Medical part manufacturing continues to be a rapidly growing market due to the large population of aging baby boomers who are looking for “improved quality of life”. Demand is high for high-precision components for neurological, orthopeadic, spinal/bone fixation, dental implants, drug infusion, catheter connectors, optical, maxillofacial, micro/minimally invasive, surgical instruments and other medical devices, most of which can be manufactured on the Hardinge QUEST SUPER-PRECISION GT27 gang-tool turning center.

The Hardinge QUEST SUPER-PRECISION GT27 gang-tool turning center is designed for machining small diameters, complex and tight tolerance parts, and other challenging requirements. The GT27 offers a continuous machining accuracy of .0002” on diameter, part roundness variation of .000015” and part surface finish of 8 micro-inch, and has proven to be indispensible to some of the best medical manufacturing companies in the world. Bar work up to 1-1/16”/27mm and chucked parts up to 4” in diameter (using a step chuck) can be machined on the GT27 today, with the ability to hold the same accuracy ten years down the road.

The Hardinge GT27 is unlike all competitive gang-tool machines in that it includes their patented interchangeable top plate and their world-renowned, quick-change collet-ready spindle. The top plate secures to the dovetailed cross slide and is interchangeable for quick and accurate tooling changes that can be performed in under a minute. Pre-tooled top plates can be quickly interchanged within .0002” repeatability to produce a new part or family of parts.

Hardinge’s patented collet-ready spindle provides maximum rigidity and gripping power because the collet seats directly in the spindle with minimum overhang from the spindle bearings. In this design the spindle accuracy is transferred directly to the workpiece. Additionally, the patented HARCRETE machine base is 10% stiffer than cast iron, resulting in improved dynamic stability with one-third less vibration at the spindle and a 30% increase in tool life. This provides significantly better part surface finishes than cast iron. Size repeatability, surface finish quality and thermal stability are hallmarks for Hardinge lathes.

The Hardinge GT27 can be used as a stand-alone unit, a higher capacity system with a bar feed, or as a fully automated system with a robot. This machine is an excellent complement to a Swiss machine shop to handle parts that require higher precision. Bar whip or chatter that may be found to some degree in Swiss turning, is not an issue with the GT27 because the bar or chucked part is gripped close to the spindle bearings.