INDEX ABC 65

The INDEX ABC 65 is a CNC multi-spindle automatic lathe with 65mm bar capacity, representing the upper tier of INDEX's bar-work automatic family. The ABC series was developed to deliver multi-spindle productivity economics on larger-diameter components that fall outside the practical range of the MS series, addressing the needs of hydraulics, fluid power, and heavy automotive manufacturers who require million-piece annual volumes in the 40–65mm diameter bracket.

The ABC 65's mechanical design centers on a robust drum-type spindle carrier with precision-indexed positions, each equipped with an independently driven servo spindle. Bar stock advances through the guide bushing at each position, and the cross-slide and turret units at every station execute their programmed operations simultaneously. This concurrent architecture compresses what would be sequential multi-operation cycle times on a single-spindle lathe into a single parallel work cycle, enabling output rates that define the economics of high-volume turning.

INDEX integrates driven tool capability at multiple positions on the ABC 65, enabling cross-milling, radial drilling, and thread milling in the same machine cycle as the main turning operations. This is critical for components like valve bodies, hydraulic cylinders, and automotive pump housings that require both OD turning features and radial cross-features. The CNC control architecture coordinates all axes and driven tools through the INDEX C200-4D control platform, with full simulation capability via INDEX Virtual Machine software.

For manufacturers producing large-diameter rotational components in the millions annually, the ABC 65 represents a fundamental step-change in productivity compared to a bank of conventional CNC lathes. The capital investment — substantial as it is — is typically recovered within 18–36 months at high production volumes, after which the cost-per-part advantage compounds over the machine's working life.