Hardinge Conquest 42

The Hardinge Conquest 42 is a precision CNC turning center built around Hardinge's legacy of ultra-precision lathe manufacturing in Elmira, New York. As part of Hardinge's Conquest series, the 42 designation refers to the 42mm through-spindle bore—a capacity that positions the machine in the mid-range CNC lathe segment while maintaining the precision heritage that distinguishes Hardinge products from commodity turning centers. The Conquest 42 is designed for shops that require closer tolerances and better surface finishes than standard CNC lathes can reliably deliver, particularly in precision medical device, aerospace, and scientific instrument production.

Hardinge built its reputation on precision turning machines that hold tolerances tighter than competitive equipment in the same price range. The Conquest 42 reflects this heritage through its precision-ground box ways or linear guideways (depending on configuration), precision spindle bearing arrangement, and rigid machine casting. Where most CNC lathes target general-purpose production turning, the Conquest 42 is calibrated for accuracy: spindle runout, tool slide positioning accuracy, and thermal stability are specified at levels appropriate for medical and aerospace production environments.

The spindle on the Conquest 42 is a Hardinge precision spindle—the company's core competency since the early 20th century. Hardinge precision spindles feature precision-ground bearing journals, controlled preloaded angular contact bearings, and thermal management to maintain position accuracy over extended production runs. The collet-ready spindle nose accepts 5C collets as standard (Hardinge's proprietary precision workholding standard) in addition to standard chuck mounting, enabling the superior workholding accuracy that collet clamping provides for precision turned parts.

The Conquest 42's live tooling capability enables complete turned and milled parts in a single setup—radial and axial driven tools for cross-drilling, flat milling, slot cutting, and thread milling expand the machine's capability well beyond pure turning. The optional Y-axis and sub-spindle further extend the machine toward a complete turning-milling center, enabling off-center features and complete part machining from bar. For precision production shops prioritizing accuracy over raw cycle speed, the Conquest 42 represents Hardinge's value proposition: measurable precision advantage at competitive pricing.