CNC Turret Indexing Plate

A CNC Turret Indexing Plate functions as the core mechanical element for rotational tool positioning in turret-based CNC lathes. Its geometric accuracy and angular precision directly impact toolpath alignment, station repeatability, and synchronization across high-duty cycles. Inadequate design or material fatigue in the CNC Turret Indexing Plate often results in loss of positional integrity, leading to dimensional deviation, increased tool wear, and machine downtime.

Material

4140 Alloy Steel, 17-4PH Stainless Steel

Dimensional Tolerances

Indexing Profile – ±0.005 mm; Tool Mounting Features – ±0.01 mm

Number of Indexing Positions

6/8/12 stations (Custom – Up to 24 positions)

Indexing Tooth Profile

Type – Involute or Curvic Coupling; Pitch Accuracy – ±0.003 mm

Flatness/Parallelism

Mounting Face – ≤0.01 mm/100 mm; Tool Stations – ≤0.015 mm

Product Description

A CNC Turret Indexing Plate with inconsistent angular indexing introduces rotational errors that propagate across tool stations. To mitigate this, the plate is machined with tight-tolerance locating slots and hardened datum surfaces that ensure angular repeatability within ±3 arc seconds. The CNC Turret Indexing Plate is heat-treated and ground post-hardening to retain dimensional stability and angular symmetry under both static and dynamic conditions. Sub-zero treatment is used to minimize microstructural distortion, preserving alignment across long-term usage. 

Mounting Bore Specifications

Bore Tolerance – H6 (ISO 286); Keyway – DIN 6885 (JIS B 1301)

Surface Finish

Indexing Teeth – Ra ≤0.4 µm (ground); Mounting Face – Ra ≤0.8 µm

Hardness

Indexing Teeth – 58-62 HRC; Body – 30-35 HRC (toughness optimized)

Runout/Concentricity

Radial Runout – ≤0.01 mm TIR; Face Runout – ≤0.015 mm

Certification Standards

ISO 9001:2015, VDI/VDE 2617, DIN 8626 (Indexing Mechanisms)

Technical Advantages

Interrupted cuts apply torsional impulses to the CNC Turret Indexing Plate, especially when large radial tools are engaged at peripheral stations. The plate is designed with optimized tooth engagement geometry and hardened locking zones that distribute torque over wide contact areas. A preloaded detent mechanism integrated within the CNC Turret Indexing Plate absorbs bidirectional shock loads, preventing unintended rotation under high spindle acceleration. Load-bearing elements are validated through FEM simulations to ensure torsional rigidity under dynamic cutting profiles. 

High-speed, continuous indexing cycles can lead to surface degradation in a CNC Turret Indexing Plate, resulting in galling, fretting, and fatigue cracks. To combat wear, the plate undergoes ion nitriding followed by micro-finish grinding, creating a low-friction, high-hardness surface with Ra values below 1.2 µm. The CNC Turret Indexing Plate’s contact zones are treated to resist micro-pitting under metal-to-metal engagement, enabling over one million duty cycles without measurable surface erosion. Hardness uniformity across the contact plane ensures even stress distribution and long-term service integrity. 

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Industry Applications

Automotive Powertrain Machining

Used for precise tool indexing during sequential boring, milling, and threading operations on engine blocks and transmission casings. 

Aerospace Component Turning

Maintains angular accuracy during multi-tool operations on complex contours of turbine rings, actuator sleeves, and structural shaft elements. 

Precision Medical Device Manufacturing

Supports fine-tool indexing on orthopedic implants and surgical components requiring sub-5 micron repeatability across small diameter operations. 

Hydraulic Cylinder Tube Processing

Provides rigid index control for internal grooving, port machining, and thread milling on high-pressure hydraulic actuator housings. 

Gear and Spline Turning Systems

Ensures synchronized station indexing for form tools and shapers when generating splines, gears, and involute profiles on shafts. 

Electrical Motor Shaft Production

Used to switch between center drilling, keyway milling, and external threading operations during shaft and rotor machining sequences. 

 

Concentricity and Positional Accuracy

Radial misalignment between turret stations often originates from concentricity errors in the CNC Turret Indexing Plate. To address this, concentric bores and indexing notches are machined relative to a single datum system, ensuring sub-5 µm runout between the central bore and station detents. The CNC Turret Indexing Plate also features kinematic seating surfaces that auto-correct for minor axial deviations during turret engagement. Post-hardening cylindrical grinding ensures all functional surfaces remain perpendicular and coaxial with the machine spindle interface. 

Mechanical fitment and system alignment challenges arise when CNC Turret Indexing Plates are deployed across diverse turret platforms. To maintain compatibility, these plates are engineered with configurable indexing patterns, bore profiles, and bolt circle dimensions. Each CNC Turret Indexing Plate can be customized to interface with cam-driven, servo-driven, or hydraulic turret drive systems. Integrated datum features support encoder target surfaces and optional through-hole designs for coolant or sensor integration, ensuring precise mechanical and electronic synchronization across tool changes. 

CNC Turret Indexing Plate

Having Doubts? Our FAQ

Check all our Frequently Asked Question

How does Frigate ensure angular repeatability in CNC Turret Indexing Plates during mass production?

Frigate uses CNC-controlled grinding for all critical indexing surfaces referenced from a master datum. Each plate is inspected with a rotary encoder system to validate angular repeatability within ±3 arc seconds. Batch-to-batch consistency is maintained using statistical process control (SPC) methods. Plates are serialized and traceable back to their production calibration report. 

 

What tolerance stack-ups are controlled by Frigate in custom turret indexing plate designs?

Frigate controls cumulative tolerances between bore, bolt circle, and indexing notch within 8 µm. All machined features originate from a single fixture setup to eliminate stack-up errors. Parallelism between contact faces is maintained within 2 µm. These controls ensure proper alignment in multistation turrets under load. 

 

How does Frigate validate surface hardness and fatigue life in indexing plates?

Plates undergo vacuum heat treatment and are tested using microhardness probes across multiple zones. Typical surface hardness is maintained at 60–62 HRC with case depth >0.8 mm. Fatigue life testing simulates over one million indexing cycles under preloaded engagement conditions. No measurable wear or surface spalling is allowed during validation. 

What measures does Frigate take to prevent backlash in CNC Turret Indexing Plates?

Frigate incorporates preloaded detent geometry and precision-fitted engagement slots to minimize backlash. All engagement surfaces are honed and lapped for tight mechanical contact. Each unit is tested under torque to ensure no angular drift under reversing loads. Backlash is limited to <1 arc second in dynamic testing. 

Can Frigate design CNC Turret Indexing Plates for hybrid or servo-driven turret systems?

Yes, Frigate provides indexing plates compatible with hydraulic, cam, and servo-driven turrets. CAD modeling includes sensor integration, reference notch placement, and encoder alignment features. Each custom unit undergoes interface validation against the customer’s turret model. Mechanical, electrical, and control alignment are verified during final inspection. 

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LOCATIONS

Global Sales Office

818, Preakness lane, Coppell, Texas, USA – 75019

Registered Office

10-A, First Floor, V.V Complex, Prakash Nagar, Thiruverumbur, Trichy-620013, Tamil Nadu, India.

Operations Office

9/1, Poonthottam Nagar, Ramanandha Nagar, Saravanampatti, Coimbatore-641035, Tamil Nadu, India. ㅤ

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