use of the Galaxie® gearbox opens up the possibility of a completely hydraulics-free machine in the future.
Galaxie® superior on principle
Absolute zero-backlash, maximum rigidity, optimum synchronization properties and the large hollow shaft for the tool drive result in a highly torsionally rigid and thus, extremely precise gearbox solution in the upper turret.
The key characteristics – dynamic individual teeth instead of a rigid toothed wheel, full-surface contact during tooth meshing instead of a much smaller line contact, and the bearing design with segmented outer ring – make it far superior to cycloidal gearboxes and other gearbox technologies in all important technical parameters. The very high rigidity is constant even under alternating loads at zero crossing, without reducing the maximum transferable torques. In addition, the hydrodynamic lubrication means that disadvantages such as mechanical abrasion and wear are almost negligible with Galaxie® gearboxes.
Our product in use at INDEX
Galaxie® GS 190
The Galaxie® GS 190 belongs to the Galaxie® accuracy line and was designed for applications requiring extreme precision. It offers zero backlash, very high torsional rigidity, improved synchronous running, a large hollow shaft
and hydrodynamic lubrication with almost no wear.
This compact high‑performance gearbox enables powerful, space‑efficient machine designs and delivers the precision and rigidity required for advanced CNC machining tasks such as those in the INDEX ABC.
