Budget 4th axis

[SZ97]

Hi folks,

I really want to add 4th axis on smal Drill/tap center that we have in our shop.
Machine is 2008 and have Fanuc 0i-mc. We are using this machine mainly for some small batched series.
But because it's really not necessary to have it on, I would like to go as cheap as possible on this one.
Has anyone done a similar project? Any suggestions on 4th axis brand to use?

 

[Fal Grunt]

What is your budget for this budget 4th and what are you doing with it?

Do you need a fourth or do you need an indexer?

I'd be mortified to show my 4th but it works for what I need to do with it.

 

[Booze Daily]

In a pinch I’ve used a Super Spacer and lots of M00 stops to manually index. You wanted cheap, right?

 

[Fal Grunt]

In a pinch I’ve used a Super Spacer and lots of M00 stops to manually index. You wanted cheap, right?

 

[MwTech Inc]

If you don't need interpolation then a Yuasa Super Rapidex is perfect, have two of them.
No separate box to program, just add the index strokes in your program.
Love them.
Index can be as fine as 1 deg on some models.

https://yuasa-intl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/710-dimensional-layout.pdf

 

[Booze Daily]

I heard of those years ago and been trying to find them for years. Not because I need one but because they’re a useful option for indexing needs.
Thanks.

 

[TeachMePlease]

If you don't need interpolation then a Yuasa Super Rapidex is perfect, have two of them.
No separate box to program, just add the index strokes in your program.
Love them.
Index can be as fine as 1 deg on some models.

https://yuasa-intl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/710-dimensional-layout.pdf

Now THAT is cool is hell...

 

[MwTech Inc]

They are really built well, zero slop.
Been inside , really cool how they index, has scraped guides, parts.
Flood them with coolant no issues..........
They sell them everyday new........*bay has been my friend.......
Few very short videos on **outube

 

[Orange Vise]

They are really built well, zero slop.
Been inside , really cool how they index, has scraped guides, parts.
Flood them with coolant no issues..........I co
They sell them everyday new........*bay has been my friend.......
Few very short videos on **outube

Ballpark price?

I could use at least one of them.

 

[jhov]

If you don't need interpolation then a Yuasa Super Rapidex is perfect, have two of them.
No separate box to program, just add the index strokes in your program.
Love them.
Index can be as fine as 1 deg on some models.

https://yuasa-intl.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/710-dimensional-layout.pdf

That's really cool. You could even mount one to a 4th axis trunnion for 4+1 indexing.

 

[Mud]

For small, perhaps a Haas 5C w/control box. For a little bigger, an erickson air indexer. -

 

[laurent12100]

I heard of those years ago and been trying to find them for years. Not because I need one but because they’re a useful option for indexing needs.
Thanks.

I find here too https://www.smwautoblok.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/SMW-AUTOBLOK_Cat-OML-EN-A4_TOUCHDEX.pdf

 

[MwTech Inc]

Ballpark price?

Call Yuasa
800-323-7427
Ask for Ed

 

[Mtndew]

Hi folks,

I really want to add 4th axis on smal Drill/tap center that we have in our shop.
Machine is 2008 and have Fanuc 0i-mc. We are using this machine mainly for some small batched series.
But because it's really not necessary to have it on, I would like to go as cheap as possible on this one.
Has anyone done a similar project? Any suggestions on 4th axis brand to use?

Is that machine wired for a 4th?

 

[empower]

What is your budget for this budget 4th and what are you doing with it?

Do you need a fourth or do you need an indexer?

I'd be mortified to show my 4th but it works for what I need to do with it.

time for you to be mortified! pics

 

[Booze Daily]

Post #4. He’s using a dividing head.

 

[dandrummerman21]

One word of warning about the yuasa rapidex or Kawatatec touchdex (they do appear to be different makers, but can't say for sure they aren't both made by the same company):

For models that offer a smaller increment index by adjusting how far you stroke, you still have to do a full stroke in order to get to the next set of increments.

In case that wasn't clear:

We have 2 of them. One is a yuasa super rapidex that has increments of 5* with a full stroke of 45 degrees. If you start at 0, and wanted to go to 45, you do a full stroke. If you want to get to 80 from there, you do a partial but nearly full stroke (about 8/10 of a full stroke). If you then wanted to get to 85 degrees, you would do another partial but nearly full stroke (about 9/10 of a stroke). And to finally get to 90 degrees, you would do a full stroke. At this point, your stroke distance resets.


The Kawatatec touchdex is similar. Ours is a 15* full stroke, with partial strokes stopping every 5 degrees. It is similar to the yuasa in that you need a full stroke to move 15 degrees, even if you had already moved 10 degrees in previous partial strokes.





They are very solid. I have only had 1 misindex because of chips piled around the plunger. keep chips away from it!

 

[Machinerer]

One word of warning about the yuasa rapidex or Kawatatec touchdex (they do appear to be different makers, but can't say for sure they aren't both made by the same company):

For models that offer a smaller increment index by adjusting how far you stroke, you still have to do a full stroke in order to get to the next set of increments.

In case that wasn't clear:

We have 2 of them. One is a yuasa super rapidex that has increments of 5* with a full stroke of 45 degrees. If you start at 0, and wanted to go to 45, you do a full stroke. If you want to get to 80 from there, you do a partial but nearly full stroke (about 8/10 of a full stroke). If you then wanted to get to 85 degrees, you would do another partial but nearly full stroke (about 9/10 of a stroke). And to finally get to 90 degrees, you would do a full stroke. At this point, your stroke distance resets.


The Kawatatec touchdex is similar. Ours is a 15* full stroke, with partial strokes stopping every 5 degrees. It is similar to the yuasa in that you need a full stroke to move 15 degrees, even if you had already moved 10 degrees in previous partial strokes.





They are very solid. I have only had 1 misindex because of chips piled around the plunger. keep chips away from it!

So what determines how much it indexes? Is that based on how far you depress the plunger? Does it stay locked, or is therte some sort of clamp/unclamp for the indexing? Pretty cool design.

 

[dandrummerman21]

it is based on how much you push it.

It unlocks when you push the plunger down and locks when it goes back up.

They are very solid. I forget what force the clamp internally is, but I feel like it was 5000lbs or so!

The yuasa version can come with a manual handle that lets you do it manually, or you can use the tool or side of the spindle housing to push the plunger down.

I made a similar lever arm for the kawatatec version to index a job on a horizontal mill. Poor man's 5th with no wires!



Shown is the 15* per stroke kawatatec touchdex version that we have.



Now, I feel like this is derailing this thread a bit. I don't know how much these cost new, but I don't believe they are super cheap.

However, we bought ours on ebay for just a few hundred dollars each. maybe 800-1000$ each total with freight (they are pretty heavy)

 

[MwTech Inc]

Is that based on how far you depress the plunger? Does it stay locked

yes
and there is an internal brake that locks the head once the plunger retracts.

Yausa makes a CS model, twin plunger, that indexes both directions, nice to be able to flip back and forth.