An All-New Flagship

No premier at IMTS will be more exciting than the world premier of Hardinge’s new flagship product line, the SR-Series turning centers. Expect to be dazzled by the two fully functioning prototypes on display in booth A-8032 – the SR 51 MSY Super Precision and the SR 150 M.

“Functionality & capability features on the SR-Series turning centers are standouts,” says Gregory P. Grogan, Vice President/General Manager of North American Machine Operations.

“We surveyed the marketplace worldwide, gathering customer and sales inputs, which we combined with strong in-depth competitive intelligence on all major performance characteristics,” says Jeff Ervay, Product Manager - Turning. “The result is a world-class series of turning centers that set the benchmark for precision and productivity.”

There are two distinct product ranges within the SR-Series. At the top are three Super Precision models that lead the world in high-precision capabilities (SR 42, SR 51, SR 65). These machines take Hard Turning and even Hard Milling to a whole new level with the ability to turn over 80 Rockwell. Unique features include the Hardinge colleted spindle and the option of hydrostatic guideways.

Also new is a range of SR-Series “chuck models” offering precision to a whole new audience (SR 150, SR 200, SR 250). This range leads the competition in torque making a real stand-out in its category.

Key attributes of the SR-Series include:
• Exclusive Super Precision® capability
• Robust spindle horsepower and torque combination
• Hard Turning and Hard Milling capability
• Hardcrete® reinforced cast iron base for superior damping, improved tool life and   unequaled hard turning capability
• Eppinger top plate designed for high accuracy, repeatability and a robust live tooling system
• Hardinge/GE Fanuc controller with high-speed milling capability and multi-axis functionality
• Many ergonomic improvements over previous machine models
• A vast array of exclusive Hardinge Workholding systems.

“This combination,” Grogan notes, “takes Super-Precision® and performance to a whole new level.”  The SR machine sports a sleek new look with the addition of a thin red stripe to the wider Hardinge blue stripe. That pairing signifies the new Red-Line Series.

Turing out Prismatic Parts

Seeing the all-new Hardinge SR 150 in action is an eye-opening experience, says Tom Sheehy, a Sr. Applications engineer at Hardinge. He should know…he is the genius behind a series of clever demonstrations to be performed in IMTS booth 8032, which illustrate the unique capabilities of this new Hardinge flagship machine. These demonstrations stretch the beyond the limits of modern turning processes.

Look for a six sided milled cube with six raised “bosses” that are thread milled using helical interpolation.  “It could be a six-way T for a fitting,” he explains, “and all from round bar stock completed in a single set-up on the SR 150.” Or how about a square part with three raised “bosses” and three holes all thread milled using helical interpolation.

To bend your mind a bit more, Tom will machine a three-dimensional contoured part with a square base at one end and a tablespoon-shaped scoop on the other. And true to the concept, one side of the scoop is convex in shape and the other, concave. “That complexity highlights SR 150 flexibility and capability in a mill/turn environment,” he stresses, “and at significant savings in cost and time.”

These include:

• Condensing three traditional milling operations into one set-up on a multi-axis lathe
• Eliminating multiple set-up’s, part handling, fixture costs, and set up times, as well a the cost of fixtures and rotary tables
• Inexpensive automation in the form of an optional bar feeder

Allowing unmanned operation, high through put, and “done in one” capability in a high production or job shop environment…and did we mention this machine perform these operations on hardened material?