INDEX MS 16 Plus

The INDEX MS 16 Plus is a fully CNC multi-spindle automatic turning machine from INDEX-Traub, the Esslingen-based German manufacturer recognized as one of the world's leading producers of multi-spindle technology. The MS 16 Plus handles bar stock up to 16 mm in diameter across six independently driven CNC spindles, delivering high-volume production of small precision parts with the changeover flexibility that fully CNC actuation enables. It represents INDEX's approach to modernizing the multi-spindle platform — replacing mechanical cams entirely with servo-driven axes while preserving the fundamental throughput advantage of multi-spindle simultaneous cutting.

The machine features six spindles in a drum configuration with individual CNC servo drive per spindle, enabling independent speed control at each station. Each station is served by CNC cross slides and longitudinal slides, with the ability to mount turning tools, drilling units, thread-cutting attachments, and polygon turning heads. The Plus configuration adds expanded live tooling positions and enhanced per-station axis count compared to the base MS 16, enabling cross-drilling, milling, thread rolling, and polygon turning at more positions simultaneously. Up to two back-working spindles handle simultaneous rear machining to deliver complete parts in a single setup without secondary operations.

INDEX equips the MS 16 Plus with the iXpanel control interface built on a Siemens 840D sl platform, combining Siemens' proven CNC kernel with INDEX's multi-spindle programming environment. INDEX Virtual Machine simulation software creates a complete digital twin of the MS 16 Plus, allowing programmers to develop and verify programs offline before the machine runs. On a six-spindle CNC multi-spindle where each station has multiple axes, this simulation capability dramatically reduces setup time and prevents collisions. Programs verified in simulation transfer to the machine with only minor feed and speed adjustments, bringing proven program time on complex parts from days to hours.

Priced in the $600,000–$1,100,000 range, the MS 16 Plus competes with the Star SC-20, Tornos MultiSwiss 6x16, and Schutte 6-32 in the small CNC multi-spindle segment. Its appeal is strongest in automotive Tier 1, medical device, and electronics environments where the combination of Siemens 840D connectivity, INDEX Connect Industry 4.0 data integration, and the depth of INDEX's application engineering support justify the investment over lower-cost alternatives.